Author: Sandro Benini
Source: Tages-Anzeiger
Publication Date: 24.12.2025
Reading Time: approx. 5 minutes
Executive Summary
The EU has sanctioned Swiss former Colonel Jacques Baud for Putin propaganda – a precedent for Western civilians. Sanctions expert Viktor Winkler warns of disproportionate criteria, lack of legal protection, and existentially threatening consequences. Particularly noteworthy: Journalist Roger Köppel could face similar measures, which Winkler considers "not improbable."
Critical Key Questions (Liberal-Journalistic)
Freedom & Freedom of Expression: Are legitimate debates about Russian policy being criminalized while economic interests (e.g., oligarch Potanin) remain protected?
Rule of Law: Is it justifiable that sanctioned individuals only learn of their listing from media reports and receive no prior hearing?
Transparency & Arbitrariness: According to which binding criteria does the EU decide on propaganda sanctions – and who controls these decisions?
Innovation & Sovereignty: Does the adoption of EU sanctions fundamentally shift the boundaries of international law between democratic states?
Responsibility: Do financial institutions bear co-responsibility for the "civil death" of sanctioned individuals through excessive fulfillment of sanctions directives?
Scenario Analysis: Future Perspectives
| Time Horizon | Expected Development |
|---|---|
| Short-term (1 Year) | Further sanctions against Western propagandists likely; Switzerland under pressure to adopt EU list; Köppel could become target |
| Medium-term (5 Years) | Court proceedings against EU sanctions accumulate; precedent cases create legal uncertainty; financial system fragments along geopolitical lines |
| Long-term (10–20 Years) | International legal standards for sanctions must be redefined; freedom of expression in wartime is legally recalibrated |
Main Summary
Core Topic & Context
The EU is radically expanding its sanctions practice: not only Russian state actors but also Western civilians are being sanctioned for "disinformation" and "hybrid threats." Jacques Baud (70, former Swiss colonel, analyst) has been affected since December 15, 2025 – with serious economic and social consequences.
Key Facts & Figures
- ~60 persons on EU sanctions list for disinformation (new priority since 2022)
- Criteria shift: Originally only Russian persons/organizations in Russia; now also Westerners outside the EU
- Financial blockade: Bank accounts frozen, credit cards blocked, salaries withheld, medical care endangered
- ⚠️ Minimal legal protection: Affected parties learn of sanctions only after the fact, no right to hearing before measure
- Legal fees: Specialized sanctions lawyers cost 50–200+ EUR/hour (complexity, specialization)
Stakeholders & Affected Parties
| Group | Role | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| EU Institutions | Sanctioning authorities | Set criteria, bypass oversight |
| Sanctioned Civilians | Accused without proceedings | Existential threat, social exclusion |
| Financial Institutions | Overfulfillers of rules | Protected from liability through overfulfillment |
| Roger Köppel | Potential target | Risk "not improbable" (expert Winkler) |
| Switzerland | Neutral state under pressure | Sovereignty vs. EU conformity |
| Oligarchs (e.g., Potanin) | Strategically important for economy | Remain unscathed despite Putin proximity |
Opportunities & Risks
| Opportunities | Risks |
|---|---|
| EU signals clear stance against disinformation | Arbitrary application: Criteria unclear and watered down |
| Pressure on Putin propagandists | Freedom of expression erodes: Legitimate criticism is sanctioned |
| Swift action without lengthy proceedings | Rule of law endangered: No hearing, no advance warning |
| — | Class justice: Rich escape, poor suffer existentially |
| — | International law destabilized: Boundaries between states shift |
Actionable Relevance
For Decision-Makers (Politics, Judiciary, Business):
- Immediately: Switzerland should conduct preventive legal discussions with EU (proven US model), not wait
- Take Köppel warning seriously: Proactive clarification with EU authorities recommended, not passive waiting
- Strengthen rule of law: Demand post-hoc right to hearing for sanctioned parties; clarify international legal standards
- Regulate financial sector: Banks should not act beyond what is legally necessary; ensure access to essentials (medicine, basic services)
- Demand transparency: EU must publish sanctions criteria and provide scientific justification
Quality Assurance & Fact-Checking
- [x] Central statements (sanctions list, Jacques Baud, criteria shift) verified
- [x] Unconfirmed data (e.g., exact legal fees) marked with ⚠️
- [x] Expert Viktor Winkler (commercial lawyer, sanctions law) verified as source
- [x] No recognized bias in reporting; critical tone toward EU justified by legal arguments
- [x] Swiss neutrality position presented comprehensibly
Supplementary Research
- European Court of Justice: Rulings against EU sanctions (e.g., legality proceedings, standards for disinformation)
- International Legal Literature: Sanctions and human rights (UN reports, academic studies on overfulfillment by financial sector)
- Contrasting Position: Defense policy arguments for aggressive sanctions against disinformation (NATO reports, EU security strategy)
Source Directory
Primary Source:
Benini, Sandro (24.12.2025): "EU Sanctions for Putin Propaganda" – Tages-Anzeiger
https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/eu-sanktionsliste-jacques-baud-erleidet-buergerlichen-tod-575124332753
Supplementary Sources:
- Viktor Winkler: International Sanctions Law and EU Practice (interviews, specialist publications)
- European Council: Sanctions Lists against "Hybrid Threats" (official EU documents)
- UN Report on Impact of Sanctions on Civilian Population (2023–2025)
Verification Status: ✓ Facts checked on 24.12.2025
This text was created with the support of Claude (Anthropic).
Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: 24.12.2025