Russia blocks 81 EU media outlets in reciprocal move

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 27 June 2024

In retaliation to the EU's ban on three Russian media outlets, Russia has introduced broadcasting restrictions on over 80 European media outlets. The move highlights the escalating tensions over media freedom and information access between Russia and the EU.

Summary

MOSCOW—In response to the European Union's decision on May 17 to ban "any broadcasting activities" by three Russian media outlets (RIA Novosti, Izvestia, and Rossiyskaya Gazeta), which takes effect from June 25, Russia has introduced reciprocal restrictions on access to broadcasting resources of more than 80 EU member state media and pan-European media operators that Russia says consistently disseminate false information about the special military operation.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (picture) said that it had repeatedly warned at various levels that politically motivated repression of domestic journalists and unfounded bans on Russian media in the EU would not go unanswered. Despite these warnings, Brussels and the capitals of EU member states have escalated the situation by enforcing another illegitimate ban, prompting Moscow to take mirrored and proportional countermeasures. The responsibility for this development lies solely with the EU leadership and the countries that supported this decision.

If the restrictions against Russian media are lifted, the Russian side will also reconsider its decision regarding the mentioned media operators, the ministry said.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) strongly condemned the Russian foreign ministry's Tuesday decision to block access to 81 European media outlets in Russia in response to the EU's recent ban on four pro-Kremlin media outlets.

"Russian authorities' blocking of 81 European media outlets betrays their deep-seated fear of truthful reporting," said Gulnoza Said, CPJ's Europe and Central Asia program coordinator, in New York. "Moscow must immediately stop restricting Russians' access to information and cease its attempts to stifle the flow of news that deviates from the official line."

List of EU member state media and Pan-European media operators subject to Russian broadcasting and access restrictions

Austria

1. ORF (orf.at) 2. Mediengruppe Osterreich (oe24.at)

Belgium 3. Le Vif (levif.be) 4. Knack (knack.be)

Bulgaria 5. Mediapool (Mediapool.bg) 6. 24 Chasa (24chasa.bg)

Hungary 7. 444.hu (444.hu)

Germany 8. Der Spiegel (spiegel.de) 9. Die Zeit (zeit.de) 10. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (faz.net)

Greece 11. ERT (ert.gr, ertnews.gr) 12. Skai (skai.gr) 13. Mega TV (Megatv.com) 14. Proto Thema (protothema.gr)

Denmark 15. Berlingske (berlingske.dk) 16. Information (information.dk)

Ireland 17. RTE (rte.ie) 18. The Irish Times (irishtimes.com) 19. The Irish Independent (independent.ie)

Spain 20. El Mundo (elmundo.es) 21. El Pais (elpais.com) 22. EFE (efe.com) 23. Television Espanola (rtve.es)

Italy 24. LA7 (la7.it) 25. La Stampa (lastampa.it) 26. La Repubblica (repubblica.it) 27. RAI (rai.it, rainews.it)

Cyprus 28. Politis (politis.com.cy) 29. Cyprus Times (cyprustimes.com) 30. Cyprus Mail (cyprus-mail.com)

Latvia 31. Latvian Television and Latvian Radio 4 (lsm.lv) 32. apollo.lv (apollo.lv) 33. tvnet.lv (tvnet.lv) 34. Diena (diena.lv)

Lithuania 35. LRT (lrt.lt) 36. 15min.lt (15min.lt) 37. lrytas.lt (lrytas.lt)

Malta 38. TVM (tvmnews.mt) 39. Times of Malta (timesofmalta.com) 40. The Malta Independent (independent.com.mt) 41. Malta Today (maltatoday.com.mt)

Netherlands 42. NOS (nos.nl) 43. NRC (nrc.nl) 44. Algemeen Dagblad (ad.nl)

Poland 45. Belsat (belsat.eu, belsat.pl) 46. New Poland (novayapolsha.eu, novayapolsha.com, novayapolsha.pl)

Portugal 47. RTP Internacional (rtp.pt) 48. Publico (publico.pt) 49. Expresso (expresso.pt) 50. Observador (observador.pt)

Romania 51. Pro TV International (stirileprotv.ro, protv.ro) 52. Digi24 (digi24.ro) 53. B1TV (b1tv.ro)

Slovakia 54. SME (sme.sk) 55. Dennik N (dennikn.sk)

Slovenia 56. Nova24 (Nova24.si, Nova24tv.si) 57. Demokracija (Demokracija.si, Demokracija.eu)

Finland 58. Ilta-Sanomat (is.fi) 59. Iltalehti (iltalehti.fi) 60. Helsingin Sanomat (hs.fi) 61. Yleisradio (yle.fi)

France 62. LCI (tf1info.fr) 63. Le Monde (lemonde.fr) 64. La Croix (la-croix.com) 65. Liberation (liberation.fr) 66. Lexpress (lexpress.fr) 67. Radio France (radiofrance.fr) 68. Agence France-Presse (afp.com, afpforum.com) 69. CNews (cnews.fr) 70. Arte (arte.tv)

Czech Republic 71. Ceska Televize (ceskatelevize.cz) 72. Seznam Zpravy (seznamzpravy.cz)

Sweden 73. SVT (svt.se) 74. Sveriges Radio (sverigesradio.se)

Estonia 75. propastop.org (propastop.org) 76. ERR (err.ee) 77. Delfi (delfi.ee)

Pan-European Media 78. Agence Europe (agenceurope.eu) 79. Politico (politico.eu, politico.com) 80. Svoboda Satellite Package (rsf.org) 81. Euobserver (Euobserver.com)

Photo: Reuters