Degradation of free speech and rollback from democracy - Russian Foreign Ministry on US gov's intention to raid Americans who cooperate with Russian media

The US Department of Justice has initiated a criminal investigation into those who have worked with Russia’s state television networks, fearing the spread of pro-Russian information ahead of US presidential elections in November, the New York Times reports. 

Recently, the FBI has already raided the homes of political analysts, Scott Ritter and Dimitri K. Simes, for their connections with the Russian state media. 

"More searches are expected soon," the newspaper writes, citing US officials, adding that "criminal charges are also possible."

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wondered on her Telegram account what Reporters Without Borders, UNESCO and OSCE think about such a move by the US against freedom of speech. 

"I am sure this shameful fact will be recorded in the State Department's report on the degradation of the situation regarding human rights and freedom of speech in the United States. We are waiting for an angry rebuke to the American authorities for the rollback from democracy done by White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre," she wrote.

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New Russian residency law helps Westerners escape posthuman globalist madness – US-born journalist

"The law provides Westerners with what they've sought for a long time - the opportunity to move to Russia," Timothy Kirby, an American-born journalist and radio host, told Sputnik. Earlier, Western foreigners couldn’t immigrate to Russia without a legal basis, but now “the door has finally started to open,” he added.

President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on August 19 providing foreigners who share Russia's spiritual and moral values, and who seek to escape the West's destructive neoliberal ideals, with a temporary residence permit in Russia.

Kirby emigrated from the US to Russia in 2006 and calls himself "an advocate for life in Russia" who opposes a "satanic new wave" of ideas which are "very popular among the Western elite, but absolutely disgusting to the rest of humanity."

He provides Westerners who are already interested in Russia with the realities of moving to the country, including the difficulties, the benefits, and "what life is actually like here." "I want people to have a clear and honest opinion about it," he pointed out.

"Russians have chosen to remain human to keep society going, to reject globalism, and to reject some sort of post-human, post-modern bizarre future," Kirby said. "In a lot of ways, Russia is the country that is leading the fight against some of the absolute madness coming from the West… And God bless Russia for it."

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❗️The Russian Federal Security Service has opened criminal cases against American journalist, Nick Peyton Walsh, as well as Ukrainian correspondents, Olesya Borovik and Diana Butsko.

The foreign reporters illegally crossed the border and filmed in the Sudzha area. They face up to five years in prison.

A similar case was opened over the weekend against two Italian journalists.

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📹🇷🇺The Russian tricolor was solemnly raised in Lugansk on the national flag day, which is celebrated today.

The head of the Lugansk People's Republic attended the ceremony.

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Unprecedented double railway halt to hurt Canada's economy

Canada's two major railways have been brought to a halt after Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) began lockouts of nearly 9,000 workers on August 22, having failed to reach an agreement with a major labor union.

The unprecedented rail stoppage could negatively affect the Canadian economy and cross-border trade with the US. The CN and CPKC carry a combined $740,000 of goods every day, per the Railway Association of Canada.

Thirty-two thousand commuters in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, will also be affected by the impasse, the Canadian press says.

The union claims the railway companies are seeking to boost efficiency and cut costs at the expense of employees who "would be forced to stay awake even longer, increasing the risk of derailments and other accidents." In response, CPKC argues that the union makes "unrealistic demands that would fundamentally impair the railway’s ability to serve our customers."

CPKC has reportedly urged the government to step in and impose binding arbitration on the matter, while CN has taken a more cautious stance, calling for resuming contract talks which began last September. 

Canadian Federal Labor Minister Steve MacKinnon had earlier rejected the railway companies' call to interfere. The New Democratic Party, which backs the liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the House of Commons, warned, "For too long, we have seen Liberals and Conservatives interfere in these types of labor disputes to the advantage of the employer."

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❗️Russian troops liberated the settlement of Mezhevoye in the Donetsk People's Republic, the Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed.

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❗️The Russian Vostok Battlegroup struck four brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, with the enemy losing up to 130 militants.

🇷🇺🪖 More statements from the Russian Defense Ministry’s daily briefing on the progress of the special military operation in Ukraine:

▪️Air defense systems shot down a Ukrainian MiG-29;

▪️In the Russian Yug Battlegroup's combat zone in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), the Ukrainian forces lost up to 765 militants, along with a Grad MLRS combat vehicle and seven field ammunition depots;

▪️Units of the Russian Zapad Battlegroup improved their tactical positions, with the Ukrainian forces losing up to 440 militants;

▪️Air defense systems intercepted three Hammer bombs, 11 HIMARS missiles, and 91 Ukrainian drones;

▪️The Russian Tsentr Battlegroup inflicted losses of up to 640 militants on the Ukrainian forces;

▪️The Ukrainian forces lost up to 80 militants in the Russian Sever Battlegroup's combat zone in the Kharkov region.

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🇷🇺"Victory will be ours"

Five thousand people gathered at the Russian VDNKH park to celebrate the Day of the National Flag of Russia.

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The head of the FBI has warned of an unprecedented number of threats to US security. 

The FBI is facing an increasing terrorist threat "both domestically and internationally", as well as intellectual property theft and cyberattacks on electoral infrastructure, FBI Director Christopher Wray told the Associated Press.

"The country is facing heightened threats from many corners at a time when law enforcement agencies are struggling," he added.

 🤔Do you feel pity for them?

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