Montenegro said on Wednesday it had banned state-controlled Russian media RT and Sputnik as part of sanctions imposed over Ukraine's war, following EU steps the small Balkan country hopes to join, Reuters reported. .

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The European Union banned the two media outlets last month for what it called "systematic manipulation of information and misinformation" in connection with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Russia today and Sputnik were automatically banned in Montenegro because of sanctions that took effect last week, Branko Boskovic, head of the Electronic Media Council, said after a meeting with the body on Wednesday, local media reported.

Sanctions mean that local operators will be banned from broadcasting or contributing in any way to the distribution of any RT or Satellite content.

The EU is preparing new sanctions on Russia

The ban applies to the British section of the Republic of Tatarstan and operations in Britain, Germany, France and Spain.

NATO member Montenegro has a large, more pro-Russian ethnic Serb population, while most Montenegrins see their country's future in the EU, the agency said.

Montenegro's economy is highly dependent on tourism, with the Adriatic usually attracting many visitors from both Russia and Ukraine.

Many Russians own property or yachts in Montenegro.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine