Russia increases pressure on foreign journalists

2024-06-23 18:39:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Russia increases pressure on foreign journalists

Journalists, source VOA

Since launching its offensive in Ukraine, the Kremlin has waged a campaign of repression against domestic and foreign journalists. As Voice of America correspondent Ricardo Marquina reports, among the tactics used are intimidation, threats, deportations and arrests.

After 12 years as a correspondent in Russia for the Spanish newspaper "El Mundo", Xavier Colas has returned to Madrid.

Since June, he is the latest foreign correspondent to be expelled by the Russian government.

"Foreign journalists have been sanctioned. We had three-month visas, instead of the previous one-year visas. I was put on a black list of people whose visa should not be renewed, and in this way I could no longer stay in the Russian Federation", said Mr. Colas to the Voice of America.

Moscow claims these are not expulsions. In the case of journalist Xavier Colas, as they did with other journalists, Russian officials said that the reason for the visa rejection was errors in the application form.

But in the Russia of war, there is no place for free journalism that is not part of the propaganda the Kremlin has put up for what it calls a "Special Military Operation" in Ukraine.

Emmanuel Grynszpan, of the French newspaper "Le Monde", was expelled in 2019, due to articles about Russia directed by Vladimir Putin in the period before the military attack. Since then, he monitors the complicated situation of his colleagues inside Russia.

"It is impossible for a Russian journalist to work free. They just arrest you and put you in jail," Mr. Grynszpan told VOA.

For many journalists, the pressure is even greater because of the new Russian law on "foreign agents".

Analysts say the Kremlin uses the law against critics, some of whom risk prison terms.

American-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva has been in prison for eight months because she did not register as a foreign agent. The journalist of the sister network of the Voice of America, "Radio Evropa e Lire/Radio Liria" based in Prague, denies having committed any violation.

Ms. Kurmasheva is one of two American journalists held prisoner by Russia.

Evan Gershkovich, of The Wall Street Journal, was arrested in March 2023. Russian authorities accuse him of espionage, something his family, friends and colleagues say is just a hoax.

"The arrest of Evan and the deportation of other foreign journalists was the culmination of a decade-long process of intimidation of journalists in Russia... This is something that Russian journalists have had to deal with throughout Putin's tenure in power Drew Hinshaw from The Wall Street Journal told VOA.

Foreign journalists in Russia are becoming fewer and fewer, and independent Russian journalists are left with only two options: to work at high risk underground, or to go into exile - a bleak picture that shows no signs of change. in the near future./ VOA