Russia announced on Tuesday that it was blocking access to its territory to the broadcasting of 81 European media, including the AFP website, in “retaliation” for the EU’s decision in May to ban four Russian state media. .
“Countermeasures are being introduced on access from Russian territory to media broadcasting facilities of EU member countries,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, blaming the restrictions on Brussels.
The list published by the Russian ministry on Tuesday also includes German media Der SpiegelSpanish El Mundo And El PaísItalian television RAI, and other French media such as daily newspapers The world, Release and the LCI and CNews channels.
The Twenty-Seven agreed in mid-May to sanction four Russian media outlets — Voice of Europe, Ria Novosti, Izvestia And Rossiyskaya Gazeta -, accused by Brussels of spreading pro-Kremlin propaganda.
The sanctions taken by the EU must also include a “ban on Russian financing of media, NGOs and EU political parties,” said the European Commissioner for Values and Transparency, Vera Jourova.
Moscow subsequently threatened reprisals against the European Union, with which relations are poor in the context of the conflict in Ukraine. Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for Russian diplomacy, then promised “very painful” measures.
For its part, the European Union has for more than two years banned the broadcasting in Europe of several Russian or pro-Russian media, including Russia Todayaccusing Moscow of using these media to “spread its propaganda and conduct disinformation campaigns”.