Why the US did not issue visas to Russian journalists

Sergey Lavrov’s plane landed in New York. On April 24, the Russian Foreign Minister will chair a meeting of the UN Security Council there. The flight of the head of Russian diplomacy was followed online by several thousand people – his liner became the most tracked in the world. But not everyone could get on board – there were no journalists from Russia inside.

Why were they not on the plane, and what is the famous American freedom of speech worth? Details are in the story. REN TV.

USA was playing for time

film crew REN TV in Vnukovo – he watches how the plane with the Russian Foreign Minister leaves for the United States to participate in UN events. Journalists were supposed to fly on the same plane, but they were not given visas.

Journalists look at the plane – they look at journalists from the plane. 20 minutes before his departure, nothing was known for sure. The Americans were playing for time. It turns out that the United States is waging a hybrid war with journalists, and meanly and surreptitiously. So the Russian Foreign Minister noted this.

“The country that calls itself the strongest, smartest, freest, most fair, got scared, in general, did something stupid, but also showed what its oaths about protecting freedom of speech, access to information, and so on are really worth. “– said Sergey Lavrov.

Disregard for international law

It should be recalled here: the journalists were going to New York to work at the UN headquarters, the Security Council of which has been headed by Russia since April. And the States are obliged to contribute to this work. The Permanent Mission of Russia has already reminded of this: the refusal to issue visas was called a disregard for international law. And a Russian diplomatic source said that American journalists would also feel uncomfortable.

“All these are major informational occasions, and our press pool should have been with us. This did not happen – the responsibility is entirely on the American side. I emphasize: we will find forms of how to respond to this so that the Americans will remember for a long time that this is not done And they will remember it”– said the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Ryabkov.

“Child Behavior”

This, of course, cannot be done by accident. Documents were prepared in advance in a proper way and submitted on time. But the Americans either scheduled an interview or canceled it. As a result, they asked to urgently bring passports, and then they kept them, without giving an answer right up to the very departure. Since the time of Saltykov-Shchedrin in Russia, this has been called “chizhik ate” – that is, small, without scope.

“Sounds like a 12 year old kid –impulsive, arrogant, puffed up. Who throws a tantrum. The purpose of this gesture – demonstrate to Russia: “We don’t like you, your journalists and your diplomats”– former NYT journalist John Varoli shared his opinion.

“The United States is mired in an information war”

It is clear that journalists were not the target of this attack. Americans are annoyed by the very fact that a Russian representative will lead the meetings of the Security Council and partly form the agenda.

“The United States is mired in an information war. They will use every opportunity because Russia manages to win the diplomatic war for the hearts and minds of other nations. Examples are Africa, the BRICS countries, Iran, the alliance with China”– said a retired US Army officer, military expert Scott Bennett.

But it is not for the Americans to decide who and how will speak at the UN. Especially when it concerns Russia, one of the founding countries of the organization, a permanent member of the Security Council.

Requests to explain their behavior REN TB has already sent to the State Department and the US Embassy in Moscow. However, it is possible that the Americans will be called to account at a completely different level.