Brussels 26.06.2024 “The EU condemns the totally unfounded decision by the Russian authorities to block access to over eighty European media in Russia” reads the statement by the EU top diplomat Josep Borrell on Russia’s decision to block a number of European media in response to his decision to block a number of Russian sites. https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/russia-statement-high-representative-borrell-russias-decision-block-number-european-media_en?channel=eeas_press_alerts&date=2024-06-26&newsid=0&langid=en&source=mail

The statement was made by Josep Borrell as a top diplomat from his own behalf, because Hungary once again imposed its veto to make clear the difference of position on the issue of media freedom, standing by the the Article 11 – Freedom of expression and information enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Human Rights.

The Kremlin said it is imposing ban on 81 European publications in retaliation for an EU ban on a number of Russian outlets. Due to this measure towards online magazines, public broadcasters and newspapers from 25 out of 27 EU member states will become inaccessible within Russia.
Among the foreign media that will have limited access in Russia are Germany’s Spiegel, Zeit, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Spain’s El Pais, the Italian La Stampa, La Repubblica, French media Le Monde, Liberation, as well as the pan-European Politico and EUobserver.

The Russian government announced that it was imposing “proportional countermeasures” to an EU decision to block Russian outlets Voice of Europe, RIA Novosti, Izvestia and Rossiyskaya Gazeta on 17 May. As the reason of the decision Brussels accused the publications of “spreading and supporting Russian propaganda and war of aggression against Ukraine”.

This decision further restricts access to information from the European sources and expands the already active media censorship in Russia. Although the EU formally continues to respect for the freedom of expression and media as a core value for the EU, it is unclear how the information from the European origin will reach Russian audiences in these crucial for Ukraine times.

The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that they have repeatedly and at various levels warned that “politically motivated harassment of journalists and unfounded bans on Russian media in the EU will not go unanswered.”

“Despite this, Brussels and the capitals of the bloc countries chose to take the path of escalation, forcing Moscow to take tit-for-tat and proportional countermeasures to this latest illegal ban. Responsibility for such a development of events lies solely with the leadership of the European Union and the countries of this association that supported such a decision,” the ministry stressed.

The Russian Foreign Ministry added that if the restrictions on Russian media are lifted, Moscow will also reconsider its decision in relation to the mentioned media outlets.