Lavrov Condemns Information Warfare, Propaganda Campaigns as 'Unacceptable'

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov condemned Wednesday media propaganda campaigns and information wars.

"We believe that information wars, propaganda campaigns, information distortion and blatant lies are unacceptable… We are deeply concerned about attempts to prevent journalists from their professional activities for political reasons," Lavrov said at a meeting with Russian non-profit organizations.

He reminded that journalists were included in sanctions lists, banned from entry to certain countries, deported and subjects to psychological and physical pressure.

On May 10, the Ukrainian website Mirotvorets disclosed names, phone numbers and email addresses of more than 4,000 journalists accredited by self-proclaimed authorities of Donetsk and Lugansk to cover developments in the conflict zone. The leak contained names of representatives of CNN, the BBC, New York Times, Vice News, Al Jazeera and other media. Reporters Without Borders said such moves violated the European Human Rights Convention and Ukrainian national legislation, as well as personal data protection.