Russia: Moscow Blacklists Six Women, 23 Other UK Journalists From Entering Country
Location: Russia, Moscow
Date: June 14, 2022
Russia has banned six women journalists from the United Kingdom from entering the country claiming they “are involved in the deliberate dissemination of false and one-sided information". The complete list issued by the Kremlin authorities names 49 prominent figures from the UK including 29 journalists who have been blacklisted. The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the move and stands in solidarity with the banned journalists. Moscow’s escalating crackdown on independent media to quash coverage of its war in Ukraine is deeply worrying.
The 29 blacklisted journalists include six women working with media outlets such as the Guardian, BBC and the Times, among others.
Katharine Viner, editor-in-chief, the Guardian
Orla Guerin, BBC correspondent
Emma Graham-Harrison, Guardian correspondent
Sophy Ridge, journalist and Sky News presenter
Catherine Newman, journalist and host of Channel 4 News
Larisa Brown, military news editor, the Times
The list issued by Russia’s foreign ministry names other journalists working with British media outlets such as Sunday Times, Daily Mail, the Financial Times, Daily Telegraph as well as those mentioned above, among others, according to the Guardian. Prominent journalists in top positions are included in the list, from editors, anchors and senior managers. The editors-in-chief of the Times, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail and Independent were also blacklisted.
“This is a disappointing move by the Russian government and a bad day for press freedom. Trusted, accurate journalism is more important now than ever, and despite this decision we will continue to report robustly on Russia and on its invasion of Ukraine,” said a Guardian spokesperson. At least five of the publication’s employees, including senior journalists, are on the list.
In a statement issued on June 14, 2022, the Russian foreign ministry said that the 29 blacklisted journalists “are involved in the deliberate dissemination of false and one-sided information" about Russia and the events in Ukraine and Donbas, according to news reports. "With their biased assessments, they also contribute to fueling Russophobia in British society," added the statement.
Other than the 29 journalists, 20 military personnel have also been included. Their charge is “Persons associated with the defense complex of Great Britain are involved in making decisions on the supply of weapons to Ukraine, which are used by local punishers and Nazi formations to kill civilians and destroy civilian infrastructure.”
Here’s our report on today’s #Kremlin ban on 29 UK journalists, including me and four @Guardian colleagues, as well as journalists from BBC, Channel 4 news and Sky https://t.co/5XloKfibcM
— Luke Harding (@lukeharding1968) June 14, 2022
The statement ends with the declaration that Russia will keep adding to the “stop list.”
Since its invasion of Ukraine earlier this year, Russia has launched unprecedented attacks on journalists and press freedom. Within Russia, journalists have been harassed at protests, arrested and subjected to police and legal harassment. In Ukraine, the CFWIJ has documented the killings of at least six women journalists till date. Yet others have been subjected to arbitrary abductions and torture by invading troops.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns