The Kremlin’s Expanding Media Conglomerate

 Russia is pursuing a number of objectives through establishing local media partnerships.

• The Kremlin is attempting to make its global information web more resilient and enduring. Russia’s information space will likely be less vulnerable to counter-disinformation efforts if the Kremlin both embeds its media with foreign outlets and secures a network of institutional ties at the governmental level. The Kremlin also seeks to shape the training, methods, and views of journalists around the world so that the Kremlin’s “ways” and narratives continue to live even if host governments expel Kremlin-affiliated outlets. Russian outlets have already conducted a number of such trainings. Sputnik even launched a special “Sputnik School of Young Journalists” project to train emerging reporters globally.[1]

• The Kremlin also likely seeks to turn RT, Sputnik, Ruptly, TASS, and its other controlled outlets into dominant news wire sources worldwide to compete with services like Reuters. The Kremlin is focusing on boosting the prestige and name recognition of Russian media brands. Russia’s local media partners both attribute shared content to Russia and sometimes place the logos of Russian media outlets in their products. Russia also likely seeks to eliminate the distinction between private, independent Western outlets and Kremlin-controlled Russian outlets by placing Russian content next to content from Western media outlets.[2]

• The Kremlin’s push for media agreements supports Russia’s larger campaigns to cultivate influence in certain regions and countries. These media cooperation agreements are often an integrated component of larger packaged deals. There is a clear alignment between Russia’s push in Southeast Asia and the appearance of media cooperation agreements with the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Similarly, media agreements with African countries supported the Kremlin’s push to expand its influence in Africa, a continental campaign that the authors have analyzed in detail.[3]

The Kremlin launched the campaign to cultivate partnerships with local media outlets around the world simultaneously with its revision of Russia’s Information Security Doctrine. The Kremlin revised and published its new doctrine in 2015 and 2016, respectively.[4] The new doctrine defined “growing bias with regards to Russia in the foreign media” and “international efforts to block the activity of Russian media” among Russia’s key challenges.[5] The Kremlin has likely assessed that it needs to create a global information space with lasting ties to local structures and to build media coalitions as essential requirements for securing Russia’s grand strategic objectives of reestablishing Russia as great power and ending “U.S. hegemony.”

The Kremlin’s overall strategic objective in the information space is to shape the narratives surrounding Russia’s and the West’s roles in the world, and to gain acceptance for Russia’s aggressive behavior. The Kremlin wages a wide array of information campaigns in support of various objectives, ranging from normalizing its violations of international norms to undermining the Western sanctions regime.

The Kremlin also has faced a number of setbacks and slowed efforts over the last five years. Russia’s push to sign cooperation agreements has the most momentum outside the West. Russia was able to secure partnership with only a handful of Western outlets. The Kremlin is also facing backlash against its efforts as evidenced by multiple incidents between 2016 and 2020. Estonia forced Russia to shut down its Sputnik office in Estonia in January 2020.[6] Latvia shut down nine Kremlin-linked channels in November 2019.[7] Lithuania deported Sputnik’s chief editor in Lithuania in May 2019.[8] A Bolivian television operator terminated RT broadcasting in November-December 2019.[9] The CEO of a major online news website in the Philippines publicly warned the Philippine government against sending its employees to get information training in Russia during a Philippine Senate hearing on fake news proliferation in January 2018.[10] A Slovakian media outlet revoked a partnership agreement with Sputnik after major pushback from the public in 2016.[11]

The Kremlin will continue to prioritize building out its information space in an effort to expand its global narratives and gain acceptance for Russia’s illegal behavior. The Kremlin might also use its partnerships with local media to obscure the origin of its disinformation campaigns. Most of the current Russian media partners attribute shared content to Russian outlets, as the Kremlin’s current priority is building out the Russian media brand, but this calculus might change. The Kremlin is also likely to double down on its journalism training efforts to cultivate an international cadre of journalists to spread Russian narratives and principles.

ISW will provide a more detailed analysis of the Kremlin’s evolution in the information space in a forthcoming paper focused on Putin’s geopolitical adaptations.

2015

Serbia – RT signed a content sharing agreement with Serbia’s Studio B public radio station in December 2014. Studio B started to broadcast RT’s Serbian language programs daily in January 2015.[12]

Egypt – Sputnik signed a memorandum of cooperation on information exchange and content sharing with Egypt’s Al-Ahram newspaper in February 2015. Translated Sputnik and RT stories appear in Bawaba Al-Ahram, the paper’s digital website, next to reporting from news agencies like Reuters.[13]

Mexico – The Rossiya Segodnya media group signed a cooperation agreement on Spanish-language content sharing with Mexico’s Notimex state news agency in April 2015.[14]

Cambodia – Sputnik signed a cooperation agreement on joint projects and content sharing with Cambodia’s Agence Kampuchea Press national press agency in November 2015.[15]

Indonesia – Radio Sputnik signed a content sharing agreement with Indonesia’s Antara news media company in December 2015.[16]

2016

Algeria – Sputnik signed a cooperation agreement on content sharing and joint media products with the Algeria Press Service in April 2016.[17] “Algeria and Russia are working together to build a multipolar and diverse world,” said Oleg Osipov, the Deputy Chief Editor of Rossiya Segodnya media group, which owns Sputnik.

