EU sanctions the Wagner Group and its media company RIA FAN
The European Union has imposed sanctions against the terrorist organization Wagner Group and the "media agency" RIA FAN, which is affiliated with it.
The relevant report is published on the EU website.
As per the EU Council's decision, these organizations pose a threat to the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.
With regards to the Wagner Group, the EU website says it is a Russia-based unincorporated private military entity, which was established in 2014 as a successor organisation of the Slavonic Corps. It is led by Dimitriy Utkin and financed by Yevgeniy Prigozhin. Through the setting-up of local entities, and with the support of local governments, the Wagner Group finances and conducts its operations. The Wagner Group spearheaded the attacks against the Ukrainian towns of Soledar and Bakhmut in January 2023 and it is actively participating in the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.
"The Wagner Group is therefore responsible for supporting materially actions which undermine and threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine," the EU Council concludes.
With regards to the RIA FAN, the report says that it is part of the Patriot Media Group, a Russian media organisation whose Board of Trustees is headed by Yevgeniy Prigozhin.
"RIA FAN is involved in pro-government propaganda and disinformation on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. RIA FAN refers to the ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine as a mission to stop ‘Ukrainian Nazis’ and promotes actions undertaken by the Wagner Group. RIA FAN is therefore supporting materially actions and policies which undermine and threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. RIA FAN is also associated with the Patriot Media Group," the EU Council notes.
As reported by IMI, Estonia wants to impose stricter restrictions on access to Russian TV channels. The Lithuanian Radio and Television Commission has made a move to instruct Internet providers to disable access to IP addresses that enable users to watch the Kremlin's propaganda the TV channels "NTV", "Pervyi Kanal", "Russia 1", "Russia 24" and "RTR Planet", which are under the EU's sanctions.
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