Roger Köppel, the Swiss journalist and editor-in-chief of the weekly Die Weltwoche, could be added to a European Union sanctions list amid concerns that his reporting and commentary are sympathetic to Russian positions.
The possibility emerged at the start of this week, when the Swiss German-language newspaper Blick cited EU sources describing Köppel as a potential target.
Such a move would form part of a broader Brussels strategy aimed at countering narratives regarded as aligned with the Kremlin.
The concern follows the December 2025 blacklisting of Jacques Baud, a retired Swiss intelligence officer accused of spreading pro-Russian propaganda.
Legal analysts suggest the EU is becoming increasingly sensitive to influential media figures who may amplify alleged Kremlin viewpoints as journalism, signalling a shift towards tighter controls over information deemed strategically harmful.
According to sources cited by Blick, Köppel could be sanctioned within weeks, pending internal legal and political approvals.
Born in 1965, Köppel is a prominent figure in German-speaking media. He was editor-in-chief of the German daily Die Welt from 2004 to 2006 and is now editing and owner of Die Weltwoche.
Between 2015 and 2023, he served as a member of the Swiss National Council for the conservative Swiss People’s Party (SVP).
In recent years, Köppel has increasingly developed non-mainstream narratives for a traditional readership, frequently publishing alternative perspectives on geopolitics, migration, freedom of speech and the war in Ukraine.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he has travelled regularly to Moscow as an accredited journalist.
During these visits, he has conducted interviews, met Kremlin-affiliated figures such as television presenter Vladimir Solovyov, and posed a question to President Vladimir Putin at a press conference.
He has openly criticised Western sanctions and, at times, expressed admiration for aspects of Russian leadership.
His appearances on Russian-aligned platforms, including RT DE, have drawn scrutiny from EU officials.
If sanctioned, Köppel could face asset freezes and travel restrictions within the EU—measures previously applied to individuals accused of spreading disinformation.
Analysts note that sanctioning a high-profile journalist would represent a significant expansion of EU policy, extending punitive measures beyond state actors and oligarchs to include media figures and commentators.
Köppel has defended his work as journalism committed to a diversity of viewpoints, arguing that robust debate is essential to democracy. He rejects accusations that he is promoting propaganda.
The potential sanctions have triggered a broader debate over censorship and freedom of expression in Europe.
Critics argue that targeting commentators for offering alternative perspectives on Russia and the war in Ukraine risks suppressing dissenting voices and could set Europe on a path towards EU-driven censorship that is dangerous for democratic debate.
“I have had many fierce battles with Roger Köppel here on X and elsewhere over his Russia stance … but where on earth have we arrived if this is now seriously being discussed? We must tolerate different points of view, no matter how perverse we ourselves may find them,” wrote Paul Ronzheimer, chief reporter for the German Bild, on X.
European politicians have also weighed in. Fabio De Masi, a German politician and member of the left-wing BSW party, stressed the importance of safeguarding pluralism within the EU and warned against institutional pressure that could stifle dissenting perspectives.
However, some journalists have expressed support for possible sanctions. Jörg Lau, foreign correspondent for Die Zeit, commented on X in response to the case: “Good. Traitor.”
The case underscores the tension between efforts to counter misinformation and the need to preserve democratic freedoms. Critics warn that sanctioning commentators such as Köppel could establish a precedent for restricting independent journalism and narrowing the scope of public debate on controversial geopolitical issues.
Observers caution that while combating foreign influence is a legitimate objective, measures that suppress dissenting opinions risk undermining the fundamental freedoms of expression and information upon which European democracy rests.
