On Wednesday, the European Court of Justice rejected the request of the news channel RT France (formerly Russia Today) to cancel the suspension of broadcasting decided as part of the EU sanctions against Moscow. In its decision, the EU Court specifically asserts that this “temporary ban“doesn’t put”out of the question“freedom of speech”As it isContrary to what Russian state media claimed, the sanctions were imposed after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
After a request to lift its suspension was rejected, RT France announced that it would appeal the decision.
Accused of being a toolmisinformationMedia from the Kremlin, Sputnik and RT media (including the French-language RT France) have been banned from broadcasting in the EU on TV and on the Internet since March 2, shortly after the agreement reached by the G27. the war.
The French situation is special in that, following the suspension of RT in Germany at the end of 2021, France was the only EU member state to host an RT subsidiary on its territory. On Wednesday, the court stated in its ruling.RT France’s (…) restrictions on freedom of expression are proportionate because they are appropriate and necessary to achieve the objectives.“specifically prevent”propaganda“in favor of”Military aggression of Ukraine by the Russian Federation“during”programs broadcast on television and on the Internet by Russian state-funded media“.
These measures, “provided that they are temporary and reversible, do not disproportionately affect the essential content of RT France’s freedom of enterprise.“.
Russian reprisals
A few minutes after the publication of the European decision, Russia announced that it would retaliate. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the press that the country would be deterred “Western media work”.
“We will take such pressure measures against the Western media working in our country. We are not going to allow them to work in our country either.– he elaborated.
Source: Le Figaro
