France freezes bank accounts of Russian foreign broadcaster RT France
January 21, 2023, 8:44 am

France freezes bank accounts of Russian foreign broadcaster RT France

France-Effil tower

The bank accounts of RT France, the French branch of Russia's state broadcaster RT that are suspended in the European Union, have been frozen, authorities said Friday.

The French Ministry of Economy and Finance said the broadcaster's assets had been frozen because of the application of recent EU sanctions and not at the initiative of the French state, according to the BFMTV news channel.

The news outlet quoted an unnamed source from the ministry who said the measure was borne out of the EU's "latest sanctions package" in December.

The EU’s ninth sanctions package in Dec. also provides an "asset freeze" on Russian media entities in Europe.

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Russian media outlet ANO TV Novosti "is the parent company of RT France, which by implication explains the freezing of RT France's assets," according to the source.

Xeniya Fedorova, editor-in-chief of RT France, criticized the measure on RT France's Telegram channel.

"Although RT France is not on the sanctions list and has the right to operate in France, such a decision practically paralyzes our activities," said Fedorova.

RT's international editor-in-chief, Margarita Simonjan, also denounced the sanctions. "Our RT France has had all its accounts in France terminated. Here is liberté, égalité and fraternité," she said.

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Russian foreign media Sputnik and RT have been repeatedly accused of being instruments of "Kremlin disinformation."

Following a EU decision after Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine, RT was not allowed to be broadcast on television or the internet in the EU as of March 2, 2022.

The European Court of Justice, which heard an appeal by RT France, upheld the decision in July.

The original sanctions package only banned the broadcast of RT content in the EU, not its production itself.

To date, RT France has continued to produce and distribute content that can be accessed despite the ban via a virtual private network (VPN), a service that allows users to surf the internet while bypassing the block.

In an interview with the France 24 news channel in December, the secretary general of the European Federation of Journalists, Ricardo Gutierrez, criticized the EU for censoring Russian media.

Banning Russian media in the EU, including RT and Sputnik, has set "a dangerous precedent that poses a threat to press freedom," said Gutierrez.

Source: aa

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.