DISINFO: Ursula von der Leyen unilaterally banned independent media
SUMMARY
The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen's unilateral decision to stop RT France and Sputnik from broadcasting on the grounds that they are an instrument propaganda for the Kremlin is unprecedented in its brutality. And it was immediately applied in all EU Member States.
The fact that these two channels are financed by the Russian government cannot in itself justify such censorship, especially since from the point of view of international law.
It is unacceptable for a supranational political organisation like the European Union to be able to impose, even by regulation, sanctions that are the responsibility of the administrative authorities of the Member States.
RESPONSE
Pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative against the EU stating that RT and Sputnik should not be sanctioned during the invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops.
If indeed, the President of the European Commission announced temporary broadcasting restrictions measures against RT branches and Sputnik in the EU, during the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops, the decision of such a sanction was made by the EU Council which is composed of member states governments. Conspiracy theories prone groups often pretend that an “unelected individual”, the president of the Commission, decided unilaterally and illegally to mute media groups inside the EU: it is incorrect. It is also incorrect to present RT and Sputnik as independent French media that would be free from the Russian narrative. Over the past several years the database EU vs Disinfo listed many occurrences of Pro-Kremlin disinformation in RT and Sputnik material. Moreover, in the first few days of the 2022 military aggression the impact of the disinformation about Ukraine considerably increased.
RT France contested the Council Regulation before the Court of Justice of the EU and was unsuccessful because it did not justify the serious and irreparable prejudice that would need to suspend the regulation. The referee mentioned dramatic economic consequences of the absence of broadcast while it doesn’t prove any link between revenues and audience. A decision on the merits of this case will be taken by the court according to an accelerated procedure given the exceptional circumstances.
Read also related cases: People who say that RT is not independent from the Kremlin are wrong and should be condemned by justice, Germany declared a media war against Russia, RT and Sputnik repeatedly being accused without evidence, RT France for the Kremlin is the same as France 24 for the Elysee.