Russia blocks local access to 15 EU news websites in response to sanctions

Moscow has announced restrictions on access from Russian territory to the websites of 15 media outlets from European Union member states.

This move comes as a direct response to recent EU sanctions targeting Russian media, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Russian Foreign Ministry's press service.

According to the press statement, the decision is a countermeasure to the European Union’s imposition of restrictions on eight Russian publications and information channels, including "Eurasia Daily", "Fondsk", "Lenta", "News Front", "Rubaltic", "South Front", the "Strategic Culture Foundation", and "Krasnaya Zvezda". These measures were part of the 16th sanctions package approved by the EU Council in February 2025.

The Russian ministry emphasised the conditional nature of their decision: “In case the restrictions against domestic publications and information channels are lifted, the Russian side will also reconsider its decision regarding European media.”

The ministry further noted that the targeted EU media outlets have been involved in spreading what Moscow describes as “false information,” justifying the imposition of reciprocal access limitations.

By Khagan Isayev