An influencer, a PR specialist and a bishop: Who are the latest EU-sanctioned disinformation actors?

The Council of the European Union added 34 individuals and 47 entities to its sanctions list on 15 June — including 10 individuals and one entity accused of “spreading disinformation aimed at justifying, promoting or legitimising Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.” In practice, this means their assets will be frozen, while EU citizens and companies will be forbidden from providing them with funds or financial assets. At first glance, some of these individuals — such as Russian-American travel influencer Alexandra Jost — may strike observers as unconventional sanction targets. Jost, who was born in Hong Kong, goes by the…