Council of Europe condemns Russia's threats to journalists for reporting from Kursk region

Council of Europe condemns Russia's threats to journalists for reporting from Kursk region

Kyiv  •  UNN

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The Council of Europe condemned Russia's threats to foreign journalists covering the events in the Kursk region. the Russian Federal Security Service opened criminal cases against reporters from Italy, the United States and Ukraine.

The Council of Europe has reacted  to the criminal cases against journalists  of the Italian TV channel RAI, the American TV channel CNN and correspondents from Ukraine initiated in Russia. UNN reports this with reference to Deutsche Welle.

Details 

The "intimidation" of foreign journalists by the Russian Federation "amounts to censorship and is aimed at preventing public opinion from receiving information about ongoing operations,"  reads a statement on the Council of Europe's platform for the protection of journalism and the safety of journalists. 

According to the authors of the statement, the reporters also received death threats from supporters of the Kremlin's policies.  

The Council of Europe asked  the relevant authorities to "quickly and thoroughly investigate the threats" and, if necessary, to provide protection to media workers.

Context 

The Federal Security Service (FSB) of the Russian Federation opened a case against journalists from Italy for their report from Suzha, Kursk region of the Russian Federation, which is now controlled by Ukrainian troops.

The Russian Federal Security Service also opened criminal cases against an American CNN journalist and two Ukrainian journalists who filmed reports from the Kursk region.