An Orwellian "Ministry of Truth" analogue When propaganda matters more than principles

In recent years, the use of media and journalistic organisations as instruments of influence has become a clear trend in Russia. A striking example of this is the open letter from the Union of Journalists of the Russian Federation addressed to international organisations, as well as media and human rights associations, in which it voices its "protest over the arrest of employees of Sputnik Azerbaijan."

Frankly speaking, it would be hard to come up with anything more absurd, given that the Sputnik agency is officially banned or blocked in 32 countries — including all 27 EU member states, as well as Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland, and Australia.

This fact was highlighted by the Press Council of Azerbaijan (PCA), which issued a statement to the international community in response to the letter from the Russian Union of Journalists.

In its statement, the PCA emphasised that the Union of Journalists of the Russian Federation is grossly distorting the facts, as the detention of Sputnik Azerbaijan's head Igor Kartavykh and editor-in-chief Yevgeny Belousov had nothing to do with their professional journalistic activities. The individuals in question were cooperating with the Federal Security Service (FSB) of the Russian Federation and were in Azerbaijan to carry out assignments for this intelligence agency.

Such is Russia’s long-standing tradition — passing off FSB operatives as “journalists.”

Incidentally, Sputnik Azerbaijan was previously headed for several years by Vitaly Denisov — a career officer of the Russian intelligence services with close ties to the Main Intelligence Directorate (now the GU – Ed.). Before that, he led Sputnik South Ossetia, and later Sputnik Moldova. In all these roles, he carried out information and propaganda campaigns aimed at promoting the pro-Kremlin agenda, using the media resources of these regions in the interests of Russian intelligence.

Are the members of the Russian Union of Journalists aware of this? It’s hard to believe that the Union is unaware of when, where, and how Russian intelligence operatives have acted under the cover of journalistic credentials. Just as they are surely aware of the countries in which Russia has waged — and continues to wage — so-called “hybrid wars,” in which the spread of disinformation and fake news is a key instrument. And yet, they are unable — or unwilling — to admit the obvious. Why? To answer that question, one need only trace the history of this organisation’s moral and professional decline.

First, let’s acknowledge that the Russian Union of Journalists was once a respected organisation, representing the interests of one of the most vital professions — those who are duty-bound to speak the truth to society. However, against the backdrop of increasing repression and the complete subjugation of the media to state ideology, the Union has lost its independence and professional integrity. Today, it resembles less a union and more a government department — just another cog in the machinery that keeps Russia’s propaganda system running smoothly.

The Union did not speak out against blatant acts of repression. There was no strong condemnation, no meaningful support in the cases of arrests such as those of Ivan Safronov, Svetlana Prokopyeva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza, nor in response to the murders of Anna Politkovskaya, Natalya Estemirova, Timur Kuashev, and others.

What it has done, however, is consistently issue statements in “support of colleagues” from state-run media whenever they faced “unfriendly actions” outside of Russia — just as it is doing now in the case of Azerbaijan.

The Russian Union of Journalists saw nothing, heard nothing, and said nothing while, for decades, federal Russian TV channels cultivated a false and offensive image of Azerbaijanis, Armenians, Georgians, Ukrainians, Uzbeks, Tajiks, and Turkmens. The same silence prevailed when low-grade Russian propagandists insulted Azerbaijan — even as the country's leadership and public demanded accountability from Russian officials for the downing of an AZAL aircraft by Russian air defences. That crash claimed the lives of 38 people, including crew members.

The Union also remained silent after raids by Russian law enforcement targeting members of the Azerbaijani diaspora. This silence was especially telling given the absurd narratives once again pushed by Russian propaganda, along with the immoral statements made by various members of the Russian State Duma — who, without trial or investigation, labelled Azerbaijanis living in Russia as “members of organised crime groups.” These remarks are a textbook example of xenophobia.

After the start of the Russia–Ukraine war, the Russian Union of Journalists not only failed to condemn the aggression and the imposition of censorship — it effectively supported the so-called “fake news law.” As dozens of Russian journalists were forced to flee the country in order to continue reporting on the real situation, the Union remained silent and, in essence, endorsed the government’s “purge” of independent media.

One could go on listing examples of the Union’s cowardice, but the points above are more than enough to make one thing clear: this organisation is utterly devoid of ethics and, to put it mildly, no longer lives up to its claimed professional mission.

In short, today’s Russian Union of Journalists is the modern analogue of George Orwell’s “Ministry of Truth”. And it should be treated as such.