The tension between Russia and the European Union escalated on Saturday as the speaker of Russia’s parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, criticized the EU for banning the distribution of four Russian media outlets. The EU cited the outlets’ support of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine as the reason for the ban, sparking outrage from Russian officials.
Volodin accused the EU of stifling freedom of speech and refusing to accept alternative points of view. He condemned the EU’s actions as a violation of the right to free dissemination and receipt of information. The move by the EU has further strained relations between Russia and the West, with Russia threatening a harsh response against Western media in Moscow.
The ban on Russian media outlets comes amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with Western leaders accusing Russia of seeking to undermine democracies and posing a threat to global security. Russia, on the other hand, claims that the West is engaged in a propaganda war to tarnish its reputation.
The Russian Union of Journalists (RUJ) called the EU ban “unlawful” and criticized the decision for not being made by a court. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned of a swift and painful response if the EU proceeded with the ban.
As tensions continue to rise, the future of media freedom and diplomatic relations between Russia and the EU remains uncertain.