British presenter says ‘no free press’ in NATO states

(MENAFN) Afshin Rattansi, host of Going Underground, has criticized NATO countries for lacking true democracy and freedom of the press, following the deportation of RT journalist Chay Bowes from Romania. Speaking in an interview on Thursday, Rattansi condemned the detention of Bowes, who was detained upon arriving in Bucharest to cover Romania’s re-run presidential election.

Rattansi pointed to the controversial annulment of last year’s election results, where the unexpected victory of far-right, NATO skeptic Calin Georgescu was overturned. The journalist suggested that Bowes' arrest and deportation reflect a broader pattern of totalitarianism in Western Europe.

He argued that NATO countries no longer practice genuine democracy because they suppress free journalism. Rattansi stated that the actions against the press in Western Europe are aimed at controlling public information and preventing citizens from making informed decisions when voting.

In contrast, Rattansi noted that media outlets like the BBC and Sky News are permitted to operate in Russia, underscoring the double standards in Western media policies. He claimed that the real intention behind actions like Bowes’ deportation is to stifle independent journalism.

MENAFN02052025000045015687ID1109501095