France Condemns Russia’s Ban on Press Freedom NGO RSF
Paris, The Gulf Observer: France has expressed “dismay” over Russia’s recent decision to ban the press freedom NGO, Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
The French Foreign Ministry stated on Monday that the move is part of a broader campaign of repression against critical voices, carried out in “flagrant disregard for freedom of expression and press freedom,” according to media reports.
Paris also renewed its call for the “immediate and unconditional release of all those prosecuted for political reasons” and urged Russia to honour its international commitments on the right to information and free access to news.
On 14 August, Russia’s Ministry of Justice added RSF to its list of so-called undesirable organisations. This designation effectively bans the NGO’s activities in Russia and places its staff, supporters, and funders at risk of prosecution and possible prison sentences.
RSF, based in Paris, campaigns globally for press freedom, documenting violations and providing practical support to journalists operating in hostile environments. In Russia, the organisation has consistently denounced attacks on independent reporting, censorship, and the targeting of journalists investigating sensitive issues such as corruption, abuses of power, and the war in Ukraine.
