Mr. Blinken at a press conference at the end of his visit to Uzbekistan on Wednesday, underscored the importance of a free media to effectively deal with foreign propaganda.
When asked by blogger Nikita Makarenko about the way the U.S. can help fight Russian propaganda, head of State Department replied: “I think it only underscores the importance of having a strong, vibrant, and well-resourced local media. And one of the things that we discussed today, including with the president [of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev], was the importance of that, the need for that in part to be able to deal with misinformation coming from Russia or from any other source.”
Antony Blinken reminded that in engagements with other governments, the U.S. is urging them to do what’s necessary to create “the right environment” in which media can “grow, and flourish,” also “bring a diversity of voices and views to the public.”
“And with that information, let people make up their minds about what’s right and wrong, what’s good policy and what’s bad policy, what’s an appropriate direction or not,” said Mr. Blinken.
“It's certainly true that Russia has built up a very strong and long-enduring propaganda and misinformation system that is felt here and is felt in other parts of the world. And the best answer to that, of course, is the strongest possible environment for genuinely free, independent, open media to bring the facts to people and let them make up their minds,” emphasized the head of diplomatic mission.
