By Tony O’Reilly-
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has announced 14 new sanctions today on Russian propagandists and state media who spread lies and deceit about Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
This includes Sergey Brilev, famous TV anchor on Russia state-owned media Rossiya and propagandist for Putin. Having previously lived in the UK, Brilev will no longer be able to access any of his UK assets or continue business dealings.
The government is also directly sanctioning state media organizations, targeting the Kremlin funded TV-Novosti who own RT, formerly Russia Today, and Rossiya Segodnya who controls news agency Sputnik.
Following Ofcom’s decision to revoke RT’s broadcasting license, these sanctions will ensure RT will not be able to find its way back on UK televisions, and will prevent companies and individuals operating in the UK from doing business with Russian state propaganda vehicles RT and Sputnik, and key figures in those organizations.
Disinformation is part of the Kremlin playbook and is used by Putin’s regime to obscure the truth of his unjust invasion. Other propagandists sanctioned today include Aleksandr Zharov, Chief Executive Officer of Gazprom-Media and former Head of the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information.
Anton Anisimov, Head of Sputnik International Broadcasting As well as targeting Putin’s propaganda machine, the government is also sanctioning prominent Russian Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev.
Dubbed ‘the butcher of Mariupol’, Mizintsev is the Chief of the National Defense Command and Control Centre, where all Russian military operations are planned and controlled worldwide. Mizintsev is known for using despicable tactics, including shelling civilian centres in both Aleppo in 2015-16 and now in Mariupol – where atrocities are being perpetuated against Ukrainian people.
Anton Anisimov, Head of Sputnik International Broadcasting
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said:
‘Putin’s war on Ukraine is based on a torrent of lies. Britain has helped lead the world in exposing Kremlin disinformation, and this latest batch of sanctions hits the shameless propagandists who push out Putin’s fake news and narratives.
We will keep on going with more sanctions to ramp up the pressure on Russia and ensure Putin loses in Ukraine. Nothing and no one is off the table.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said:
‘Putin’s propaganda machine has been working overdrive to spread misinformation and distract from his barbaric actions in Ukraine.
These sanctions will target those who are complicit in covering up the Russian state’s actions. We will not hesitate to act further against individuals and organizations attempting to deceive people about this misguided war.
The UK has also fast-tracked sanctions against another 7 individuals connected to the Strategic Culture Foundation – who were recently sanctioned by Australia for their role in spreading disinformation. The UK is operating closely with allies to target Russia’s oligarchs, banks and businesses.