Dmitry Vyacheslavovich SUSLOV

Deputy Director, Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies (CCEIS), Higher School of Economics (HSE University), Moscow; Deputy Director for Research Programmes at the Council on Foreign and Defence Policy (SVOP); expert and frequent speaker at the Valdai Discussion Club; contributor to Russia in Global Affairs and other Kremlin-aligned publications

1979-02-15

Saint Petersburg, Russia

Male

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:L_202502568

Propaganda

Dmitry Suslov is a Russian foreign-policy analyst embedded in institutions closely linked to the Kremlin’s policy and messaging apparatus. Through his roles at HSE University, the Council on Foreign and Defence Policy, and the Valdai Discussion Club, he regularly participates in high-level discussions shaping and disseminating Russia’s foreign-policy narratives. He frequently appears as an “independent expert” in Russian state and international media, where he advances positions consistent with official Kremlin lines: portraying NATO and the United States as responsible for provoking the war in Ukraine, framing Western military support to Kyiv as “escalation” or “direct involvement” in the conflict and justifying Russian coercive actions as defensive or inevitable responses to Western aggression. In 2024, Suslov publicly suggested that Russia should consider a “demonstrative nuclear explosion” to “remind the West of the dangers of nuclear war,” a statement widely reported by Reuters and other outlets. Such remarks normalise the idea of nuclear signalling and coercion, directly contributing to the climate of intimidation surrounding Russia’s war policy. Therefore, Dmitry Suslov is responsible for or supporting actions or policies attributable to the Government of the Russian Federation which undermine or threaten democracy, the rule of law, stability or security in the Union or in several of its Member States, in an international organisation or in a third country, or which undermine or threaten the sovereignty or independence of a third country (Ukraine) by supporting or otherwise facilitating the use of information manipulation and interference or by instigating or otherwise facilitating a violent conflict in a third country.

EU

2025/2568 (OJ L202502568)

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:L_202502568

2025-12-15

EU

Restrictive measures in view of Russia's destabilising activities

EU country specific

Russia

Asset freeze and prohibition to make funds available, Restrictions on admission

- All assets of the listed persons and entities should be frozen. It is also prohibited to make any funds or assets directly or indirectly available to them. - Member States shall enforce travel restrictions on persons listed in the Annex of Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643.

In several of its Conclusions in 2022 and 2023 the Council strongly condemned Russian hybrid attacks threatening democracy, the rule of law, stability or security in the Union, its Member States and its partners, in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. In view of Russia’s continued hybrid campaign operations on European soil intended to harm, weaken and divide the Member States and its neighbourhood, on 8 October 2024, the Council established a new framework of targeted sanctions against Russia-driven persons and entities engaged in destabilising activities. the new sanctions framework covers activities such as, sabotage, foreign information manipulation, electoral interference, disinformation, malicious cyber activities and the instrumentalization of migrants by third countries. These restrictive measures consist of a travel ban to the EU for designated individuals and an asset freeze applying to both designated individuals and entities. Additionally, EU persons and entities are prohibited from making funds and economic resources available to those listed, either directly or indirectly. Derogations and exemptions to the restrictive measures are possible, including for the delivery of humanitarian aid.