The European Union (EU) condemned this Wednesday the “completely unfounded” decision of the Russian authorities to block access to 81 European media outlets, including Portuguese media outlets, in Russia.
In a statement, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell believes that the decision under consideration “further restricts access to free and independent information and expands already severe media censorship in Russia.”
Borrell stressed that the banned European media work in accordance with journalistic principles and standards, providing “factual information, including to the Russian public, including about Russia’s illegal aggressive war against Ukraine.”
On Tuesday, Moscow decided to ban internet access in the country to 81 European media outlets, including Portugal’s RTP Internacional, Público, Expresso and Observador, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced.
According to Russian diplomacy, this measure is intended to retaliate for the EU’s decision to ban “any broadcasting activity” for Russian media outlets RIA Novosti, Izvestia, Rossiyskaya Gazeta and Voice of Europe.
In the same briefing note, the EU chief of diplomacy also said that respect for freedom of speech and the media is a fundamental value for the European bloc, in contrast to Russian disinformation and propaganda campaigns.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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