BRUSSELS (AP) – The European Union on Friday banned four more Russian media outlets from broadcasting in its 27-nation bloc for spreading propaganda and disinformation about the invasion of Ukraine, ahead of parliamentary elections in three weeks. did.
The latest broadcasters consist of Voice of Europe, RIA Novosti, Izvestia and Rossiyskaya Gazeta, all of which the EU claims are under Kremlin control. The group said in a statement that the four were specifically targeting “European political parties, especially during the election period.”
Belgium already launched an investigation last month into alleged Russian interference in June’s pan-European elections, saying its intelligence services had identified the existence of a network seeking to undermine support for Ukraine.
WEF: EU chief von der Leyen calls for censorship of ‘industrial-scale disinformation’ at Davoshttps://t.co/gOgXjTfVeq
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) January 17, 2024
The Czech government has imposed sanctions on a number of people after pro-Russian influence operations were uncovered there. They allegedly approached members of the European Parliament and provided funds to promote Russian propaganda.
Since the war began in February 2022, the EU has already suspended the broadcasting of several news organizations, including Russia Today and Sputnik.
European Union proposes Russian oil embargo, sanctions on media, banks, ‘war criminals’https://t.co/vR73qGtTVK
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) May 4, 2022
