EU Expands Ban on Russian Media Outlets

The European Council has added Voice of Europe, RIA Novosti, Izvestia, and Rossiyskaya Gazeta to its list of banned Russian media, citing propaganda concerns. This action expands a series of sanctions since February 2022, aiming to curb media manipulation around the Ukraine conflict. Moscow accuses Brussels of undermining free speech, while the European Commission defends the measures as necessary for protecting democratic societies.

The European Council has escalated its ban on Russian media, adding four new outlets to the blacklist over allegations of spreading propaganda.

This includes Czech-based Voice of Europe, RIA Novosti, Izvestia, and Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

Brussels claims these measures combat media manipulation around the Ukraine conflict.

These restrictions follow a series of bans since February 2022, also confirming that even hosting such content is illegal in the EU.

The European Commission supports the ban, stressing the growing threat to democratic societies, while Moscow criticizes the actions as attacks on free speech.