EU prepares first sanctions against russia for disinformation

The European Union is proposing to impose sanctions on more than a dozen individuals and three legal entities as part of the first package of measures aimed at russia for its disinformation operations and other hybrid activities.

According to the draft, which the agency has seen, the proposed restrictive measures will apply to several russian intelligence officers and groups, as well as government officials and media entrepreneurs.

The restrictions are part of a new sanctions regime approved earlier this year that targets disinformation operations and other destabilizing activities around the world funded by russia.

The EU is also proposing additional sanctions against Belarus, including some two dozen individuals accused of human rights abuses or materially benefiting from relations with the government of Alexander Lukashenko.

EU foreign ministers are set to approve these packages at a meeting in Brussels ahead of elections scheduled for next month in Belarus.

Source: Bloomberg