PH media shouldn't publish untruths about Russian aggression vs Ukraine — British envoy
British Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils has called on the media not to allow misinformation "to pollute our minds" amid lies supposedly spread by Russia in its aggression against Ukraine.
Beaufils on Wednesday night said "the media have a responsibility not to publish untruths" as a Philippine-based broadsheet published an opinion article written by Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Marat Pavlov that justified Moscow's actions.
In his piece in February, Pavlov claimed it was the 2014 anti-constitutional armed coup d'état "orchestrated by the West" that took place in Kiev as well as their "Russophobia" that started the Russia-Ukraine war.
Photo courtesy of British Embassy in Manila
The British diplomat immediately called out a Philippine daily for publishing the said piece, which she described as "shocking Russian propaganda" and "lies justifying the illegal & barbaric Russian invasion of Ukraine." "In this instance, some of the things that were published were simply factually incorrect," Beaufils said in an interview with CNN Philippines on Wednesday night. "It is absolutely fact that Russia invaded a sovereign country. It is against international law, against the UN Charter. It is a blatant violation of international law," she added. Beaufils said the public and the media "really need to stand up" as well as "speak out when things are simply not true."
Photo courtesy of British Embassy in Manila
The British diplomat immediately called out a Philippine daily for publishing the said piece, which she described as "shocking Russian propaganda" and "lies justifying the illegal & barbaric Russian invasion of Ukraine." "In this instance, some of the things that were published were simply factually incorrect," Beaufils said in an interview with CNN Philippines on Wednesday night. "It is absolutely fact that Russia invaded a sovereign country. It is against international law, against the UN Charter. It is a blatant violation of international law," she added. Beaufils said the public and the media "really need to stand up" as well as "speak out when things are simply not true."