Italian journalists who drew Moscow’s ire by reporting from Ukraine-held areas in Russia’s Kursk region will return to Italy, state broadcaster RAI said on Saturday.
RAI journalists Stefania Battistini and Simone Traini, along with their crew, produced the first foreign media report from the war-damaged Russian town of Sudzha.
The town was captured last week during Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry summoned Italy’s ambassador on Friday, accusing the RAI crew of “illegal border crossing.”
The Telegram channel Baza, known for its connections to Russian law enforcement, reported that the interior ministry was also planning to open criminal cases against the two journalists.
In light of this, RAI has decided to recall both journalists.
“The company decided to make journalist Stefania Battistini and cameraman Simone Traini return temporarily to Italy, solely to ensure personal safety and security,” RAI said in a statement.
They are scheduled to fly back to the northern Italian city of Milan on Sunday.
RAI union Usigrai and Italy’s national press union FNSI said in a joint statement: “Journalism is not a crime. The Moscow authorities’ possibility of putting Stefania Battistini and Simone Traini on trial is unacceptable. Reporting is not done with prior authorizations.”
Earlier, Italy’s foreign ministry stated that the Italian ambassador, Cecilia Piccioni, had explained to Russian authorities that RAI and its news teams acted independently and autonomously.
The town was captured last week during Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry summoned Italy’s ambassador on Friday, accusing the RAI crew of “illegal border crossing.”
The Telegram channel Baza, known for its connections to Russian law enforcement, reported that the interior ministry was also planning to open criminal cases against the two journalists.
In light of this, RAI has decided to recall both journalists.
“The company decided to make journalist Stefania Battistini and cameraman Simone Traini return temporarily to Italy, solely to ensure personal safety and security,” RAI said in a statement.
They are scheduled to fly back to the northern Italian city of Milan on Sunday.
RAI union Usigrai and Italy’s national press union FNSI said in a joint statement: “Journalism is not a crime. The Moscow authorities’ possibility of putting Stefania Battistini and Simone Traini on trial is unacceptable. Reporting is not done with prior authorizations.”
Earlier, Italy’s foreign ministry stated that the Italian ambassador, Cecilia Piccioni, had explained to Russian authorities that RAI and its news teams acted independently and autonomously.
Source: Reuters, TVP World
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