Support The Moscow Times!
Contribute today

Russian Security Services Troll U.S. Embassy With July 4 Billboard

The billboard's text was written in English, leaving little doubt about the intended audience. SOTA

A billboard proclaiming Russia to be a “peaceful” country appeared across from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow on Tuesday, an apparent dig by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) aimed at Washington as Americans celebrated their Independence Day.

“Welcome to our peaceful country,” read the billboard in the colors of the Russian flag, set against the backdrop of the Kremlin and St. Basil’s Cathedral.

“With compliments of the house, FSB,” it continued.

The security agency’s official emblem could be seen in the billboard's bottom-right corner. 

The independent Sota news outlet first drew attention to the billboard, which it said was located on a street Russian authorities last year renamed “1 Donetsk People’s Republic Square” in honor of the Moscow-backed separatist territory in eastern Ukraine.

Moscow’s state-funded daily Vechernyaya Moskva noted that the billboard’s caption was identical to one displayed near the U.S. Embassy in January.

Vechernyaya Moskva reported at the time that the FSB billboard had appeared in response to online FBI ads that sought to recruit Russian citizens to spy on Moscow.

Read more about: United States , FSB

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more

treason case

Russian Man Jailed 12.5 Years for Smuggling Arms to U.S.

Authorities accused Sergei Kabanov of shipping Russian missile equipment components “on the instructions of American special services.”
1 Min read
'confidential basis'

Russia Charges Former U.S. Consulate Staffer With ‘Collaboration’

The U.S. State Department had in May denounced Robert Shonov’s detention in the Far Eastern city of Vladivostok.
2 Min read
'worthless threats'

Russia Warns Against ‘Destructive’ Sanctions on Putin

Sanctioning Putin would do serious damage to diplomatic efforts to ease ratcheting tensions over Ukraine, the Kremlin said.
drug bust

Joint Russia-U.S. Operation Busts S.American Cocaine Smuggling Network

The two countries seized over 330 kilograms of cocaine worth $13.6 million during the multi-stage investigation, Russia's FSB said.