Final Word from Wednesday, June 8, 2022

The EU's sixth sanctions package approved on Fri. immediately banned broadcasts of three Russian state-controlled media outlets (RTR/RTR Planeta, Rossiya 24, TV Center Int.), regardless of the distribution channel. This is consistent with the EU's fundamental rights and freedoms, the Council said, and should be maintained until the aggression against Ukraine is put to an end and until Russia ceases to conduct propaganda actions against the Union and its member states. The Fiala government is still battling with how to take a similar step on the national level with regard to websites. Remarkably, Russia has done little to restrict access of Europeans to anti-Russian information from Ukraine. During a political debate on one of the state-owned channels that is now banned in Europe, a Kremlin-friendly political scientist explained that Russia has the capability of doing this but doesn't want to. Oddly, Vladimir Putin apparently wants us to hear all the bad things Ukrainians say about him. [ Czech Republic Russia 24 Petr Centre International ]