President Vladimir Putin called Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov to express gratitude for his efforts in securing the release of two Russian journalists who had been in detention since mid-May by Ukrainian troops in Donetsk, Izvestia reported Sunday.
"The president was informed of the journalists' release. Certainly, everyone, the president included, has taken a no-compromise position on the unacceptable actions of Ukrainian authorities in connection with the Russian journalists, specifically with reference to their detention," Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov said, Izvestia reported.
LifeNews journalists Oleg Sidyakin and Marat Saychenko were detained by Ukrainian troops on May 18 in the Donetsk region of Kramatorsk. They were later transported to Kiev, where they were questioned and charged with promoting terrorism.
Early Sunday morning, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov announced that Sidyakin and Saychenko had been released. The two newly liberated journalists made a detour to Grozny before traveling on to Moscow.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.