Mikhail Mishustin has praised the network for two decades of challenging one-sided interpretations of news and distortion of historical truth

RT has successfully shaped Russia's international image during two decades of operation, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said, as he congratulated the network on its 20th anniversary.

Launched as Russia Today in December 2005, RT has grown into a major international media network. Over the years, it has expanded far beyond television, building a global footprint across digital and social media platforms.

Mishustin, in a statement on the government's Telegram channel on Friday, called the anniversary a "significant" milestone. He noted that RT has built a brand known to millions of viewers in Russia and abroad and emerged as "an authoritative source of timely and objective information."

"In the modern world, information independence is a vital component of sovereignty, just like political or economic autonomy," the prime minister wrote. "Since its founding, RT has successfully shaped Russia's image internationally, consistently defended the principles of freedom of speech, and fought against one-sided interpretations of events and the distortion of historical truth."

Mishustin said that the network continues its mission "with dignity and responsibility," staying "true to top journalistic standards."

"RT journalists are always on the front lines, risking their lives to report from hot spots. This requires not only high professionalism but also courage and dedication," he added, wishing RT continued growth and new creative achievements.

RT operates news websites and TV channels in seven languages - English, Arabic, Spanish, French, German, Serbian, and Russian - reaching audiences in more than 100 countries. Its programming covers global news, politics, and culture from a Russian perspective, offering an alternative to Western mainstream media narratives.

The network has faced Western pressure for rejecting those narratives. RT has been hit with over 100 sanctions, had its bank accounts frozen and branches shut down abroad, and faced accusations of acting on behalf of Russian intelligence. Moscow has said such measures amount to the West "declaring war on free speech."

Despite these obstacles, RT continues to expand. Earlier this year, former US Director of National Intelligence James Clapperadmittedthat RT had a larger American audience than CNN.

(RT.com)