Despite a decision by the European Union to ban them, Telekom Serbia is once again broadcasting Russia’s state TV channels RT and Sputnik. Apart from Telekom Serbia, RT is again offered by providers Telekom Srpske in Bosnia’s Republika Srpska entity and MTEL in Montenegro, according to media reports.

The decision was formally made by the Serbian state-owned Telekom Serbia, but it is clear that such a move, which goes against EU policy, could not have been made without the approval of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, the Teleskop website reported.

EU has decided to ban RT and Sputnik, designating them as Putin’s propaganda weapon.

Launched in 2005 as Russia Today, RT, financed by the Russian state, continuously expanded its programming and websites into languages including English, French, Spanish and Arabic. Even before the Russian invasion on Ukraine, RT was in trouble with regulators in the United States and Germany.

The Croatian Electronic Media Agency (AEM) on Wednesday sent the Croatian Regulatory Authority for Network Industries the EU Council regulation banning the broadcasting of content from Russia Today and Sputnik “by cable, satellite, IPTV, platforms, websites, and apps.”

“We invite you to submit this information and decision from the Council of the EU to all operators for implementation,” AEM director Josip Popovac said in a letter on Wednesday.

The reaction came after sanctions, in force since today, imposed by the European Union against two Russian state-owned media outlets, Russia Today and Sputnik, which engage in spreading misinformation and Russian propaganda about its brutal attack on Ukraine.

EC President: They are spreading toxic lies

“In this time of war, words matter. We are witnessing massive propaganda and disinformation over this outrageous attack on a free and independent country. We will not let Kremlin apologists pour their toxic lies justifying Putin’s war or sow the seeds of division in our Union,” European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, said.

European Commission called Russia Today and Sputnik crucial for the promotion and support of the Russian aggression on Ukraine, saying they present a direct threat to law and order, as well as security, in the European Union

Both outlets engage in spreading misinformation

Both RT and Sputnik are partaking on the coordinated misinformation campaign, showed an analysis of a working group East StratCom of the European External Action Service, which has been gathering data on the issue since 2015.

For this decision to be implemented, it is crucial to have full cooperation of all independent media regulators within European Regulators Group for Audiovisual Media Services (ERGA).

Some of the regulators have already taken concrete steps against Russian media involved in the misinformation campaign, including in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, while Germany has outright banned RT because it does not have the necessary licence.

“Considering the gravity of the situation and in response to Russian actions which are destabilising the situation in Ukraine, it is necessary, in line with basic rules and freedoms, introduce further restrictive measures and discontinue the activities of Russia Today and Sputnik in the European Union, which are aimed against the European Union.”

Sanctions extend to all means of content distribution, such as by cable, satellite, IPTV, platforms, websites, and apps.

Telekom Serbia enjoys full financial support of Serbian authorities

According to the media, RT has been returned on air on Telekom Serbia, but also Telekom Srpske in Bosnia’s Republika Srpska entity and MTEL in Montenegro.

Telekom Serbia, despite numerous scandals, has so far enjoyed the full financial support of Serbian authorities, and they have recently obtained permission to pay for Premier League broadcast rights in order to try and conquer the regional market.