EU bans more Russian media outlets

The new cold war

Published 21 May 2024
- By Editorial Staff
Ria Novosti headquarters in Moscow.

The powers that be in Brussels announce the banning of four more media outlets, citing Kremlin control as the reason for the censorship. In addition to the international news agency Ria Novosti, these are Izvestia, Rossiyskaya Gazeta and the Dutch Voice of Europe.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, several Russian media outlets have been censored and banned in the EU as part of sanctions against the country – Russia has responded by blocking access to a large number of Western broadcasters.

The four banned media outlets are alleged by EU leaders to be “under the permanent direct or indirect control” of the Russian state and to have played a key role in mobilizing support for the Russian side in the ongoing war.

The Russian Federation has engaged in a systematic, international campaign of media and information manipulation (…) to justify and support its full-scale aggression against Ukraine, and to enhance its strategy of destabilisation of its neighbouring countries, and of the EU and its member states“, the statement reads.

The targeted media outlets will no longer be allowed to broadcast or operate within the EU’s borders and it will also be illegal to provide a platform for content from these media organizations within the Union.

17 media houses banned

Russia’s foreign policy spokesperson, Maria Zakharaova, has warned EU leaders that Moscow will respond with reprisals against Western media operating in Russia.

It can also be noted that RIA Novosti, Izvestia and Rossiyskaya Gazeta are based in Russia, while Voice of Europe is a listed Dutch company headquartered in the province of Noord-Brabant.

However, the Dutch one is also allegedly linked to the Kremlin and has been claimed to be engaged in a “Moscow-funded influence campaign” to sway public opinion in Russia’s favor ahead of upcoming EU elections.

In total, the EU has now banned 17 media outlets that it says have links to Russia.

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