Japan – Sputnik reported that it signed a cooperation agreement on joint projects with Japan’s Kyodo News agency in March 2016.[18] Kyodo News maintains a Sputnik-branded image library on its website.[19]

Syria – Sputnik signed a cooperation agreement on content sharing and joint projects with the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) in June 2016.[20]

Lebanon – Sputnik signed a cooperation agreement with Lebanon’s Al Mayadeen TV in June 2016.[21]

Paraguay – Sputnik signed a cooperation agreement on joint projects and content sharing with Paraguay’s Secretariat of Information and Communication (SICOM) in June 2016. Under the agreement, Sputnik will share information and develop joint projects with the Paraguayan IP news agency, Paraguay TV channel, and Radio Nacional del Paraguay.[22]

Egypt – Sputnik signed a cooperation agreement on content sharing and joint projects with Egypt’s Akhbar Al-Yom newspaper in August 2016.[23] 

Italy – Sputnik signed a cooperation agreement on content sharing and joint projects with Italy’s Askanews press agency in October 2016.[24]

2017

Myanmar – Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Myanmar’s Ministry of Information in February 2017. The countries agreed to cooperate in the field of mass media.[25]

South Africa – Sputnik signed an agreement on content sharing and joint projects with South Africa’s SAN News government news agency in March 2017.[26]

Turkey – TASS signed a cooperation agreement on content sharing with Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency in March 2017.[27]

Cuba – Radio Sputnik signed a cooperation agreement on joint radio broadcasting with Cuba’s state news agency Prensa Latina in March 2017.[28]

China – Sputnik signed a cooperation agreement on content sharing with China’s Global Times tabloid newspaper in April 2017.[29]

Iran – Sputnik signed a cooperation agreement on content sharing with the Iranian government-operated Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) in May 2017.[30]

Bulgaria – Sputnik signed a cooperation agreement on content sharing and joint projects with the Bulgarian Standart newspaper in May 2017.[31]

Vietnam – Sputnik signed a cooperation agreement on content sharing and joint projects with Vietnam News Agency, Vietnam’s government news agency, in June 2017.[32]

Mongolia – Sputnik signed a cooperation agreement on content sharing and joint projects with Mongolia’s Montsame, Mongolia’s state news agency, in September 2017.[33]

China – The Rossiya Segodnya media group signed a cooperation agreement with China’s Alibaba Group’s Alibaba Culture Communication aimed at “stimulating innovative processes of production and dissemination of the media content” in September 2017.[34]

Philippines – Russia and the Philippines signed an intergovernmental agreement on mass media cooperation as a part of a broader package in November 2017.[35]

Indonesia – Sputnik signed a cooperation agreement on content sharing with Indonesia’s JawaPos.com newspaper and Radio Republik Indonesia, a state-owned public radio network in December 2017. Sputnik provides Indonesian news outlets with textual journalism and radio broadcast segments.[36]

Malaysia – Sputnik signed an agreement on content sharing, journalistic support, and joint projects with Malaysia’s Bernama national news agency in December 2017.[37] 

2018

Iran – Sputnik signed a cooperation agreement on content sharing and joint projects with Iran’s Mehr News Agency in January 2018.[38]

Iran – RT and the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) organization signed a MoU on media cooperation, specifically staff training, in March 2018.[39]

UAE – RT signed a memorandum of cooperation with UAE’s state news agency Emirates News Agency (WAM) to facilitate the exchange of information including news and broadcast content in February 2018.[40] 

West Bank and Gaza – Sputnik and RT signed cooperation agreements on content sharing and joint projects with the Palestinian National Authority’s WAFA News Agency in February 2018.[41]

Armenia – Ruply signed a cooperation agreement on video content development with Armenia’s state-owned ARMENPRESS news agency in April 2018. The cooperation agreement aims at bringing ARMENPRESS videos up to "international standards."[42]

Cuba – Sputnik signed a cooperation agreement on content sharing, joint projects, and journalistic training with Cuba’s Institute of Radio and Television in June 2018.[43]

India – Sputnik signed a cooperation agreement on content sharing and joint projects with the Indian Asian News International (ANI) news agency in September 2018.[44]

China – China Media Group signed a cooperation agreement on content sharing and joint projects with Rossiya Segodnya media group in September 18.[45 

Philippines – Sputnik signed a cooperation agreement on content sharing and journalist exchanges with the Philippines News Agency (PNA), the official news agency of the Philippine government, in November 2018. PNA staff went to Moscow for training.[46]

Morocco – Sputnik signed a cooperation agreement on content sharing and journalist exchanges with Morocco’s government-run Agence Maghreb Arabe Presse (MAP) news agency in December 2018.[47]

2019

Indonesia – Sputnik signed a cooperation agreement on content sharing and joint projects with the Indonesian Sindonews.com news web portal in February 2019.[48]

Pakistan – Sputnik signed a cooperation agreement on content sharing with the Pakistani newspaper The Nation in February 2019.[49]

Uruguay – Sputnik signed a cooperation agreement on Spanish-language content exchange with Radiodifusión Nacional del Uruguay national public broadcaster in February 2019.[50]

Argentina – Sputnik signed a cooperation agreement on content sharing with Argentina’s Federal Media and Public Content System in February 2019.[51] 

