Ladder: expulsion and visa denial, in Europe

A government expels correspondents who report from its territory for news organisations based in other countries, refuses them visas or accreditation, or declines to renew their permission to stay. The effect is less independent reporting from inside the country.

The number of entries reflects the depth of this record, not the severity of a country's conduct.

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1. Restrict
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3Punish

Legal or physical action against individual journalists or sources: subpoenas and record seizures, prosecutions, arrests, detention, expulsions, visa denials, assault where a government actor is involved.

RURussiaRSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180

18 May 2022Vladimir Putin

Russian authorities ordered the Canadian broadcaster CBC/Radio-Canada's Moscow bureau closed and cancelled its journalists' visas and accreditation, part of a wave of expulsions and non-renewals of foreign correspondents after the invasion of Ukraine.

Note: Russia closed a foreign broadcaster's bureau and cancelled its journalists' visas and accreditation after Canada imposed sanctions; the September 2026 White House ban restricted building access but did not remove any outlet's staff from the country.

Sustained 18 May 2022 · 3 sources · Full entry

All ladders · Expulsion and visa denial: by country and year · The United States chapter