The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs may initiate criminal charges against the two Italian journalists.
Two Italian journalists who angered Moscow with a television report from the Ukrainian-controlled part of Russia’s Kursk region will return to Italy, state broadcaster RAI said on Saturday, Reuters reported.
On Friday, Russia’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Italian ambassador over what it called “illegal border crossing” by a RAI film crew.
“The company decided to force the journalist Stefania Battistini and the cameraman Simone Traini to temporarily return to Italy for the sole purpose of ensuring their personal safety,” RAI said.
The Baza Telegram channel, close to Russian law enforcement agencies, reported that the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs plans to initiate criminal charges against the two journalists.
Earlier this week, Rai reporters Stefania Battistini and Simone Traini released a report on the offensive of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Kursk region – probably becoming the first foreign journalists to gain access there.
Both reporters were scheduled to fly back to the northern Italian city of Milan on Sunday.
Italy’s Foreign Ministry said its ambassador, Cecilia Piccioni, had explained to Russian authorities that RAI and its news teams acted independently and autonomously.
“Journalism is not a crime. The possibility that the Moscow authorities will bring Stefania Battistina and Simone Traini to justice. joint statement.
Let’s recall that the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Alexander Syrsky, reported to President Vladimir Zelensky on the strengthening of the positions of the Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region and the expansion of stable territory.
Source: korrespondent
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