UAE – Sputnik signed a MoU on content sharing with the UAE’s state news agency, Emirates News Agency (WAM), in March 2019.[52]

India – Sputnik signed a cooperation agreement on content sharing with the United News of India news agency in May 2019. The agreement aims to develop "true democratization and the elimination of the Western media bias in presenting international information."[53]

Republic of the Congo – The Russian government signed a bilateral cooperation agreement with the government of the Republic of the Congo in May 2019. Russia and the Republic of the Congo plan to forge connections between their state news agencies and TV broadcasters, share media programs, develop joint projects, and train journalists. Russia claims it will provide the Congo technical assistance to switch to digital broadcasting.[54]

Democratic Republic of the Congo – Sputnik signed a cooperation agreement on French- and English-language content sharing and joint programs with Radio-Television Nationale Congolaise, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s state broadcaster, in May 2019.[55]

Eritrea – RT signed a cooperation agreement on training, program exchanges, and RT-provided sourcing with Eritrea’s state-owned television station Eri-TV in May 2019.[56] 

Cote D'Ivoire – Radio Sputnik signed a cooperation agreement on French-language content sharing with Cote D'Ivoire’s Agence Ivoirienne de Presse (AIP) news agency in August 2019.[57]

China – Sputnik signed a memorandum of cooperation on content sharing with China’s Dongbeiwang (DBW), a major media outlet in northern China, in August 2019.[58]

Myanmar – Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media signed a cooperation agreement with the government of Myanmar in September 2019. Under the agreement, RT and Myanmar will forge connections between their state news agencies, including Myanmar’s “Myawaddy” military television channel.[59]

China – Rossiya Segodnya media group reported that it signed a cooperation agreement on technological development and media content distribution with the Chinese Huawei company in September 2019. Huawei will provide Rossiya Segodnya its “latest technological solutions” to help produce and distribute media content, including though specialized mobile platforms.[60]

India – Sputnik and the Indian Zee Media Corporation Limited’s WION TV channel exchanged letters of intent on increasing Russian-Indian media content sharing in September 2019.[61]

DPRK – TASS signed a cooperation agreement on content sharing and journalist exchanges with North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in October 2019.[62]

Saudi Arabia – Rossiya Segodnya media group signed a cooperation agreement on content sharing with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Media Affairs in October 2019. Under the agreement, Saudi Arabia will host a Sputnik office.[63]

Panama – Sputnik signed a MoU on content sharing with Panama’s Agencia de Noticias Panamá news agency in October 2019.[64]

China – Sputnik and Chinese state-run Xinhua news agency signed an agreement on exchanging content in Spanish and Arabic in October 2019.[65]

BRICS – Sputnik convinced the BRICS group to endorse a plan to create a unified “fact-checking” platform to “counter the dissemination of false information” at the 11th BRICS summit in November 2019.[66]

Withdrawn Deals

Estonia – Sputnik’s office in Estonia ceased its operations on January 1, 2020 after approximately three dozen of its employees resigned. Sputnik Estonia’s employees said that their resignation was a direct result of pressure from Estonian police: "Estonia’s Police and Border Guard Board has presented each of us with an ultimatum…either we terminate our labor contracts...and no longer work for Sputnik Estonia or they open criminal cases against us." Estonian law enforcement sent Sputnik's Estonia a warning saying that staff members could face prosecution due to European Union sanctions against Russia in December 2019.[67]

Bolivia – Bolivia’s major private TV operator Cotas terminated RT Spanish broadcasts in Bolivia in December 2019.[68]

Latvia – Latvia’s broadcast regulator suspended in November 2019 the broadcasting of nine television channels owned by Yuri Kovalchuk. Kovalchuk is on the EU’s sanctions list for undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty.[69]

Lithuania – Lithuania’s Border Guard Service deported Marat Kasem, Sputnik’s chief editor in Lithuania, in May 2019 and banned Kasem from Lithuania for five years, claiming Kasem is a "threat to national security." A Vilnius court ruled to block Sputnik’s Lithuanian language website for repeatedly publishing protected content from the Lithuanian Radio and Television Commission without permission in July 2019.[70]

Mexico – The Russian embassy in Mexico claimed the Rossiya Segodnya media group signed a cooperation agreement on Spanish-language content sharing with Mexico’s Notimex state news agency in April 2019. The embassy has since deleted the statement, potentially indicating setbacks in the deal.[71]

Spain – Spain welcomed Russia’s offer to establish a joint Spanish-Russian cybersecurity group to combat misinformation in November 2018.[72] There is no indication from openly available information that the group has been created, however.[73]

Philippines – The CEO of a major online news website in the Philippines warned the Presidential Communications Operations Office against sending its employees to get information training in Russia during a Philippines Senate hearing on fake news proliferation in January 2018.[74] A senior Filipino communications official said RT offered to teach a "different kind of reporting" designed to “improve and share their best practices that are different compared to Western Media” to journalists working for Philippine government media outlets in October 2019.[75]

Slovakia – Slovakia’s TASR public news agency withdrew from a cooperation agreement on content sharing with Sputnik in March 2017 a day after the agreement was signed due to pushback from the public and Slovak government.[76]

Argentina – The government of Argentina almost expelled RT from Argentinean cable in June 2016. RT successfully turned the situation around and signed an expanded media cooperation agreement with Argentina in July 2016.[77]

