On Friday 17 May, the Council of the European Union decided to suspend the broadcasting activities in the European Union of four additional media outlets that disseminate and support Russian propaganda and the war of aggression against Ukraine: Voice of Europe, RIA Novosti, Izvestia and Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
These media outlets are under the permanent direct or indirect control of the leadership of the Russian Federation, and have been essential and instrumental in bringing forward and supporting Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and for the destabilisation of its neighbouring countries, the EU Council explained in a press release.
In accordance with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, the measures adopted will not prevent the targeted media and their staff from carrying out activities in the EU other than broadcasting, such as research or interviews.
“The measures should be maintained until the aggression against Ukraine is put to an end, and until the Russian Federation and its associated outlets cease to conduct disinformation and information manipulation actions against the EU and its Member States”, stressed the European Commission in a press release, welcoming the adoption of these measures.
In March 2022, a few days after the start of Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, the EU banned the broadcasting of the Russian public media Russia Today and Sputnik (see EUROPE 12902/9). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)