Russia blocked access to 81 European media outlets

Moscow accused the EU of “escalation.”

Russia has limited the broadcasting of 81 European media outlets on its territory.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation called this a response to the decision taken by the Council of the European Union to ban any broadcast activity by the propaganda media RIA Novosti, Izvestia MIC and Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

On the day this decision comes into force, Moscow published a list of European media outlets, which it accuses of disseminating “inaccurate information about the progress of the “special military operation.” The statement said that the European Union “forced” the Russians to take these measures.

The list included the following well-known media: Der Spiegel, Die Zeit, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, The Irish Times, El Mundo, El Pais, EFE, Televisión Española, La Repubblica, RAI, Latvian Television, Belsat, Digi24, Dennik N, Le Monde, Agence France-Presse, ERR, Delfi, Agence Europe and Politico.

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller called the blocking a new sign of repression against journalism. “They are afraid that their own people will hear the truth about Russia’s actions,” Le Monde quotes him as saying .

The Italian Foreign Ministry said the decision does not erase or mitigate the consequences of the brutal, devastating and illegal war against Ukraine. And Vice-President of the European Commission Vera Jourova called the blocking an “absurd answer.”

“Propaganda media funded by the Russian Federation to spread disinformation as part of Russian military doctrine are not like independent media. Democratic countries know this,” she said.