Yermak-McFaul Group proposes democratic governments list of Russians to face sanctions

KATERYNA TYSHCHENKO — FRIDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2022 19:02

The International Working Group on Sanctions Against Russia, led by Andrii Yermak, the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine and Michael McFaul, the former US National Security Adviser, has prepared a roadmap for individual sanctions against Russian propagandists, opinion leaders and artists.

Source: presidential press service

Quote: "The international working group recommends that democratic countries around the world include in their sanctions lists those persons who have so far avoided it."

Details: The document contains an essential list of Russian propagandists, opinion leaders, and artists, which generate and spread narratives of Kremlin propaganda, and lie about Russia's war against Ukraine. It is noted that this list will be supplemented.

Propagandists are divided into two large groups: those who generate ideas for propaganda (ideologues, experts, scientists), and those who spread these ideas (journalists, artists, and celebrities).

The report notes that disreputable think tanks (such as the International Discussion Club Valdai, Izborsky club, the Council for Foreign and Defence Policy, the Russian Council for International Affairs (RRMS) and the Russian Institute for Strategic Studies (RISD)) "have close ties to high-ranking officials, support the actions of the authorities, [and] develop propaganda narratives".

"Among those involved in spreading information in support of the war with Ukraine are not only journalists or experts, but also those who are "soldiers" in this hybrid war", reads the post.

The press service also noted that many of the artists included in the list have visited the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, performed at concerts in support of Russia or publicly supported the regime of the president of the Russian Federation and its war. "Their activities are not related to journalism, freedom of expression or science, but they purposefully help the efforts of the Russian military and political leadership in Ukraine", the press office stated.

At the same time, most of them spend their holidays abroad; many of them own expensive real estate in Europe and the United States.

The list of people who are proposed to be sanctioned includes 166 people. Some of them are already under sanctions in Ukraine and other countries.

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