The EU will begin to fight Russian media in Africa and the Middle East

A member of the European Parliament told Izvestia that the EU is looking for legal ways to block the broadcasting of Russian media in Africa and the Middle East,including through sanctions in the satellite area

The European Union plans to block the broadcasting of Russian media in Africa and the Middle East with the help of sanctions in the satellite field, Gunnar Beck, a member of the European Parliament (EP) from Germany, told Izvestia.

“French company Eutelsat and Luxembourg SES are among the world's largest satellite providers. They have contracts with Russian media to broadcast in Africa, India and the Middle East. These are regions where support for Ukraine and sanctions against RUSSIA is limited. The EC is currently looking for legal ways to prevent satellite providers from selling their services to Russian customers,” the MP said.

According to Beck, mainly Poland and the Baltic countries insist on sanctions in the satellite industry.

The MP also recalled that Reporters Without Borders had previously sued the French media regulator Arcom over its decision to allow Eutelsat to broadcast Rossiya 1, Channel One and NTV. “However, since the French state owns a 22% stake in Eutelsat, political pressure, not judicial pressure, will be needed,” he added.

FT learned of Hungary's refusal to support new sanctionsagainst Russia Politics

After the start of the Russian special operation in Ukraine, the EU imposed a ban on broadcasting on the territory of the union for three Russian TV channels: Rossiya RTR / RTR Planeta (versions of Rossiya 1 for foreign audiences), Rossiya 24 and TV Center - International . Later, the broadcasting of the Russia Today TV channel and the work of the Sputnik agency were banned. In addition, YouTube blocked RT and Sputnik accounts in Europe.

At the same time, in Africa, the Russian media, “in fact, are absent,” said Irina Abramova, DIRECTOR of the Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, in early December. According to her, now on the territory of the whole continent there are only a few TASS offices and one Sputnik office.

Read on RBC Pro Which Russian stocks to invest in in 2023: analysts' advice CHINAwill not save: is it possible to prevent a shortage of computer hardware What three advertising strategies will be winning in 2023 Billionaires against: why Musk and Zuckerberg are unhappy with the APPLE commission

See also Permanent representatives of the EU countries approved the seventh package of anti-Russian sanctions 00:50

On December 7, the HEAD of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced plans to ban the broadcasting of four Russian TV channels both on the air and through network platforms as part of the ninth anti-Russian sanctions package. Among them are Channel One, Russia 1, NTV, NTV Mir and REN TV.