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[1] “Sputnik School of Young Journalists Enrolls Students from 23 Countries,” Sputnik, October 31, 2017, https://sputniknews((.))com/agency_news/201710311058692476-sputnik-school-young-journalists/. 
[2] Matt Robinson, “On Serbian Airwaves, a Battle for Heart of Balkans,” Reuters, May 3, 2017, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-serbia-russia-media-analysis/on-serbian-airwaves-a-battle-for-heart-of-balkans-idUSKBN17Z0X1; [“The International News Agency ‘Russia Segodnya” and “Al-Ahram’ Foundation Sign a Memorandum of Cooperation,”] Sputnik Arabic, November 2, 2015, https://arabic.sputniknews(.)com/arab_world/201502111013393610/; Nathaniel Greenberg, “Russian Influence Operations Extend into Egypt,” The Conversation, February 12, 2019, http://theconversation(.)com/russian-influence-operations-extend-into-egypt-111167; Nathaniel Greenberg, “Russia Opens Digital Interference Front in Libya,” MERIP, October 4, 2019, https://merip.org/2019/10/russia-opens-digital-interference-front-in-libya/. 
[3] Nataliya Bugayova, Mason Clark, Michaela Walker, Andre Briere, Anthony Yanchuk, and George Barros, “The Kremlin’s Inroads after the Africa Summit,” Institute for the Study of War, November 8, 2019, http://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/kremlins-inroads-after-africa-summit; Nataliya Bugayova and Darina Regio, “The Kremlin’s Campaign in Africa: Assessment Update,” Institute for the Study of War, August 2019, http://www.understandingwar.org/sites/default/files/ISW%20-%20The%20Kremlin%20Campaign%20in%20Africa%20-%20August%202019.pdf. 
[4] [““Kommersant” became aware of the provisions of the new “Doctrine of Information Security of the Russian Federation,”] Kommersant, October 9, 2015, https(:)//www.kommersant.ru/doc/2829842;[“Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated December 05, 2016 No. 646: On Approving the Doctrine of Information Security of the Russian Federation,”] Kremlin, December 5, 2016, http://kremlin((.))ru/acts/bank/41460/page/2. 
[5] [“Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated December 05, 2016 No. 646: On Approving the Doctrine of Information Security of the Russian Federation,”] Kremlin, December 5, 2016, http://kremlin((.))ru/acts/bank/41460/page/2. 
[6] “Russian News Agency Sputnik Closes Estonia Operations After Employees Quit,” Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, January 1, 2020. https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-news-agency-sputnik-closes-estonia-operations-after-employees-quit/30355321.html; [“MIA ‘Rossiya Segodnya’ Answered to the Lawlessness of the Estonian Regime: What Awaits Sputnik Estonia,”] Sputnik Estonia, December 31, 2019, https://ee.sputniknews(.)ru/estonian_news/20191231/18892543/V-MIA-Rossiya-segodnya-otvetili-na-bespredel-estonskogo-rezhima-chto-zhdet-Sputnik-Estoniya.html. 
[7] Latvian Broadcast Regulator Suspends Nine Russian TV Channels,” Latvian Public Broadcasting, November 20, 2019, https://eng.lsm(.)lv/article/society/society/latvian-broadcast-regulator-suspends-nine-russian-tv-channels.a339012/. 
[8] “Lithuania Expels Chief Editor Of Sputnik’s Local Branch,” Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, May 28, 2019, https://www.rferl.org/a/lithuania-expels-chief-editor-of-sputnik-local-branch/29968909.html; [“COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT DECISION TO BLOCK SPUTNIKNEWS.LT CAME INTO EFFECT IN 2019. JULY 12,”] Lithuanian Radio and Television Commission, July 12, 2019, https://www.rtk(.)lt/pranesimai-spaudai/del-autoriu-teisiu-pazeidimo-priimtas-sprendimas-blokuoti-interneto-svetaine-sputniknews-lt/; “Lithuania Arrests Local ‘Sputnik’ Editor-in-Chief, Barring Him from Country for Five Years as ‘National Security Threat,’” Meduza, May 28, 2019, https://meduza(.)io/en/news/2019/05/28/lithuania-arrests-local-sputnik-editor-in-chief-barring-him-from-country-for-five-years-as-national-security-threat. 
[9] [“Russia Rejects Cessation of Signal to RT Station in Bolivia,”] Hoy Tamaulipas, November 28, 2019, https://www.hoytamaulipas(.)net/notas/403377/Rusia-rechaza-cese-de-senial-a-emisora-RT-en-Bolivia.html; [“Zakharova Commented on Disabling RT Broadcasting in Bolivia,”] Rossiya Segodnya, November 11, 2019, https://ria(.)ru/20191128/1561706279.html; “Bolivian TV Operator Shuts Down RT Spanish Broadcasts,” RT, November 27, https((:))//www.rt.com/news/474513-rt-spanish-bolivia-taken-off-air/. 
