Luxembourg cuts off “Russian propaganda”
Sunday’s EU-wide decision cleared the way for the Luxembourg government to order the Betzdorf-based Société Européenne des Satellites (SES) to stop broadcasting RT and Sputnik, two television channels with among the Kremlin’s “propaganda” arsenal.
Maintaining the broadcast of RT (Russia Today) and Sputnik through SES satellites had not created a bad replacement in recent days. The tone is particularly mounted on social networks. However, before Sunday, the Luxembourg government did not have the legal power to ban the broadcasting of these two television channels belonging to the Kremlin’s “propaganda” apparatus.
This Monday, the Prime Minister, Xavier Bettel, also in charge of Communications and the Media, was able to announce that RT and Sputnik will be effectively banned from the SES broadcasting network. The basis for this ban lies in a decision taken by the European Commission. “The government worked very painstakingly over the weekend to act on this Europe-wide ban. Contacts with the services of President Von der Leyen have been permanent, ”says the head of the Luxembourg government.
He does not hide the fact that the measure to prohibit the broadcasting of two media can be considered as an obstacle to the freedom of the press. “In this specific case, however, the balance tilts to the other side. It is not tolerable that in these times of war one supports the diffusion of Russian propaganda in Europe , underlines Xavier Bettel.
Banning RT and Sputnik has thus become another European Union “weapon” to sanction Russian President Vladimir Putin, the basis for the invasion of Ukraine.
Post Luxembourg was also accused in recent days of continuing to broadcast RT in its television package. Also this Monday it was announced that RT is now removed from the “Post TV” television network.
RT and Sputnik, which have accumulated tens of millions of subscribers on social networks around the world, have been known for several years as powerful daily relays from Moscow. The two channels are financed to the tune of 430 million euros per year by the Kremlin.