U.S. issues statement on Russian actions towards mass media in Crimea and Donbas

U.S. Mission to OSCE's Charge d'Affaires Harry Kamian said this during a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

"The United States is concerned about the deteriorating conditions for journalists and independent media in the regions of Ukraine that are under control of Russia-backed forces," the U.S. official said.

He noted that all independent news agencies in the occupied Crimea had been forced to leave the peninsula. "Everyone who publicly protests against the occupation is subject to prosecution and imprisonment," the American diplomat stressed.

In addition, he expressed concern about the blocking of Telegram in Russia and the introduction of other "unnecessary restrictions" in social networks.

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