Russian President's Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov officially acknowledged the existence of military censorship in Russia. In an interview published on Friday by the pro-government magazine "Expert", Peskov stated that "the time we live in is a time of military censorship — unprecedented for our country".
"The war is also being waged in the information space. It would be wrong to turn a blind eye to media outlets that are purposefully engaged in discrediting Russia. "That's why I think this regime is justified," the Kremlin spokesman said, commenting on the emigration of journalists and the closure of media outlets.
After the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the country adopted a number of laws criminalizing "discrediting the armed forces". This includes the dissemination of information that contradicts the official version of the Russian Ministry of Defense. As a result, dozens of independent journalists left Russia, and media outlets such as "Echo of Moscow" were closed.
Peskov's admission comes against the backdrop of increased repression of independent journalism and ongoing restrictions on the Russian information space. While human rights activists and international organizations condemn the imposed censorship, the Kremlin claims that it is a necessary measure in times of "information war".