A picture of Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov provided by TASS in a 2022 news report on how the Kremlin vowed to hinder the work of Western media in Russia after a European court upheld a broadcast ban imposed on Russian news channel RT France. (TASS)

Western media operate under true military control and follow guidelines from their specialized services, Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.

At the Senezh management workshop, Peskov discussed "elements of social engineering" in an open forum, saying, "There are many serious media, a lot of talented, smart and professional journalists [in the West]. But currently, since they have all unleashed a war against us... they work under the conditions of complete military censorship."

"The most respected Western media, newspapers, TV channels, Internet news agencies, publications, in fact... receive instructions, manuals from their special services, they get information leaks, which are very often fake," Peskov added.

Cherry picking: How Western media covered the Russia-Africa summit

As important as the Russia-Africa summit is regarding regional issues and cooperation, UK and US-based media decided to focus on matters that served almost no importance, such as the number of presidents who attended, why Wagner was in Africa, and why Russia is to blame for the end of the Black Sea Grain Deal.

Officials and delegates from 49 African countries attended the two-day summit from July 27 to 28, resulting in a 74-point joint declaration pledging cooperation in an effort to develop a multipolar world order.

However, Western media decided to focus on headlining Kenyan diplomat Korir Sing’Oei's tweet last week that withdrawing from the grain deal was "a stab on the back at global food security prices."

Outlets such as CBS News claimed that the "small crowd" at the summit indicated "Africa's changing mood on Moscow," referring to remarks of a South African professor. It said, "Just 17 African heads of state, according to Russia's own tally, showed up for the summit. That’s less than half of the 43 leaders who participated in the first Russia-Africa summit in 2019," but it failed to mention that a total of 49 African countries were represented.

On the other hand, CNN released a headline claiming that the "Kremlin seethes over poor summit turnout" and spoke of the "just 17" matter.

The Washington Post columnist Adam Taylor wrote, "Any idea that Africa as a whole leans toward Russia is clearly mistaken," basing his comment on votes in the UN General Assembly. He also brought up “less than half of 43,” the grain deal, and Sing’Oei as well.

The Western media "forgot" to relay that Russian President Vladimir Putin announced at the summit that Russia and African countries managed to increase economic ties despite difficulties related to the COVID-19 pandemic and sanctions, with their mutual trade growing by almost 35% this year - or that it backs the initiative to grant Africa a seat at the G20.