Zakharova claimed harassment of French journalists after interview with Lavrov

In France, local journalists faced harassment after an interview with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. This was announced on April 24 by the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova.

"How can they (French journalists — Ed.) interview Russian representatives when they have to justify themselves to everyone in France for another couple of weeks, these allegedly aggressive public figures, whom we, of course, know who is behind, that they just asked a question"— she said during an on-site briefing in Izhevsk.

Zakharova said this, commenting on the words of the French Ambassador to Moscow, Nicolas de Riviere, that French journalists are free to talk to anyone. According to her, French television reporters who interviewed Lavrov instead of the well-deserved prize and recognition for their actions in the interests of freedom of speech in Europe "will receive punches" and will be subject to harassment.

On February 26, the French media regulator Arcom demanded that Internet service providers block the websites of 35 Russian media outlets that are under EU sanctions. It was clarified that the media regulator also demanded that four streaming platforms providing access to Russian television and radio broadcasting services be removed from the search results.

The Russian Embassy in Paris, in turn, condemned the blocking of Russian media websites. According to the diplomatic mission, such a measure is political in nature and will deprive the French of the right to choose sources of information.