France proposed EU sanctions to combat “Russian disinformation”

France has proposed that the European Union create a new sanctions regime aimed at combating “Russian disinformation” and attempts to interfere in elections around the world, Bloomberg reports , citing a draft document.

The initiative was supported by Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Poland . IT is intended to tighten measures against individuals and legal entities involved in “Russian-sponsored destabilizing activities” that are aimed at “undermining democracy, stability and the rule of law through various hybrid tools,” the agency writes. The sanctions include an asset freeze and a ban on entry into the EU .

The document states that the new measures may include former employees of the Wagner PMC, who, according to Brussels, participated in previous “disinformation operations,” and those who provide them with logistical and financial support, the document says. The US authorities also accused structures associated with the founder of the PMC, the late businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, of interfering in the elections, which he denied for a long time.

According to Bloomberg, restrictions aimed at combating “foreign information manipulation and interference” are also being prepared in the G7.

France put forward this proposal ahead of the European Parliament elections, which will take place from June 6 to 9. Belgium and the Czech Republic had previously come up with a similar initiative, and a few days earlier, Belgian prosecutors launched an investigation into alleged Russian interference.

In March, Prague and Brussels said they had discovered a “Russian network” whose members were trying to influence European lawmakers ahead of elections and paying them to push a pro-Russian agenda. The chairman of the Other Ukraine movement, the former leader of the Opposition Platform - For Life (OPZZh) party, banned in Ukraine , Viktor Medvedchuk was suspected of leading the “influence operation.” The Czech Republic imposed sanctions against him . Medvedchuk responded by saying that European politicians see a “pro-Russian network of interference” everywhere without evidence.

Russian authorities have not yet commented on the situation. Previously, Moscow has repeatedly rejected accusations of interference in elections by other states.