The European Court today rejects Russia’s offer to lift the EU broadcast ban

The European Court of Justice has rejected an offer by the French branch of the Russian state-controlled international news network Russia Today (RT) to revoke a measure that prevents it from broadcasting across the block.

The Council of the European Union banned the network on March 1, days after the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, saying it was being used as a “conduit” for Russian propaganda aimed at garnering support for the aggression.

“The Grand Chamber of the Tribunal rejects RT France’s request to cancel the Council acts adopted after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, temporarily banning this organization from broadcasting content,” the court said in a statement Wednesday.

The court noted that RT France’s lawsuit alleged four major violations, including the rights to self-defense, freedom of expression and information, the right to conduct business and the principle of non-discrimination on the basis of nationality.

RT’s statement also questioned the EU Council’s “competence” to adopt the ban.

The court said that because the council oversees common foreign and security policy issues throughout the bloc, the decision to ban RT was within its authority.

“The Council cannot be criticized for having considered that the necessary measures to be taken in response to serious threats to peace on Europe’s borders and violations of international law may also include a temporary ban on the transmission of content by some media communication sponsored by Russia ”. the state, on the basis that these means will support the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, ”states the decision of the Court of Justice.

The new decision sparked an angry response from the Kremlin in Moscow, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov telling reporters that Russia could take similar action against Western media operating in the country.

“We won’t even allow them to work here,” he said, suggesting that the ban reflects the EU’s “ideas” on freedom of expression.

RT, which broadcasts in English, French, German and Arabic, has long been accused by Western politicians of pro-Russian international news coverage.

Last week in the UK, where the network’s license was revoked on March 18, UK regulator Ofcom claimed that RT did not comply with the UK Broadcasting Code fairness rules, which are required to obtain and maintain a license. . war cover.