[10] Camille Elemia, “PCOO Warned vs Getting info Dissemination Training from China, Russia,” Rappler, January 30, 2018, https://www.rappler(.)com/nation/194814-maria-ressa-pcoo-training-china-russia. 
[11] [“Slovak TASR Canceled Cooperation with an Agency that Propagates pro-Kremlin Propaganda,”] Česká televise, March 30, 2017, https://ct24.ceskatelevize(.)cz/svet/2072052-slovensky-tasr-zrusil-spolupraci-s-agenturou-ktera-siri-prokremelskou-propagandu; “TASR Withdraws from Contract with pro-Putin Newswire,” The Slovak Spectator, March 30, 2017, https://spectator.sme(.)sk/c/20496508/tasr-withdraws-from-contract-with-pro-putin-newswire.html; “TASR Cancels Contract With Sputnik Under Pressure From Authorities,” Sputnik, March 30, 2017, https://sputniknews(.)com/agency_news/201703301052134354-tasr-sputnik-contracr/; “Slovak Agency To Cancel Contract With Russia's Sputnik After Uproar,” Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, March 30, 2017, https://www.rferl.org/a/slovakia-news-agency-cancels-sputnik-contract-russia/28400557.html; “Sputnik Signs Cooperation Agreement With Slovak News Agency TASR,” Sputnik, March 29, 2017, https(:)//sputniknews.com/art_living/201703291052069837-sputnik-slovak-news-cooperation/. 
[12] “Russia Today Start Broadcasts from Serbia,” Balkan Insight, January 1, 2015, https://balkaninsight.com/2015/01/01/russia-today-starts-broadcast-on-belgrade-radio/; Matt Robinson, “On Serbian Airwaves, a Battle for Heart of Balkans,” Reuters, May 3, 2017, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-serbia-russia-media-analysis/on-serbian-airwaves-a-battle-for-heart-of-balkans-idUSKBN17Z0X1. 
[13] Nathaniel Greenberg, “Russian Influence Operations Extend into Egypt,” The Conversation, February 12, 2019, http://theconversation(.)com/russian-influence-operations-extend-into-egypt-111167; Nathaniel Greenberg, “Russia Opens Digital Interference Front in Libya,” MERIP, October 4, 2019, https://merip.org/2019/10/russia-opens-digital-interference-front-in-libya/. 
[14] [“Information on Annual Activities,”] Notimex, April 14, 2016, http://www.notimex.gob(.)mx/archivosTransparencia/Transparencia_00883.pdf; [“News Agencies Rossiya Segodnya and Notimex Sign Cooperation Agreement,”] Sputnik Latin America, April 29, 2015, https://mundo.sputniknews(.)com/america-latina/201504291036929149/. 
[15] [“Sputnik Develops Collaboration with Cambodian Media,”] Ria Novosti, November 24, 2015, https://ria(.)ru/20151124/1327344874.html. 
[16] [“Indonesia’s Leading Media Signs Cooperation Agreement with Sputnik,”] Sputnik, November 17, 2015, https://ru.sputnik((.))kg/world/20151117/1020169839.html; Sok Lou, Facebook, November 15, 2015, https://www.facebook.com/SokLouKampongthom/posts/645978238876456/. 
[17] “Sputnik News Agency, Algerie Press Service Sign Cooperation Deal,” Sputnik, April 27, 2016, https://sputniknews((.))com/agency_news/201604271038709041-deal-press-sputnik/; “Moscow Region, Russia, 27th Apr 2016,” Alamy, April 27, 2016, https://www.alamy((.))com/stock-photo-moscow-region-russia-27th-apr-2016-abdelhamid-kacha-2nd-l-director-103081752.html. 
[18] “Sputnik Starts Cooperation with japan’s Kyodo News Agency,” Sputnik, March 14, 2016, https://sputniknews(.)com/world/201603141036233903-sputnik-kyodo-cooperation-agreement/; [“Sputnik News,”] Kyodo News Imagelink, Accessed January 14, 2020, https://imagelink.kyodonews(.)jp/web-Sales/web/partner.html?p_name=rossiya_segodnya. 
[19] [“Sputnik News,”] Kyodo News Imagelink, Accessed January 14, 2020, https://imagelink.kyodonews(.)jp/web-Sales/web/partner.html?p_name=rossiya_segodnya. 
[20] “SANA and Sputnik Sign Cooperation Agreement,” SANA, June 6, 2016, https://sana(.)sy/en/?p=79471. 
[21] “Sputnik Expands into Arab Countries,” Sputnik, June 6, 2016, https://sputniknews((.))com/agency_news/201606061040850152-sputnik-expands-arab-states/. 
[22] “Sputnik Increases News Content in Spanish,” Sputnik, June 20, 2016, https://sputniknews(.)com/agency_news/201606201041624227-news-agency-spanish-content/. 
[23] “Sputnik Expands Cooperation with Egypt,” Sputnik, August 15, 2016, https://sputniknews(.)com/agency_news/201608151044274652-cooperation-sputnik-egypt-media/; “Akhbar Al Youm Signs Cooperation Agreement with Sputnik, Editor-in-Chief Says we need ‘Other Aspects of the Truth,’” Enterprise, August 16, 2016, https://enterprise.press/stories/2016/08/16/akhbar-al-youm-signs-cooperation-agreement-with-sputnik-editor-in-chief-says-we-need-other-aspects-of-the-truth/. 
