Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) pressed criminal charges against two Australian journalists and one Romanian journalist for illegally crossing the border into the southwestern Kursk region while on reporting assignments, state media reported Friday.
Authorities in Russia have so far charged 12 foreign journalists over their work in the Kursk region following a surprise incursion by Ukrainian forces on Aug. 6. The journalists and their employers insist that their activities did not violate international law.
The latest charges are aimed at Australian Broadcasting Corporation correspondents Kathryn Diss and Fletcher Yeung, who reported earlier this month from Sudzha, a Ukrainian-held town in the Kursk region. Despite being identified as U.S. citizens by the FSB, both Diss and Yeung are Australian nationals, according to the state-run TASS news agency.
Romanian journalist Mircea Barba, a special correspondent for the website HotNews, was also charged after being criticized by pro-war Russian military bloggers for reporting from the Kursk region in late August.
The journalists face charges of “illegally crossing the state border of Russia,” which could result in up to five years in prison if convicted.
Kyiv claims it has captured dozens of towns and villages in the Kursk region, including Sudzha, while Moscow asserts its forces have gradually regained control of the territory during counteroffensive operations.
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.
