Russia irritated by Italian journalists' report from Kursk region and threatened to initiate criminal proceedings against them.
On Saturday, August 17, state broadcaster RAI announced the return of its correspondents, removing the operation Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kursk region, to Italy, writes Reuters.
On Friday, August 16th Russian Foreign Ministry summons Italian ambassador over what it called an “illegal border crossing” by a RAI film crew, after which RAI said:
“The company has decided to force journalist Stefania Battistini and cameraman Simone Traini to temporarily return to Italy, solely for the purpose of ensuring their personal safety.”
The Baza Telegram channel, which is close to Russian law enforcement agencies, reported that The Russian Interior Ministry plans to initiate criminal cases against two journalists.
Earlier this week, Rai reporters Stefania Battistini and Simone Traini showed a report about the Ukrainian Armed Forces offensive in the Kursk regionlikely becoming the first foreign journalists to be allowed in. The two reporters are scheduled to fly back to the northern Italian city of Milan on Sunday.
The Italian Foreign Ministry said its ambassador, Cecilia Piccioni, had explained to Russian authorities that RAI and its news teams had acted independently and autonomously. A joint statement from RAI's Usigrai trade union and the Italian National Press Union said:
“Journalism is not a crime. The possibility that the Moscow authorities will put Stefania Battistina and Simone Traini on trial is unacceptable. Journalistic activity is not carried out with prior permission.”
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