[24] [“Sputnik Begins Cooperation with Askanews,”] Ria Novosti, October 20, 2016, https://ria(.)ru/20161020/1479632221.html; [“Askanews Signs Collaboration Agreement with Russian Sputnik,”] Askanews, October 20, 2016, https://www.askanews.it/esteri/2016/10/20/askanews-sigla-accordo-di-collaborazione-con-russa-sputnik-pn_20161020_00392/. 
[25] “MoU Signed for Collaborative Development of Communication Sector,” Global New Light of Myanmar, February 17, 2017, https://www.globalnewlightofmyanmar.com/mou-signed-for-collaborative-development-of-communication-sector/. 
[26] [“Sputnik Strengthens Relations with South African Media,”] Russia Segodnya, March 7, 2015, https://россиясегодня(.)рф/news/20170307/37651.html. 
[27] “Russia’s TASS Signs Cooperation Deal with Turkey’s Anadolu News Agency,” RFERL, March 11, 2017, https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-tass-signs-cooperation-agreement-anadolu-turkish-news-agency/28363230.html. 
[28] [“On the Signing of a Cooperation Agreement Between Sputnik and Prensa Latina Agencies,”] Russian MFA, March 20, 2017, http://www.mid(.)ru/ru/maps/cu/-/asset_publisher/ZCoR8WfDPJng/content/id/2700393; [“Russian Propaganda Medium Joins Cuban Agency to Expand in Latin America,”] Radio Television Marti, March 21, 2017, https://www.radiotelevisionmarti.com/a/cuba-sputnik-prensa-latina-acuerdo-colaboracion/141466.html. 
[29] “Global Times Begins Cooperation with Sputnik,” Global Times, April 19, 2017, http://www.globaltimes(.)cn/content/1043165.shtml; [“Sputnik Starts Partnership with China’s Global Times Online,”] Ria Novosti, April 19, 2017, https://ria((.))ru/20170419/1492502204.html. 
[30] “IRNA, Sputnik Sign Cooperation Agreement,” Iran Daily, May 30, 2017, http://www.iran-daily(.)com/News/193832.html?catid=3&title=IRNA--Sputnik-sign-cooperation-agreement; “Sputnik Connects with Iran,” Sputnik, May 30, 2017, https://sputniknews((.))com/agency_news/201705301054114354-sputnik-connects-with-iran/. 
[31] [“Sputnik is Expanding its Partnership Network in Eastern Europe,”] RIA, November 5, 2017, https((:))//ria.ru/20170511/1494115466.html; [“RIA Novosti and Standard Signed a Cooperation Agreement,”] Utro, May 12, 2017, https://utroruse.com/article/735282/; [“I am Honored to Partner with Sputnik,”] Bulgarian Journalist Union, May 15, 2017, http((:))//www.sbj-bg.eu/index.php?t=35511. 
[32] “Vietnam News Agency Inks Cooperation Deal with Sputnik,” Vietnam News, June 30, 2017, http((:))//vietnamnews.vn/politics-laws/379298/vietnam-news-agency-inks-cooperation-deal-with-sputnik.html. 
[33] “MONTSAME and Sputnik Expand Their Cooperation,” Montsame, September 21, 2017, https://montsame(.)mn/en/read/131547; Montsame, Partnering Agencies page, accessed on January 14, 2020, https(:)//www.montsame.mn/en/more/411. 
[34] [“Russia Today and Alibaba Start Cooperation,”] Rossiya Segodnya, September 6, 2017, https(:)//россиясегодня(.)рф/news/20170906/43902.html; [“Russian Sputnik News Agency and Alibaba Group Sign Strategic Cooperation Memorandum,”] Global News, September 6, 2017, https((:)//world.huanqiu(.)com/article/9CaKrnK54QF. 
[35] Pia Ranada, “PH, Russia Sign 8 Agreements, including Extradition Treaty,” Rappler, November 14, 2017, https(:)//www.rappler.com/nation/188378-ph-russia-sign-bilateral-agreements;
Camille Elemia, “PCOO Warned vs Getting Info Dissemination Training from China, Russia,” Rappler, January 30, 2018, https(:)//www.rappler.com/nation/194814-maria-ressa-pcoo-training-china-russia; [“PH, Russia Communication Offices to Partner in Info Dissemination,”] Interaksyon, May 30, 2017, http(:)//www.interaksyon.com/breaking-news/2017/05/30/75431/ph-russia-communication-offices-to-partner-in-info-dissemination/; “Russia Today International Seminar in Moscow,” Facebook, Embassy of Russia in Nigeria, August 6, 2018, https://www.facebook.com/nigeria.mid.ru/photos/russia-today-international-seminar-in-moscowrt-channel-is-pleased-to-invite-jour/899398883583206/; “Russian Propaganda Arm RT to Train PH Gov’t Media,” Rappler, October 14, 2019, https://www.rappler.com/nation/242519-russian-propaganda-arm-rt-to-train-philippine-government-media. 
[36] [“Indonesian Media will Receive Content from Sputnik,”] Rossiya Segodnya, December 18, 2017, https((:))//россиясегодня.рф/news/20171218/48497.html; Azer Parrocha, “Sputnik News Agency Eyes Expansion in SE Asia,” Philippine News Agency, November 2, 2018, https((:))//www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1052784; Puguh Hariyanto, “Spuntik to Expand Partner Network in Indonesia,” SINDOnews, February 20, 2019, https://en.sindonews.com/read/1380430/195/spuntik-to-expand-partner-network-in-indonesia-1550654071. 
