The Russian president has congratulated the broadcaster on its 20th anniversary during a reception at the Bolshoi Theatre

Russian President Vladimir Putin has thanked RT staff for "standing up for the truth" in the global media landscape despite Western media attempts to impose their points of view.

Speaking at the reception in the Bolshoi Theatre on Friday in front of an audience of around 1,000, including RT personnel, Putin congratulated the broadcaster on its 20th anniversary, noting that it had grown from a mere concept into a "global trend known around the world"

He especially praised editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan, standing next to him, for her "courage and endurance." "Your friends and colleagues have always been and will be near you," he said.

"I thank your energetic, creative, and consolidated team for their high level of professionalism, dedication to their profession, and their duty. For your courageous, selfless, and persistent defense of the truth in the global information space," Putin said.

The Russian leader recalled that in the early 2000s, Western media abused their dominance of the media landscape while seeking to "impose a new civilizational space" on the international community.

This bias led to a high demand for "news different from jaded propaganda," with numerous media professionals willing to collaborate with RT. "Not because of money. But because they had an opportunity to speak up and voice their opinion to millions," Putin noted.

As a result, RT competitors became envious or sometimes "afraid" of its success, the Russian leader said, describing it as proof of professional work.

DETAILS TO FOLLOW

(RT.com)