Russian Official Labels UK Times Journalists as 'Legitimate Military Targets'

Dmitry Medvedev's threats against British journalists draw condemnation and highlight escalating attacks on press freedom by authoritarian regimes.

Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's former president and current deputy head of its security council, called the editors of The Times 'legitimate military targets' following their coverage of a high-profile assassination in Moscow.
The Times editorial described the killing of Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, Russia's chemical weapons chief, as a 'legitimate act of defense by a threatened nation,' provoking Medvedev's response on Telegram.
Medvedev's remarks reflect a broader pattern of escalating threats and restrictions on press freedoms by the Kremlin, both domestically and internationally.
The British government and media organizations have condemned the comments, reaffirming the importance of a free press as a cornerstone of democracy.
This incident underscores growing global concerns over the treatment of journalists and the increasing use of intimidation tactics by authoritarian regimes.