[37] “Sputnik is Expanding its Presence South-East Asia,” Rossiya Segodnya, December 17, 2017, https(:)//россиясегодня(.)рф/news/20171211/47919.html; “Bernama Signs MOU with Russia's Sputnik on 'News Exchange',” Malaysiakini, December 17, 2017, https((:))//www.malaysiakini.com/news/405103; Nikkei Asian Review, “Russia Courts Southeast Asian Partners with Authoritarian Streaks,” January 16, 2018, https((:))//asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Asia-Insight/Russia-courts-Southeast-Asian-partners-with-authoritarian-streaks. 
[38] “Sputnik Boosts Media Cooperation with Iran,” Mehr News Agency, January 30, 2018, https(:)//en.mehrnews.com/news/131748/Sputnik-boosts-media-coop-with-Iran.https(:)//en.mehrnews.com/news/131748/Sputnik-boosts-media-coop-with-Iran 
[39] “IRIB World Service, RT sign MoU to Boost Cooperation,” PressTV, March 12, 2018, https((:))//www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/03/12/555247/IRIB-Press-TV-RT-Peyman-Jebelli-Alexey-Nikolov-MoU; ‘IRIB World Service, RT sign MoU to Boost Cooperation,” Pars Today, March 12, 2018, https(:)//parstoday.com/en/news/iran-i78867-irib_world_service_rt_sign_mou_to_boost_cooperation. 
[40] [“RT Channels Signs a Memorandum of Cooperation with Emirates News Agency,”] RT Arabic, February 27, 2018, https((:))//arabic.rt.com/middle_east/929564-%D9%82%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%A9-rt-%D9%85%D8%B0%D9%83%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%88%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%86%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%88%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%8A%D8%A9/; “WAM, RT Television Sign MoU,” Emirates News Agency, February 27, 2018, https(:)//wam.ae/en/details/1395302670625. 
[41] “Sputnik Signs Cooperation Agreement With Palestinian WAFA News Agency,” Sputnik, February 14, 2018, https://sputniknews(.)com/russia/201802141061634960-sputnik-rt-wafa-pbc-agreement/; “WAFA Signs Cooperation Agreements with Russia Today and Sputnik,” Wafa, February 13, 2018, http://english.wafa(.)ps/page.aspx?id=QZkSuca96498236670aQZkSuc&__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=719140749c57b0aceb289ea930b2beb139bdc096-1578346118-0-AYqlvnncV0d7O8nZs1x0nosQArqBcgDzLu-6JrGINljXSpB2SoTT2IQwVfuqbdD69LUnVEwSv1L69W2-1SsuQKjLAm9VacPxCdcozrZd2IbMQHoXfJsaB-y43EEpSCjmyqWywBH-BatQ7RtFDTTnzFiGH8pTE4fWwHO0h04wCfQyH7CxyClqRniT6NKikqinfixWIZC2A_rHUNnZD62LFbsQ3d7P40m_HO8Z1TM0hxLEEva1PLxh-dNDbbbCZaGXew2H2Jc49xjCD5x1An1Jqc0KhhWHnAsTFLeKK2G5dG3FIj3mjqYMCiDYC4UoI_gQ4Q. 
[42] “ARMENPRESS and Ruptly Sign Cooperation Agreement Aimed at Video Content Development,” ArmenPress, April 12, 2018, https://armenpress(.)am/eng/news/929609.html; [“ArmenPress and Ruptly Sign Cooperation Agreement on Video Content Development,”] ArmenPress, April 12, 2018, https://armenpress.am/arm/news/929609/armenpress-i-ruptly-podpisali-soglashenie-o-razvitii-sotrudnichestva.html; [“Ruptly Video Agency and ArmenPress Signed A Cooperation Agreement,”] RT, April 12, 2018, https://russian.rt(.)com/press_releases/article/502583-ruptly-armenpress-soglashenie-sotrudnichestvo 
[43] [“Sputnik and the Institute of Radio and Television of Cuba Agreed to Cooperate,”] RIA, June 8, 2018, https://ria((.))ru/20180608/1522322104.html; [“Sputnik and the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television Sign Cooperation Agreement,”] Radio Cubana, June 8, 2018, http://www.radiocubana(.)cu/149-destacados/22449-sputnik-e-instituto-cubano-de-radio-y-television-firman-convenio-de-cooperacion. 
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[62] “TASS, KCNA News Agencies Sign New Cooperation Agreement,” TASS, October 8, 2019, https://tass(.)com/society/1082121; Colin Zwirko, “N. Korea Hopes Russian State Media Helps Fight “Fake News” in DPRK Coverage: TASS,” NK News, October 9, 2019, https://www.nknews(.)org/2019/10/n-korea-hopes-russian-state-media-helps-fight-fake-news-in-dprk-coverage-tass. 
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[65] “Russia's Sputnik, China's Xinhua Sign Deal on Exchanging Content in Spanish, Arabic,” Sputnik, October 31, 2019, https://sputniknews(.)com/agency_news/201910311077188536-russias-sputnik-chinas-xinhua-sign-deal-on-exchanging-content-in-spanish-arabic/. 
