The European Alliance of News Agencies (EANA) fell victim to "militaristic psychosis" when it decided to expel TASS from the association, according to a statement by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
"The extent of the deterioration of the EANA and the European human rights area as a whole indicates that no decisions of this type have been made since the foundation of the association in 1956. For EANA, this means the final severing of ties with one of the most prestigious media outlets in the world, with a rich history, more than a century of experience, an extensive network of presence abroad and the highest standards of journalistic quality," the diplomat warned.