On Wednesday, Russia issued a warning to the European Union (EU), stating that any restrictions imposed on Russian media by the bloc would result in a swift, severe, and painful retaliatory response against Western journalists in Russia. This came after European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova announced that the EU plans to sanction several Russian media outlets, including Voice of Europe, Rossiiskaya Gazeta, Ria Novosti, and Izvestia, as reported by Bloomberg on May 6.
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Western correspondents in Moscow would feel response if the European Union took action against Russian media.
“If these measures are taken against the Russian media, Russian journalists, then, despite the fact that Western correspondents will not want to, they will also have to feel our retaliatory measures,” Zakharova said.
“They felt our love before, but now they will have to feel the response,” Zakharova said. “We will respond with lightning speed and it will be extremely painful for the Westerners.”
Zakharova said that any move to put any Russian media outlet put under restriction, would immediately lead to a response in Russia against Western correspondents.
“If just one Russian media outlet is subjected to unjustified restrictions, then it will ricochet off their colleagues here in Russia, I mean, Western journalists,” Zakharova said.
With Inputs From Reuters
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