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[68] [“Russia Rejects Cessation of Signal to RT Station in Bolivia,”] Hoy Tamaulipas, November 28, 2019, https://www.hoytamaulipas(.)net/notas/403377/Rusia-rechaza-cese-de-senial-a-emisora-RT-en-Bolivia.html; [“Zakharova Commented on Disabling RT Broadcasting in Bolivia,”] Rossiya Segodnya, November 11, 2019, https://ria(.)ru/20191128/1561706279.html; “Bolivian TV Operator Shuts down RT Spanish Broadcasts,” RT, November 27, https((:))//www.rt.com/news/474513-rt-spanish-bolivia-taken-off-air/. 
[69] “Latvian broadcast regulator suspends nine Russian TV channels,” Latvian Public Broadcasting, November 20, 2019, https://eng.lsm(.)lv/article/society/society/latvian-broadcast-regulator-suspends-nine-russian-tv-channels.a339012/. 
[70] “Lithuania Expels Chief Editor Of Sputnik’s Local Branch,” Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, May 28, 2019, https://www.rferl.org/a/lithuania-expels-chief-editor-of-sputnik-local-branch/29968909.html; [“COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT DECISION TO BLOCK SPUTNIKNEWS.LT CAME INTO EFFECT IN 2019. JULY 12,”] Lithuanian Radio and Television Commission, July 12, 2019, https://www.rtk(.)lt/pranesimai-spaudai/del-autoriu-teisiu-pazeidimo-priimtas-sprendimas-blokuoti-interneto-svetaine-sputniknews-lt/; “Lithuania Arrests Local ‘Sputnik’ Editor-in-Chief, Barring Him from Country for Five Years as ‘National Security Threat,’” Meduza, May 28, 2019, https://meduza(.)io/en/news/2019/05/28/lithuania-arrests-local-sputnik-editor-in-chief-barring-him-from-country-for-five-years-as-national-security-threat. 
[71] [“RIA Novosti and Notimex Sign Cooperation Agreement,”] Sputnik, May 11, 2010, https((:))//mundo.sputniknews.com/noticias/20100511126249156/; [“MIA Rossiya Segodnya and Notimex Agreed on Cooperation,”] Russian Embassy to Mexico, October 15, 2019, https://mexico.mid(.)ru/novosti/-/asset_publisher/nj5rNmPYOTCj/content/mia-rossia-segodna-i-agentstvo-notimex-dogovorilis-o-sotrudnicestve?_101_INSTANCE_nj5rNmPYOTCj. 
[72] “Spain and Russia agree to Set up Joint Cybersecurity group,” Associated Press, November 6, 2018, https://apnews.com/00061a7eb8814fc38ebef55880c3fd18. 
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[74] Pia Ranada, “Russian Propaganda Arm RT to Train PH Gov't Media,” Rappler, October 14, 2019, https://www.rappler(.)com/nation/242519-russian-propaganda-arm-rt-to-train-philippine-government-media; Pia Ranada, “PNA to Enter into 'News Exchange' deal with Russia's Sputnik,” Rappler, November 12, 2018, https://www.rappler(.)com/nation/216496-philippine-news-agency-deal-russia-sputnik; Camille Elemia, “PCOO Warned vs Getting info Dissemination Training from China, Russia,” Rappler, January 30, 2018, https://www.rappler(.)com/nation/194814-maria-ressa-pcoo-training-china-russia. 
[75] Pia Ranada, “Russian Propaganda Arm RT to Train PH gov't Media,” Rappler, October 14, 2019, https://www.rappler(.)com/nation/242519-russian-propaganda-arm-rt-to-train-philippine-government-media. 
[76] [“Slovak TASR Canceled Cooperation with an Agency that Propagates pro-Kremlin Propaganda,”] Česká televise, March 30, 2017, https://ct24.ceskatelevize(.)cz/svet/2072052-slovensky-tasr-zrusil-spolupraci-s-agenturou-ktera-siri-prokremelskou-propagandu; “TASR Withdraws from Contract with pro-Putin Newswire,” The Slovak Spectator, March 30, 2017, https://spectator.sme(.)sk/c/20496508/tasr-withdraws-from-contract-with-pro-putin-newswire.html; “TASR Cancels Contract With Sputnik Under Pressure From Authorities,” Sputnik, March 30, 2017, https://sputniknews(.)com/agency_news/201703301052134354-tasr-sputnik-contracr/; “Slovak Agency To Cancel Contract With Russia's Sputnik After Uproar,” Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, March 30, 2017, https://www.rferl.org/a/slovakia-news-agency-cancels-sputnik-contract-russia/28400557.html; “Sputnik Signs Cooperation Agreement With Slovak News Agency TASR,” Sputnik, March 29, 2017, https(:)//sputniknews.com/art_living/201703291052069837-sputnik-slovak-news-cooperation/. 
[77] “Argentina Announces Suspension Of Russia's RT TV Broadcasts,” Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, June 11, 2016, https://www.rferl.org/a/argentina-announces-suspension-russian-state-rt-news-broadcasts/27791747.html; “RT, Argentina Reach Broadcasting Agreement, Expand Cooperation,” July 22, 2016, https://www.rt(.)com/about-us/press-releases/rt-argentina-cooperation-agreement/.