An American anchor for the Moscow-funded Russia Today television network resigned live on air Wednesday in protest at the deployment of Russia-backed forces in Ukraine, AFP reports.
Liz Wahl said during a broadcast that she could no longer work for the network, which she accused of “whitewashing” moves by Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
“My grandparents came here as refugees during the Hungarian revolution, ironically to escape the Soviet forces,” she said.
“Personally, I cannot be part of a network funded by the Russian government that whitewashes the actions of Putin.
“I’m proud to be an American and believe in disseminating the truth, and that is why, after this newscast, I am resigning.”
Her resignation comes after another US-based RT host, Abby Martin, criticized the actions of pro-Russian military units on her show.
Reacting to the latest embarrassment, RT accused Wahl of a “self-promotional stunt” and questioned her professionalism.
“When a journalist disagrees with the editorial position of his or her organization, the usual course of action is to address those grievances with the editor, and, if they cannot be resolved, to quit like a professional,” it said.
“But when someone makes a big public show of a personal decision, it is nothing more than a self-promotional stunt.”
