Russia's Foreign Ministry has deemed "unacceptable" the detention of Russian Channel One correspondents in Turkey's Hatay province on Monday and their subsequent deportation from the country, according to an online statement published on the ministry's website on Tuesday.
Reporters filming an episode of the state-owned channel's flagship current affairs show "Special Correspondent" in the southern region bordering on Syria were detained by uniformed figures who refused to identify themselves, the Slon news website wrote Tuesday.
They were then taken to a police station and informed that they would be deported for failing to comply with a new law requiring Russian journalists in Turkey to have secured a work permit before undertaking their trip, the report went on to say.
According to the ministry statement, Ankara offered no explanation.
Early this week, the Turkish Embassy in Moscow announced that Russian journalists will now have to apply for official permission to work in the country, providing a detailed itinerary and details of prospective interviewees, the TASS news agency reported Wednesday.
"This is a routine procedure in many countries. It's also useful," an unidentified embassy source was quoted as saying in the TASS report.
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.
