They Are Vengeful People, They Deserve Recognition: Zakharova

New sanctions against the RT television channel announced by Washington may serve as retaliation for the imprisonment of Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich in Russia, who was detained for allegedly working for U.S. intelligence services. This was stated by Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

“I believe this is also a form of revenge, and they are vengeful people who deserve recognition. It should be understood that American special services are extremely vengeful. They call it retribution, but it is real revenge. I think this, too, is their revenge for Gershkovich,” Zakharova said during a broadcast on Russia's Channel One in response to a question regarding possible reasons for the new sanctions against RT.

From her point of view, now, after some time post-exchange, the American side has begun to take revenge on Russian journalists. “They have even accused Russia Today not just of spreading lies, deceit, and interference in internal affairs, as had been previously invented in the United States. Now they claim that it is related to supposedly the work of Russian intelligence services. That is, they have taken the real charge made against Gershkovich and simply artificially placed it upon the entire corporation,” the Foreign Ministry representative added.

On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused RT of participating in covert operations interfering in the affairs of other countries and of being involved in military procurement. He added that the U.S. is imposing sanctions against three entities and two individuals related to allegations against RT.