Russian Official: Media Information Wars and Fake News Will Continue and Evolve

Moscow, September 21 (KUNA) -- Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that information wars and fake news will not end in the near future but will continue to evolve, emphasizing that this requires increasing efforts by news agencies to maintain the accuracy and reliability of information. He made these remarks while participating in the plenary session of the media forum of the Organization of Asia and Pacific News Agencies (OANA), held in Moscow on the occasion of the organization’s 65th anniversary.

Peskov added that the world is currently going through a difficult phase of economic and political transformations, noting that rapid developments are posing new challenges for news agencies and the media sector, especially amid the growing flow of misleading information. He stressed the importance of the role played by news agencies in conveying reliable and accurate information to the public, particularly in light of rapid developments in the media sector and the rising challenges associated with the spread of misinformation and fake news.

For his part, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking via video conference, said that Russia sees Western countries continuing their attempts to control the global information space, pointing to what he described as the suppression of dissenting opinions, blocking media outlets, and persecuting journalists. Lavrov added that these developments raise questions about the work of multilateral institutions tasked with monitoring respect for freedom of expression, while at the same time highlighting the growing global demand for reliable and objective information and increasing interest in perspectives that reflect cultural and traditional diversity. He affirmed that Russia would continue to defend freedom of expression, the values of unbiased journalism, and the rights of media professionals.

For her part, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that Western countries are attempting to influence the media space not only within their own borders but also in other regions of the world.

The session addressed issues such as the future of media, the role of news agencies in combating misinformation, the impact of artificial intelligence on media work, and ways to preserve professional standards and content quality.

The forum is attended by representatives of news agencies from Asia and the Pacific countries. The Russian news agency TASS holds the presidency of OANA from 2025 to 2028. Founded in 1961, OANA comprises more than 40 news agencies from 33 countries in the region.

The Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) is represented at the forum by its acting director general, Mohammed Al-Munaai, and the director of the Marketing and Public Relations Department, Essam Al-Ruwaih. (End) D.A.N. / N.S.A.