Russia’s foreign ministry has threatened to expel a US journalist or US media outlet if YouTube again blocks broadcasts of its weekly press briefings.
‘A few of my briefings were blocked. What we did is we went ahead and said: if you block a briefing one more time, one journalist or one US outlet will go home,’ foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova disclosed at a roundtable discussion.
She also took aim at Polish media, “taking into account that all this is overseen by a lady with Polish citizenship”, referring to the platform’s CEO Susan Wojcicki, a US citizen of Polish descent.
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‘Given Poland’s position (towards Russia), we may not stop at US’ media, Zakharova added in quotes which were sighted by Africa Daily News, New York.
Since Russia began its military operation in Ukraine on February 24, YouTube has deleted the channels of many pro-Kremlin media, while state media outlet RT and state-controlled Sputnik were blocked in most Western countries.
Last week, Russia said it was closing the Moscow offices of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in retaliation for Ottawa’s banning of RT.
In a related development, Nike has announced that it will not renew licensing agreements in Russia, the company as it joins a growing list of Western companies pulling back from the country following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February.
Africa Daily News, New York reports that the move affects licensed retailers as Nike shuttered company-owned stores two months ago soon after Moscow moved soldiers into the neighboring country.
‘Due to operational challenges in Russia, Nike has made the decision not to renew or enter into any new business commitments, including with our franchisee Up&Run,’ the company said.
‘Our business remains on pause and we are providing pay continuity to our employees.’
Nike’s statement was in response to an AFP inquiry into the status after Russian newspaper Vedomisti reported that Up & Run’s parent, Inventive Retail Group (IRG), would shutter its retail locations in Russia because of lack of access to merchandise.
