Washington

Russia deems Moscow Times ‘undesirable,’ putting writers, sources at risk

Published

2 years ago

July 10, 2024

Russia deems Moscow Times ‘undesirable,’ putting writers, sources at risk

Russia has designated the Moscow Times, a leading English-language media outlet focused on covering Russia, an “undesirable organization,” effectively banning its operations within the country and exposing anyone collaborating with it to potential criminal charges.

“A decision has been taken to declare the activities of The Moscow Times, a foreign nongovernmental organization, undesirable on the territory of the Russian Federation,” Russia’s prosecutor general’s office said in a statement Monday. It accused the outlet of “discrediting the decisions of the leadership of the Russian Federation in both foreign and domestic policy.”

Russian authorities have used the “undesirable” label to force independent media and civic organizations critical of the Kremlin from the country. Some of the strongest Russian investigative projects, such as Proekt, the Insider and Important Stories, have been similarly labeled in recent years, which severely limited their ability to report inside the country and exposed reporters and potentially their interview subjects to legal risks.

The “undesirable” classification forces organizations to cease operations in Russia and puts Russians who work for, fund or collaborate with them at risk of potential prosecution, with jail terms of up to five years.

The Moscow Times, which publishes in English and Russian, is the alma mater of many accomplished correspondents who cover Russia, including Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal correspondent jailed in Russia on espionage charges the United States has dismissed as fabricated, and Ellen Barry, who went on to become a Pulitzer Prize-winning Moscow bureau chief in the early 2010s. The paper was established by Dutch publisher Derk Sauer in 1992, making it the first Western daily to be published in the country.

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The paper moved its office to Amsterdam in 2022 after Russia passed a package of laws restricting coverage of the invasion of Ukraine. A year later, the Russian Justice Ministry designated it as a “foreign agent” — usually the first step taken by the authorities to drive an organization out of the country.

Access to the paper’s website has been previously restricted in Russia, with authorities citing “systematic publication of socially significant false information aimed at discrediting the activities of state authorities of our country in conducting a special military operation,” a Kremlin euphemism for the war.

“This designation comes as no surprise — it was clear that our journalism, which is telling the world the truth about Russia and its war on Ukraine, makes the Kremlin uncomfortable,” Samantha Berkhead, an editor with the Moscow Times, told The Washington Post in a statement.

“Our jobs are going to become more difficult. Anyone in Russia who interacts with us in any way will now be at risk of criminal prosecution. But we refuse to be silenced,” she added.

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Washington

!$+∇√$[+[!LIVESTREAMs!]+] Washington Capitals vs Vegas Golden Knights Live Free Streams On Tv Channel 2026-03-29

Published

11 hours ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

Washington Capitals vs Vegas Golden Knights

HERE’S (*WAY TO WATCH*) Washington Capitals VS Vegas Golden Knights Ｆｒｅｅ LIVE 2026-03-29 Rose Bowl Parade 2026 live: Rose Bowl Parade 2026 look to seize control of thrilling Rose Bowl Parade 2026. Every team in the Rose Bowl Parade 2026 has two wins apiece as we go into the final two game weeks. Rose Bowl Parade 2026 will host Rose Bowl Parade 2026 at Live NHL mAtch Durban’s Kings Park Stadium with the Rose Bowl Parade 2026 a single point ahead of Rose Bowl Parade 2026 in the standings and just one behind leaders Rose Bowl Parade 2026.

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Washington

In deep-red Washington County, a surge in Democratic candidates

Published

23 hours ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

In deep-red Washington County, a surge in Democratic candidates

Anger over a proposed immigration detention center in Williamsport and a gradual reduction in public participation at county commissioner meetings are cited as possible reasons for a surge in Democratic, and younger, candidates in Washington County.

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Washington

North Dakota National Guard heading to Washington duty

Published

1 day ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

North Dakota National Guard heading to Washington duty

BISMARCK — About 60 North Dakota Army National Guard Soldiers will be sent to help the District of Columbia National Guard under a joint task force starting in April.

Most soldiers are from the 131st Military Police Battalion, which is headquartered in Bismarck, according to a release.

The support will be given as part of the effort that began on Aug. 11, when several states activated members of their National Guard to support local and federal law enforcement in Washington under the President Donald Trump’s

executive order 14333,

which declared a crime emergency in the nation’s capital.

The support is a federal mission under the command of the D.C. National Guard, which supports civilian agencies and local law enforcement to reduce crime and minimize property damage.

“Safeguarding the citizens, federal workers and elected leaders in our nation’s capital is a matter of national security, and we appreciate these Soldiers volunteering for this important mission,” said North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong in a release. “We know they will represent our state with the skill and professionalism that military leaders everywhere have come to expect from the North Dakota National Guard.”

The battalion is expected to be in Washington for about three months.

Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “staff.” Often, the “staff” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.

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