Source: Newsweek
According to current and former members of the European Parliament who spoke to Newsweek, European Union MPs may target conservative commentator Tucker Carlson after his interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
During his journey to Russia this week, Carlson made public his plan to release an interview with the Russian leader "soon" (On Tuesday).
Guy Verhofstadt, a former prime minister of Belgium and current member of the European Parliament, told Newsweek that Carlson, a former Fox News personality, could find himself in trouble with the EU due to his work in Russia.
An EU lawmaker has suggested the possibility of a "travel ban" on Carlson, referring to him as "a mouthpiece" for both Putin and Trump. The lawmaker went on to say: "As Putin is a war criminal and the EU sanctions all who assist him in that effort, it seems logical that the External Action Service examine his case as well."
On Wednesday morning, Newsweek emailed Tucker Carlson to ask for their reply. Once we receive a response, we will update this article accordingly.
According to Carlson's video statement from Tuesday, in which he explained his motivation for the interview, "Most Americans have no idea why Putin invaded Ukraine or what his goals are now."
We are not in this to show our affection for Vladimir Putin....No matter what Putin says in this interview, we still think you should watch it. You ought to be well-informed.
When it comes to foreign affairs, the European Union turns to its diplomatic arm, the External Action Service (EAS). Sufficient proof must be submitted to the EAS for examination in order to add an individual to the EU sanctions list.
The European Council, composed of EU state leaders, makes the ultimate decision on the imposition of penalties after the EAS has presented its case, if it is considered adequate.
That being said, even if there is enough backing from European parliamentarians and presidents, any potential sanctions against Carlson could still be a ways off.
Parliamentarians lack the authority to levy sanctions on their own. Incorporating Carlson into the already contentious process of sanctioning many persons, especially those with ties to the Kremlin, would be an enormous undertaking for the Council.
According to an anonymous European diplomat who spoke to Newsweek, any measure to restrict his travel in the future would have to establish a connection between him and Russia's aggressive policies, which "is absent or hard to prove."
Newsweek was informed by ex-MEP Luis Garicano that he agreed with Verhofstadt's position. "He is no longer a newsman, but a propagandist for the most heinous regime on European soil and the one which is most dangerous to our peace and security," stated Garicano about Carlson.
While details of Carlson's interview with Putin are still sketchy, detractors assume it will be pro-Moscow due to the pundit's history of defending certain facets of Russian policy.
According to MEP Urmas Paet, who was previously the foreign minister of Estonia, "First of all, it should be remembered that Putin is not just a president of an aggressor country, but he is wanted by the International Criminal Court and accused of genocide and war crimes," as informed by Newsweek.
It is unacceptable that Carlson wants to promote a person who is on trial for genocide. The International Criminal Court is the proper venue for Putin to air his grievances. Simultaneously, Carlson isn't acting like a true journalist because he openly supports Putin and the Russian leadership while continuously criticizing Ukraine, a country that has been the target of Russian aggression.
Accordingly, you risk being sanctioned for spreading such propaganda on behalf of a criminal regime. A travel ban to countries in the European Union is the main issue here.
Some people's problems are more localized. Former Polish foreign minister and current European Parliament member Witold Waszczykowski told Newsweek, "I think it's the problem [of] American journalists to evaluate such behavior of Mr. Tucker Carlson."
Top EU politicians like [German Chancellor Olaf] Scholz and [French President Emmanuel] Macron maintain contact with Putin. I would prefer that Mr. Verhofstadt attend to the European lawmakers who are preoccupied with finding ways to placate Russia rather than assisting Ukraine in achieving victory in the war.
According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the interview has already occurred. "His position is different from the others," Peskov remarked on Wednesday of Carlson. "It is in no way pro-Russian, it is not pro-Ukrainian, it is pro-American, but at least it contrasts with the position of the traditional Anglo-Saxon media."
As a result of his interview, Carlson will be the first Western media figure to challenge Putin since the invasion of Ukraine.
The right to inform the American people about the conflict in which they are involved is a fundamental human right, Carlson argued in his video message.
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