Russian Propaganda Accomplices Should Face Consequences, RSF Chief Says

Reporters Without Borders Chief Calls for Legal Action Against Russian Propaganda Figures

The Director General of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Tibo Brutten, has issued a forceful call to identify, expose, and prosecute individuals involved in Russian propaganda operations, describing them as complicit in the war against Ukraine and threats to European democracy.

Speaking at a recent event, Brutten emphasized that merely countering disinformation narratives is insufficient. “We need to expose people, understand narratives, understand the budget,” he stated. “We should not waste time on them by engaging in discussions with them. We must pursue them.”

The RSF leader specifically named prominent Russian media figures Vladimir Solovyov and Margarita Simonyan as primary targets for accountability, describing them as “propaganda leaders” and “intermediaries” in Russia’s disinformation strategy. Simonyan heads the state-backed RT network, while Solovyov is one of Russia’s most recognized television propagandists.

“These people bear great responsibility for the destruction of Ukraine, for promoting aggression and war, and for attempts to undermine support for democracy in Europe,” Brutten said, making it clear that RSF views their actions as directly contributing to the conflict.

Brutten expressed hope that accountability would extend beyond propaganda figures to reach the highest levels of Russian leadership who “deliberately implemented this disinformation strategy.” He indicated RSF’s commitment to pursuing justice at both national and international levels.

In a significant clarification of RSF’s position, Brutten drew a sharp distinction between legitimate journalism and what he termed Russian “war correspondents,” stating unequivocally that the latter “are only a tool of propaganda and are not journalists.” This distinction is crucial for an organization dedicated to protecting press freedom worldwide.

“Our organization is demanding in its vision of what journalism is,” he explained. “We support independent journalism. We support people who distance themselves from military narratives.”

The statement comes as part of a broader context where defining genuine journalism has become increasingly contested. Brutten revealed that Russia has been pressuring international organizations to include RT and Sputnik personnel who died in combat zones on official lists of journalists killed in the line of duty—a move RSF strongly opposes.

“Russia is pressuring at the international level to try to include RT and Sputnik journalists on the list of journalists who died in battle, which angers us; we oppose this,” Brutten said. This position aligns with Western governments’ previous sanctions against Russian state media outlets for their role in information warfare.

According to RSF’s documentation, Russia has committed 868 crimes against journalists and media organizations during the large-scale war in Ukraine. These range from direct attacks on press representatives to systematic suppression of independent reporting within Russia itself, where most independent outlets have been forced to close or relocate abroad.

The organization’s stance represents a significant development in how international press freedom advocates approach state-sponsored disinformation. By calling for legal consequences rather than simply fact-checking or countering narratives, RSF is signaling a more aggressive approach to combating what it sees as weaponized information.

Media experts note that disinformation has become a central feature of modern conflict, with Russia pioneering techniques that blend traditional propaganda with sophisticated digital manipulation. The effectiveness of these campaigns has prompted democracies worldwide to reconsider how they defend information spaces while preserving genuine press freedoms.

RSF, founded in 1985 and headquartered in Paris, is one of the world’s most respected press freedom organizations. Its annual Press Freedom Index has become a key benchmark for measuring media independence globally.