FM Lavrov complains about fascist censorship: Refusal to admit Russian journalists to briefing by Obama, Yatsenyuk unacceptable

ITAR-TASS
Sat, 15 Mar 2014 07:23 UTC

© EPA/SHAWN THEW

"The White House evidently does not want to hear acute questions that do not fit a scenario developed beforehand," spokesperson for Russia's Foreign Ministry Alexander Lukashevich stated

Russia called unacceptable and discriminatory the refusal to admit Russian journalists to a news conference by U.S. President Barack Obama and interim Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk appointed by Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Alexander Lukashevich stated on Friday.

"It looks like that Washington that likes so much to speak about the freedom of speech and rights of journalists is not prepared to follow these principles preferring to deal with only "reliable" media outlets spreading information "necessary" for them," the diplomat said.

"The White House evidently does not want to hear acute questions that do not fit a scenario developed beforehand, for instance, those about crimes of neo-Nazis from Right Sector (far-right Ukrainian movement) who are behind Arseniy Yatsenyuk's "government"," Lukashevich noted.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk has paid a visit to the United States where he met Barack Obama on March 12 discussing financial and economic aid to Ukraine. Upon results of the meeting Yatsenyuk and Obama gave a news conference to which representatives of Russian media outlets were not admitted.

Comment: Press conferences with Obama are in stark contrast to those with Putin, where all questions are allowed to being asked. Obama only wishes those journalists present who are sure not to ask any challenging questions.

For a contrast see:
A true statesman: Vladimir Putin press conference, March 4, 2014 - video and transcript