Russia will be forced to take retaliatory measures if France continues to escalate the situation regarding the media.

Axar.az reports that this was stated in a comment by the official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, in response to France’s plans to reconsider the accreditation process for Russian journalists.

The diplomat pointed out that Paris's claims about alleged acts of repression and the unsafe situation for French journalists in Russia reflect "the traditional melancholy of the Western mainstream.

"This is yet another blatant lie. The 33 employees of nine French media outlets working permanently in Russia feel great in Moscow. Unlike the authorities of the 'Republic of Liberty, Equality, and Brotherhood,' no one here limits their participation in major press events, deprives them of already issued accreditations, or freezes their bank accounts," she said.

"If the French authorities escalate further, we will be forced to respond."