Violation of EU sanctions against Solovyev by Italian news platforms

Subject: Violation of EU sanctions against Solovyev by Italian news platforms

Vladimir Solovyev, a well-known Russian journalist and television presenter considered one of the Kremlin’s leading propagandists, was added to the European Union’s sanctions list on 23 February 2022. His assets were frozen and he was banned from entering Member States, including Italy, where his properties worth EUR 8 million were seized.

In March 2025, his planned appearance on the programme ‘Lo Stato delle cose’ on Italian state television (Rai 3) was cancelled following a report.

The Italian platform Byoblu, which has always been aligned with Russian narrative, continues to play a key role in spreading Kremlin propaganda, supporting the war of aggression against Ukraine and promoting narratives hostile to the EU and its democratic values, including attacks such as that by spokesperson Zakharova against President Mattarella. On 24 April 2025, that platform announced a new invitation to Solovyev.

In light of the above, can the Commission answer the following:

1. Is the Commission aware of the practice of two Italian media outlets issuing invitations to Solovyev, in breach of EU sanctions?

2. What measures does it intend to take to ensure compliance and combat pro-Russian disinformation in the Union?

Submitted: 25.4.2025

Answer given by Ms Albuquerque on behalf of the European Commission (20 June 2025)

Persons subject to individual restrictive measures (sanctions), including the Russian journalist mentioned in the question, are subject to an asset freeze, a prohibition to receive funds or economic resources and a travel ban (1).

The Commission oversees the implementation of EU sanctions as per Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 (2). The enforcement of sanctions is primarily the responsibility of national authorities, and the Commission supports Member States in their efforts to ensure compliance, including through monitoring, the issuance of guidance and continuous information- exchange with the relevant national competent authorities of the Member States. Member States shall take all necessary steps to ensure adherence to EU sanctions in their jurisdiction.

The EU is taking a number of initiatives aimed at promoting media pluralism and tackling pro-Russian disinformation. These include inter alia the European Democracy Action Plan (3), the enforcement of the Digital Services Act (4) and the EU vs Disinfo platform (5).

On the sanctions side, some Russian media outlets are already subject to a broadcasting ban according to Article 2f of Council Regulation 833/2014 (6) as they have been instrumental in preparing and supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and for their participation in Russia’s systematic information manipulation and disinformation under the permanent direct or indirect control of the leadership of the Russian Federation.

Any restrictive measure falls under the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy and must be agreed unanimously by the Council.

1 ∙ ⸱ Article 2, Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014; https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02014R0269-20250316.

2 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2014/269/oj/eng.

3 ∙ ⸱ https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/ga/ip_20_2250.

4 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=legissum:4625430.

5 ∙ ⸱ https://euvsdisinfo.eu/.

6 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2014/833/oj/eng.