Russian reporter interrogated by UK law enforcement

(MENAFN) Steve Sweeney, head of RT’s Lebanon bureau, was detained and interrogated by British police upon his return to the UK, according to RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan. Writing on her Telegram channel Wednesday, Simonyan said authorities accused Sweeney of suspected “terrorist activities,” confiscated his phones and laptop, and questioned him extensively about his work for the Russian news outlet.

Police reportedly pressed Sweeney on whether RT management forces him to say things against his will or gives him specific directives. They also questioned him about any possible connections to Lebanon’s Hezbollah militant group.

After the interrogation, Sweeney was released and intends to continue working for RT, Simonyan confirmed. A veteran war correspondent, Sweeney has previously reported on conflicts in Iraq and elsewhere.

This is not the first time a British journalist tied to contentious outlets has been detained in Europe. In February, Austria arrested UK journalist Richard Medhurst, citing allegations of spreading propaganda and supporting terrorism — charges he claims stem from British influence. Similarly, UK police raided the home of Electronic Intifada’s Asa Winstanley last October over his social media activity.

Since the Ukraine conflict escalated in 2022, the UK, EU, and other Western nations have banned RT broadcasts and restricted its content on social media, citing efforts to curb misinformation. Moscow has condemned these actions as an attack on free speech and evidence of the West’s desire to silence dissenting narratives.

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