The European Union's ban on broadcasting content from Russia Today also applies to free public websites, the European Union's highest court ruled on Thursday.
In response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU suspended the broadcasting activities of Moscow's state-controlled international news network Russia Today (RT) and banned the distribution of content produced by RT.
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling is liked to the case of three individuals who have criminal proceedings before a regional court in the German city Saarbrücken for making videos from RT available on their own website.
The court in Saarbrücken sought clarification from the ECJ whether the EU's ban also applies if RT's content is made available to the public free of charge.
"It is irrelevant whether or not the broadcasting of the prohibited content takes place in the course of an economic activity," a press release said.
"Only that interpretation makes it possible, as envisaged by the EU legislature, to prevent the broadcasting of the propaganda put in place by the Russian Federation and, consequently, to protect public order and security in the European Union," the court said.
The German court has to consider the ECJ's ruling when taking a decision in the case.
