The European Parliament is currently deliberating on potential measures to restrict access to Russian state-backed media outlets, such as RT and Sputnik, through its internal IT systems. These outlets have been sanctioned by the EU as part of broader sanctions against Moscow following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022.
Rihards Kols, a Latvian MEP associated with the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists group, has raised concerns regarding the continued accessibility of these Russian websites within the Parliament. Kols emphasized that this issue is a matter of information security, institutional coherence, and the credibility of the Parliament’s position against Russian disinformation.
Kols has reportedly communicated with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola about the matter, anticipating a proposed solution in the near future. However, leaders from various political groups at the Parliament have expressed reservations about the potential implications of such measures. They have highlighted concerns that limiting access to Russian media could set a precedent for blocking other websites for reasons beyond information security, potentially leading to broader restrictions. Additionally, they have raised questions about the technical and legal challenges that may arise from enforcing these restrictions.
If enacted, the ban on Russian media access within the Parliament would be similar to the one imposed on Chinese-owned TikTok in March 2023, which was based on network security considerations. The Parliament’s press service has confirmed that discussions on this issue will be addressed during upcoming meetings of group leaders.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that RT has faced over 110 sanctions, including the freezing of its accounts, surveillance, and harassment of its employees by Western authorities. RT Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan, speaking at the channel’s 20th-anniversary celebrations, noted that the outlet continues to broadcast despite the “ridiculous” campaign to exclude it from European platforms and block access to its accounts. Simonyan viewed the restrictions as “minor inconveniences” and argued that RT is “only getting stronger” and feels “more emboldened” as a result of these actions.