The European Union has officially included Jacques Baud, a retired Swiss Army colonel and former intelligence analyst, in its latest sanctions list related to the war in Ukraine.
The EU describes the 70-year-old Baud as a “mouthpiece for pro-Russian propaganda.” He is accused of spreading conspiracy theories and information manipulation that undermine Ukraine’s stability. Specifically, the EU cites his appearances on Russian state media and his claims that Ukraine orchestrated its own invasion to facilitate joining NATO.
Baud is linked to the Valdai Club, a Russian think tank closely associated with Vladimir Putin, and frequently appears on media platforms that promote anti-NATO narratives.
As a result of the listing, Baud is banned from traveling within EU member states, and his assets in the Eurozone have been frozen. This also prevents him from receiving royalties from his French publisher. Interestingly, Switzerland has decided not to adopt these specific sanctions. While Switzerland usually follows EU sanctions, it has not joined the “hybrid threats” regime (covering disinformation and propaganda) that the EU used to target Baud.
Jacques Baud has announced his intention to legally challenge the decision, with his lawyers preparing to appeal to the Council of the EU and the European Court of Justice.
Europe’s sanction move on Iran is a serious threat to tanker markets
