Photo: OSCE/Curtis Budden
OSCE considers the oppression of Russian media in a number of European countries unacceptable, and will support the efforts of Russian side, which is seeking release from detention of Kirill Vyshinsky, Editor-in-Chief of RIA Novosti Ukraine. OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Desir stated this during his meeting with Pyotr Lidov-Petrovsky, Communication Director at Russia Today International Information Agency, RIA Novosti reports.
The conversation took place in Vienna on the Journalists Under Attack: Threat to Media Freedom OSCE conference. According to Lidov-Petrovsky, the parties discussed the essence of charges against Vyshinsky in Ukraine. Russia Today’s Communication Director pointed out the inadmissibility of persecuting a journalist for his job duties. As he noted, Vyshinsky is sentenced for three notes that were written by other people.
Peter Lidov-Petrovsky also informed Harlem Desir that Russian side intends to make new efforts to attract public attention to the persecution of the journalist and step up the struggle for his release in May. OSCE representative promised to support these efforts.
The situation with Sputnik in France and Russian media in the Baltic States was also discussed. Due to restrictions and direct prohibitions imposed on the work of journalists in these countries, they are unable to properly fulfill their duties. Harlem Desir called the situation unacceptable and promised support in solving it.
Russkiy Mir quoted the statement of Russian Foreign Ministry that Russia would begin to take mirror measures against the French media in response to the systematic denial of the rights of Russian journalists in France.
Russkiy Mir
