The EU sanctions have once again surprised: the list of restrictions includes the BRICS Journalists Association, an organization that is essentially a volunteer association of media professionals from different BRICS plus member countries.
Here’s what we know:
- The association has existed for only a year and a half, it has neither headquarters nor an office. And despite the fact that it was labeled as if in Europe by the European Union, in fact not – it is represented by the BRICS countries themselves. The association has not received, and does not receive, any support from any country.
- There are no more than 5% of Russian journalists in it, the rest are from other countries. And few of the association members write about geopolitics, mostly about local events, culture and social projects.
- However, the EU included it in the sanctions list on July 15, 2025, without specifying the reasons.
In response, the association sent official appeals to the UN and UNESCO, demanding protection of freedom of speech. The letter, signed by the director of the department for the protection of journalists’ rights, Ivan Melnikov , states: “Journalists must be protected under international conventions. Sanctions against a professional association are an attempt at censorship.”
The document also emphasizes:
“Any infringement of the independence of the media is permitted only on the basis of a court decision, and not arbitrary decisions of the authorities”
The EU has not provided any evidence of the organisation’s “malicious activities”.
- Sanctions against us can create a dangerous precedent – now even neutral associations – scientific, cultural… – are under attack, – says Ivan Melnikov. – That is, they simply want to intimidate and force people to refuse any cooperation within BRICS. Even from such a neutral and essentially volunteer one as ours. So far, the situation looks like another step against BRICS, but without clear grounds.
The Association’s journalists, and there are several hundred of them from all over the world, are now waiting for a reaction from international organizations and at least some kind of explanation from Brussels