Russian anger after EU court upholds ban on RT

The European justice Court rejected on Wednesday the request of the news channel RT France to cancel the suspension of its broadcast decided as part of the EU sanctions against Moscow. (AFP)
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  • The European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg threw out an appeal from state-owned RT France against a broadcast ban
  • The channel "actively supported" Moscow's destabilisation of Ukraine and broadcast pro-war propaganda

PARIS: The Kremlin vowed to further restrict Western media in Russia on Wednesday after the EU鈥檚 top court upheld European sanctions that took Moscow鈥檚 RT channel off-air around the continent.
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg threw out an appeal from state-owned RT France against a broadcast ban which was introduced as part of EU sanctions following Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine in February.
Finding that the channel 鈥渁ctively supported鈥� Moscow鈥檚 destabilization of Ukraine and broadcast pro-war propaganda, the court concluded that the EU鈥檚 decision was legal and proportionate.
鈥淚n the light of those considerations, the general court dismisses the action in its entirety,鈥� the judges ruled, referring to RT France鈥檚 bid to overturn the broadcast ban and restrictions on its website.
The channel immediately announced an appeal, while the Kremlin said it would take retaliatory measures.
鈥淥f course, we will take similar measures of pressure on Western media that operate in our country,鈥� Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow.
鈥淲e will also not let them work in our country,鈥� he said, describing the Kremlin鈥檚 reaction to the ban as 鈥渆xtremely negative.鈥�
鈥淓ssentially, RT has been blocked and cannot operate in Europe,鈥� Peskov said. 鈥淓uropeans are trampling on their own ideals.鈥�
Since Moscow鈥檚 February 24 invasion of Ukraine, Russian lawmakers have passed draconian new laws restricting media freedom under which criticism of the war and occupation can lead to lengthy prison sentences.
Many foreign journalists have left Russia and a number of foreign media outlets suspended their operations in the country after authorities introduced prison terms of up to 15 years for spreading 鈥渇ake news鈥� about the Russian army.
The EU鈥檚 decision to ban RT as well as online Kremlin-funded news service Sputnik raised questions about freedom of expression in the 27-member bloc and formed part of RT France鈥檚 legal appeal.
But the ECJ judges concluded that the sanction was temporary 鈥� until July 2022 鈥� and found that it was 鈥渁ppropriate and necessary to the aims pursued鈥� given the 鈥渆xtraordinary context.鈥�
鈥淩T France actively supported... the policy of destabilization and aggression conducted by the Russian Federation toward Ukraine, which ultimately resulted in a large-scale military offensive,鈥� the court鈥檚 statement said.
Secondly 鈥淩T France broadcast, in particular, information justifying the military aggression against Ukraine, capable of constituting a significant and direct threat to the Union鈥檚 public order and security,鈥� it continued.
Evidence presented to the court by RT France was 鈥渘ot capable of demonstrating an overall balanced treatment by the latter of information concerning the ongoing war,鈥� the judges concluded.
The channel has been consistently accused of parroting Russian state propaganda and has been blocked in most Western countries since President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine.
Launched in 2005 as Russia Today, the channel had grown its reach through broadcasts and websites in several languages including English, French, Spanish, German and Arabic.