EU Sanctions: Colonel Jacques Baud on Being Labeled a Russian Propagandist

Colonel Jacques Baud recently found himself on an EU sanctions list, a situation he describes as a "disaster for democracy." He learned about this through Radio Free Europe on December 12th and later received formal notification when the EU published the sanctions on December 15th. This has led to his bank accounts being frozen and a travel ban within the EU, preventing him from returning to his home country.

Baud is accused of spreading pro-Russian propaganda and disinformation. Specifically, he’s alleged to have promoted a conspiracy theory that Ukraine orchestrated its own invasion by Russia in 2022. Baud strongly denies this, stating he merely quoted Oleksiy Arestovych, an advisor to President Zelensky at the time, who in 2019 warned of a potential war with Russia if Ukraine pursued NATO membership. Baud emphasizes that quoting a Ukrainian official is now being used as evidence of him acting as a Russian agent, despite his claims of having no ties to Russia.

• Colonel Jacques Baud was placed on an EU sanctions list without prior warning or a chance to respond.
• He is accused of spreading pro-Russian propaganda, specifically for quoting a Ukrainian official about the risks of NATO expansion.
• Baud denies any ties to Russia and states he deliberately avoided Russian media to maintain objectivity.
• He argues the sanctions are a political decision, not a legal one, lacking due process and a right to defense.
• The sanctions have frozen his assets, impacting his ability to meet basic needs.
• Baud sees his case as a sign of declining free speech and objective analysis in Europe.

Baud highlights that he was never contacted or warned by EU, Belgian, or Swiss authorities before the sanctions were imposed. He argues that the decision is political rather than legal, as there was no court ruling, no charges filed under any law, and no opportunity for him to defend himself or appeal the decision. He points out that propaganda itself is not a crime under European law and that he has always strived for precise and nuanced language in his analyses.

He explains that he deliberately avoided appearing on Russian media, turning down invitations from outlets like RT. His work, he states, is largely based on Ukrainian and U.S. sources to maintain academic objectivity. Baud insists that propaganda is not a crime in Europe and that he has always tried to use precise language. He even made a point of distinguishing between terms like "Nazi" and "neo-Nazi" in his writings to ensure accuracy and nuance.

Baud presents his situation as evidence of a serious decline in democracy and free speech in Europe. He feels that objective analysis of the Russia-Ukraine war is now being labeled as "pro-Russian." The sanctions, in his view, are effectively confiscating his livelihood without due process, leaving him struggling to cover basic necessities. He is now seeking a humanitarian exemption to access limited funds for essentials like food.

The situation has become surreal for Baud. His bank accounts in Belgium are frozen due to the EU sanctions. While his Swiss bank account is theoretically accessible since Switzerland has not applied the sanctions, he cannot travel to Switzerland to use it. Furthermore, even if he could access the funds, transactions through European clearing banks could be stopped. He notes that even helping him, like paying a bill or providing food, could be considered bypassing sanctions and lead to legal trouble for the helper. He compares his situation unfavorably to that of East Germany, where at least people were warned in advance.