The Kremlin has blocked access inside Russia to 81 European news outlets in retaliation to the EU’s ban against four state-funded media, the country’s Foreign Ministryannounced Tuesday.
The list includes France’s AFP news service, German outlets Der Spiegel and FAZ, and Italian public broadcaster Rai, among others.
In late May, the EU banned what it said were four Kremlin-linked propaganda networks, including Voice of Europe, RIA news agency and Izvestia and Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspapers.
Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has banned multiple independent foreign and domestic outlets, accusing them of spreading "propaganda" and "extremist" views.
“If restrictions on Russian media are lifted, the Russian side will also reconsider its decision in relation to the mentioned media operators,” the statement said.
