Banned Russian broadcaster boosts UAE presence in attempt to exonerate Putin
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Banned broadcaster RT has ramped up its presence in the UAE and other countries neutral over Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine in a propaganda push to rehabilitate Vladimir Putin.
The Kremlin-controlled news channel, formerly known as Russia Today, was banned in the UK and EU, and blocked in the US, after the February 2022 invasion.
It has launched advertising campaigns across the Middle East and Africa, as Putin tries to cement alliances amid Western efforts to isolate him and put economic pressure on Russia.
In India, RT is campaigning for Britain to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond as part of the propaganda blitz in countries which continue to buy Russian oil – a vital source of income for Putin’s war machine.
RT advertises its Arabic language version on posters across Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, where Putin made a rare state visit last month.
Western sanctions on Russia have made Moscow dependent on trade with neutral countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia and India, which have not imposed the same punitive measures.
In Dubai’s hotel rooms, it is easy to watch RT programmes in English as the channel denounces the “regime” in Kyiv and predicts ultimate victory for Putin’s forces.
At the time of Putin’s visit, RT was running a bulletin suggesting support for Volodymyr Zelensky in Ukraine was dropping.
It also reported that the Ukrainian counter-offensive had been a dismal failure and accused the Ukrainian president of ordering assassinations in Russian territory.
The propaganda outfit’s Arabic channel has launched an advertising campaign in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Libya
Called “Question More”, the campaign accuses the West of attempting to censor RT.
Access to news
“Access to news is the right of all. RT’s editorial line is embodied by its motto, Question More. We don’t dictate to our audience whom to believe. We give you the facts — you make the choice,” said RT Arabic editor-in-chief Maya Manna.
“Over the years mainstream western voices sought to shut-down RT’s access to platforms, and shut us out of conversations, including on social media and TV broadcasting platforms in Arabic,” she said.
“In doing so, they are not just trying to silence us, they are infringing upon our viewers’ and readers’ right of access to information.”
In India, RT ran a campaign in November asking, “Why won’t Britain return the Koh-i-Noor diamond?”.
As well as buying space on public transport, it took out an advert on the front page of the Times of India.
Queen Victoria
Part of the British crown jewels, the Kohi-Noor is one of the largest cut diamonds in the world and was given to Queen Victoria during the heyday of the British Empire.
There have been calls for its return ever since India gained independence in 1947.
Alicia Kearns, the chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, accused Russia of trying to use its “shrinking leverage” with New Delhi to obstruct Indian relations with the West.
“The Kremlin is happy to spend vast sums on propaganda on any potentially inflammatory wedge to sow anger and division between allies whilst its own people suffer in poverty under Putin’s mismanagement, corruption and warmongering,” the Tory MP for Rutland and Melton said.
A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesman said, “This is a further example of the Russian state interfering in the affairs of other countries and trying to distract from the brutal war it is waging against Ukraine.”
