Former Belgian Prime Minister threatened Carlson with EU sanctions for interview with Putin

Tucker Carlson (center)

The EU may consider introducing sanctions against American journalist Tucker Carlson, who interviewed Russian President Vladimir Putin, Newsweek writes, citing former and current members of the European Parliament.

The work of a journalist in Russia could become a reason for a conflict with the European Union, former Prime Minister of Belgium (1999–2008), current member of the European Parliament Guy Verhofstadt told the publication. He called Carlson a “mouthpiece” for Putin and former American President Donald Trump and called for consideration of banning him from visiting the EU. Former European Parliament member Louis Garicano agreed with Verhofstadt's opinion.

The former head of the Estonian Foreign Ministry (2005–2014), now a member of the European Parliament, Urmas Paet, recalled that the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued a search warrant for Putin. "If Putin has something to say, he should say it before the ICC," he told Newsweek. The Kremlin called the ICC decision null and void from a legal point of view. The Investigative Committee brought charges in absentia against the court prosecutor because of the warrant and opened a case against the three judges who issued him.

Paet also warned that Carlson could end up on the EU sanctions list for “such propaganda.” First of all, we can talk about a travel ban.

At the beginning of February, Carlson flew to Moscow. He later published a video message in which he said that he intended to interview Putin. The journalist explained that Americans “have no idea” about what is happening in Russia and Ukraine , while Western media “have not bothered” to interview the Russian president since February 2022.

The Kremlin confirmed that Putin gave an interview to Carlson. According to The Wall Street Journal, it will be published on February 8.

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Carlson himself said in a conversation with Izvestia that he does not feel guilty for the interview and does not consider himself a traitor.