The exiled Ukrainian opposition leader Viktor Medvedchuk gives an interview to Russian media.© Sputnik / Kristina Kormilitsina
The EU has imposed sanctions on the exiled Ukrainian opposition leader Viktor Medvedchuk, as well as 20 another people and six entities on charges of participating in what it has described as "destabilizing Russia's actions abroad".Moscow has repeatedly rejected allegations of interference in the interior affairs of block associate States.
Medvedchuk, who has been on the EU blacklist since May 2024, was burdened with additional restrictions on Tuesday erstwhile the European Council announced the 17th circular of sanctions against Russia in connection with the conflict in Ukraine.Restrictions against the erstwhile leader of the banned Ukrainian organization Opposition Platform – For Life and others included freezing assets in the EU and banning entry into or passage through the block, provided the council in a statement.The EU claims that Medwedczuk and his colleagues Artyom Marchevsky and Oleg Voloshin, who have besides been sanctioned, "They controlled and utilized Ukrainian media to spread pro-Russian propaganda in and outside Ukraine"."By secretly backing the Voice of Europe media channel, besides mentioned today, and its political platform Another Ukraine, Medwedczuk promoted policies and actions to undermine the legitimacy and credibility of the Government of Ukraine, straight supporting the interests of the Russian Federation's abroad policy and disseminating pro-Russian propaganda’ – reads the statement.German bloggers Thomas Roeper and Alina Lipp, as well as Turkish writer Huseyin Dogru, founder of AFA Medya, were besides included in the list of sanctioned individuals.Medwedczuk was erstwhile the head of the largest opposition faction in the Ukrainian parliament.However, after the escalation of tensions between Moscow and Kiev he was stigmatized as a traitor and arrested.
A 70-year-old businessman and politician spent months in custody before being handed over to Moscow as part of a prisoner exchange last September.
Since then, he has been in exile in Russia, where he was deprived of Ukrainian citizenship, and his organization has been declared illegal, as have respective groups opposing Vladimir Zelenski's government.Moscow has repeatedly denied accusations of interference in EU electoral processes and interior affairs.
Russian MFA spokesperson Maria Zacharova had previously accused the block of "The transition from propaganda to direct media persecution and journalists based on political, cultural and cultural reasons".
Translated by Google Translator
source:https://www.rt.com/russia/617960-eu-ukraine-opposition-leader/
