The European Union has imposed economic sanctions against five more Russian television broadcasters, a move that formally suspends their license to transmit signals in 27 member countries.
The decision to suspend the five outlets came after the E.U. decided the broadcasters were spreading propaganda about the military conflict in Ukraine on behalf of the Russian government. The propaganda broadcasts have spread misinformation about the conflict, targeted minority citizens and attempted to undermine democratic institutions, E.U. members said.
“These outlets are under the permanent direct or indirect control of the leadership of the Russian Federation and have been used by latter for its continuous and concerted propaganda actions targeted at the civil society in the EU and neighboring countries, gravely distorting and manipulating facts,” a spokesperson for the E.U. said this week.
The five outlets that were sanctioned this week are:
- Katehon
- New Eastern Outlook
- Oriental Review
- RT Balkans
- Tsargard
The channels join several others, including Rossiya 24 (Russia 24), RT English, RT German, RT Spanish and Sputnik, in facing economic sanctions over the military conflict in Ukraine and their links to the Russian government. The sanctions do not prohibit reporters from those networks from conducting interviews or research in E.U. member countries.
The blocks on Monday are part of a broader package of economic sanctions against more than 104 individuals and businesses that was approved by the E.U. late last week. Others sanctioned include government officials who signed off on programs that forced Ukrainian children to be adopted in Russia, as well as Russian-backed cyber services that provide technology and software to the Russian government.
