State-controlled media outlet Russia Today on Wednesday lost its legal battle against a European Union ban imposed in March over alleged misinformation, prompting the Kremlin to warn of retaliation against Western media outlets. Europe’s second highest court upheld the EU’s decision, which came after Brussels accused Russia Today of systematic disinformation about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “The Grand Chamber of the General Court rejects RT France’s application for the annulment of acts of the Council, adopted after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, which temporarily prohibit that organization from broadcasting content,” the General Court, based in Luxembourg. The judges upheld the leeway for the leaders of the EU’s council of governments to take restrictive measures in this area and rejected Russia Today’s arguments that the ban limited freedom of expression. “The restrictions on RT France’s freedom of expression that the restrictive measures at issue may have are proportionate, insofar as they are appropriate and necessary for the objectives pursued,” the judges said in their ruling. “The Court also finds that these measures do not disproportionately infringe the essential content of RT France’s freedom to conduct a business, given that they are temporary and reversible,” they said. The Kremlin said the EU court’s ruling was “extremely negative” and that Moscow would take similar measures against Western media in response. In a call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia Today was unable to work in Europe, but hoped to find loopholes to resume broadcasting. RT France said it would appeal to the Court of Justice of the European Union, Europe’s highest. “The Court’s confirmation of this blanket ban in no uncertain terms unfortunately shows that the European Union’s judiciary cannot or does not want to stand up to political power,” said Xenia Fedorova, president of RT France. The EU sanction, which applies to RT’s English unit and operations in Britain, Germany, France and Spain, means that RT content cannot be broadcast or distributed by EU bodies. The ban includes the suspension of RT’s broadcast licenses and licensing, transmission and distribution arrangements with its EU counterparts. The Morning Update and Afternoon Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.
