On Monday, the EU imposed sanctions on former Swiss colonel and ex-NATO official Jacques Baud. The reason is that he has expressed views on the war in Ukraine that are prohibited within the union.

Baud worked during the 1980s for the Swiss intelligence service, responsible for monitoring Warsaw Pact activities east of the Iron Curtain.

After the Cold War ended, he held several UN assignments in Africa, and ultimately, until his retirement, was stationed at NATO’s Brussels office, where he was responsible for preventing the proliferation of small arms and landmines.

Banned by the EU

As of yesterday, however, the former colonel is banned by the EU. The reason is that, through several books, YouTube channels, and podcasts, he has expressed views about the war in Ukraine that are forbidden within the union.

Among other things, the former colonel has claimed that if the public knew how many Ukrainians had been killed in the war, people would no longer want to support the country. He has also asserted that support for Ukraine is driven by a “wishful dream” that it will lead to Russia being “brought to its knees.”

The European Council states in Monday’s decision that Jacques Baud acts as a “mouthpiece for pro-Russian propaganda” and therefore “is responsible for, carries out, or supports actions or policies that can be attributed to the government of the Russian Federation, and which undermine or threaten the stability or security of a third country (Ukraine) by participating in the use of information manipulation and interference.”

Assets to Be Frozen

The sanctions against Jacques Baud are overseen by Kaja Kallas, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. She chaired Monday’s meeting of the European Council’s Foreign Affairs and Security Committee and signed the sanctions order.

Practically speaking, the consequences for Baud are far-reaching. All his potential assets, property, bank accounts, and so on, are frozen with immediate effect. Funds may only be made available to cover basic needs such as rent and food, subject to EU approval.

The former Swiss colonel is one of the latest names on the growing list of individuals the EU arbitrarily punishes without prior legal proceedings. Most of those previously added to the list are Russians, or at least domiciled outside the EU. As a result, they usually are not as severely affected by the sanctions.

However, that is not the case for Jacques Baud. After his employment at NATO headquarters ended, he remained in Brussels. This means the sanctions are expected to have an especially significant impact on him.

In addition to Jacques Baud, another eleven names have been added to the EU’s sanctions list for individuals. Among them is Ukrainian journalist Diana Panchenko, who is accused of spreading “anti-Ukrainian, pro-Russian, and anti-NATO narratives.”