Latest news with #RussiaGermanyRelations
Reuters
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Germany rejects Russian allegations of journalist harassment
BERLIN, June 27 (Reuters) - A German foreign ministry official on Friday rejected "unfounded accusations" made by Russia's foreign ministry that Berlin had persecuted Russian journalists working in the country. "In contrast to Russia's increasingly harsh repression of journalists, Germany upholds the principles of the rule of law and freedom of the press," the official said in a statement. Russia summoned the German ambassador earlier on Friday to inform him of retaliatory measures in response to what it sees as the harassment of Russian journalists based in Germany, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. In a statement, the Russian ministry said the German ambassador, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, was informed that "Berlin should not continue the practice of systematic harassment of Russian journalists in Germany." Such "open unfriendly actions by the German authorities will inevitably be met with a response from the Russian side," the ministry said. Lambsdorff was quoted by the Izvestia outlet as saying the meeting, which lasted over two hours, was "interesting." "We discussed the working conditions of our correspondents. We will continue this dialogue."
Arab News
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Moscow summons German envoy over ‘persecution' of Russian media
MOSCOW: Moscow summoned German ambassador Alexander Graf Lambsdorff on Friday to protest Berlin's 'persecution' of Russian journalists, Russian state media reported. The row began after Russia's top media official in Berlin accused German police of confiscating his family's passports, prompting Moscow to warn of retaliation. 'The German ambassador was summoned to the Russian foreign ministry today,' the ministry said, according to the state RIA news agency. Relations between Moscow and Berlin have broken down since Russia sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022. Germany has been one of Kyiv's biggest supporters, supplying it with military and financial aid. Earlier in June, the head of Russia's state media company in Berlin, Sergei Feoktistov, said police had come to his family's apartment and confiscated their passports. He said police took the measure to prevent the family from going into hiding, after Feoktistov was ordered to leave the country, Russia's RIA news agency reported. Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman warned last week that Moscow was preparing countermeasures and urged German correspondents in Moscow to 'get ready.' Russia has repeatedly accused Western countries of mistreating its journalists and imposing restrictions on its media abroad. The European Union banned Moscow's flagship news channel Russia Today in 2022, accusing the Kremlin of using it to spread 'disinformation' about its military campaign in Ukraine. Russia has itself blocked access to dozens of Western media outlets and imposes reporting restrictions on the conflict. It has barred several Western journalists from entering the country.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russia says it plans to summon the German ambassador over alleged harassment of its journalists
MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia will summon the German ambassador soon to inform him of retaliatory measures in response to what it sees as the harassment of Russian journalists based in Germany, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday. Russia has clashed repeatedly with Germany over the issue, and expelled a German correspondent and cameraman last November in what it said was a symmetrical response to German moves against Russian state TV journalists. Germany said the Russians' departure was linked to residence rules, and that Russian journalists can report freely in the country. Zakharova said Germany was applying undue "pressure and harassment" against Russian journalists and their family members. She has previously spoken of passports being revoked and limits on journalists' freedom of movement. Russia continues to accredit Western correspondents, although many left the country after Moscow in 2022 launched its full-scale war against Ukraine, which was followed by the passage of new censorship laws, and the 2023 arrest of U.S. reporter Evan Gershkovich on spying charges. Gershkovich, who denied the accusation, was freed in a prisoner swap last year.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Russia says it plans to summon the German ambassador over alleged harassment of its journalists
MOSCOW, June 26 (Reuters) - Russia will summon the German ambassador soon to inform him of retaliatory measures in response to what it sees as the harassment of Russian journalists based in Germany, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday. Russia has clashed repeatedly with Germany over the issue, and expelled a German correspondent and cameraman last November in what it said was a symmetrical response to German moves against Russian state TV journalists. Germany said the Russians' departure was linked to residence rules, and that Russian journalists can report freely in the country. Zakharova said Germany was applying undue "pressure and harassment" against Russian journalists and their family members. She has previously spoken of passports being revoked and limits on journalists' freedom of movement. Russia continues to accredit Western correspondents, although many left the country after Moscow in 2022 launched its full-scale war against Ukraine, which was followed by the passage of new censorship laws, and the 2023 arrest of U.S. reporter Evan Gershkovich on spying charges. Gershkovich, who denied the accusation, was freed in a prisoner swap last year.
