The European Union Council Friday announced on Friday sanctions against seven Russian individuals and five entities accusing them of distorting information and disseminating propaganda in support of Russia's war against Ukraine.
In particular, the Council in a statement said it imposed sanctions on Inforos and three of its founders.
Inforos is an online outlet, which, it said, is closely linked to the Russian military intelligence and is responsible for setting up more than 270 media proxy online outlets that disseminate propaganda in support of Russia's war of Ukraine.
Other listings concern: ANO Dialog, a Russian non-profit organisation created by the Moscow Department of Information and Technology, the Institute of the Russian Diaspora, and Social Design Agency and Structura National Technologies, two Russian IT companies involved in the Russian-led digital disinformation campaign and prominent representatives of the above-mentioned entities.
Altogether, EU sanction in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine now apply to about 1, 800 individuals and entities altogether.
"We are targeting those carrying out information manipulation and interference as part of a broader hybrid campaign by Russia against the EU and the member states," said EU High Representative Josep Borrell.
"With these new listings we are sending a strong signal that we know how they manipulate our information space and how they operate," he added.
All those designated are subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to them.
Natural persons are additionally subject to a travel ban to the EU.
Source: Kuwait News Agency