In a move of retaliation against The European Union’s ban on several Russian media, Russia has now restricted access to a myriad of European news platforms, amounting to 81 in total, including prominent publications like The Irish Times, RTÉ, and the Irish Independent. The Kremlin declared this blockade on Tuesday, affecting news groups from 25 member states such as Le Monde, Der Spiegel, and Agence France-Presse.
Notable publications like El País, Die Zeit, Politico, La Repubblica, and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung were also included in the ban. This follows the EU’s proclamation in May to halt the distribution of four networks it labeled as “Kremlin-tied propaganda outlets”, resulting in their loss of broadcast rights within the bloc. The decision involved the Voice of Europe, the RIA news agency, and newspapers such as Izvestia and Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
Deeming European publications as distributors of incorrect information concerning Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine, the Russian foreign ministry criticised European outlets. The ministry’s website hosted the statement that the EU’s “politically charged prosecution of Russian journalists and the unwarranted restrictions on Russian media networks would be met with measures of equal force”.
In addition to condemning the infringement on freedom of speech symbolised by the EU’s move, Vyacheslav Volodin, the presiding officer of parliament’s lower chamber, expressed in May that the EU was dismissive of any adversarial perspective.
The ban imposed by Russia was denounced by Italy’s foreign ministry, highlighting the inclusion of Italian networks such as Rai and La7, and newspapers like La Repubblica and La Stampa. The unsuccessful measure against these Italian channels and newspapers, reputed for their neutral and factual reporting on the Ukraine conflict, was regretted by the Ministry.
Several Reuters staff members, along with numerous other Western journalists, retreated from Russia following the country’s full-blown invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.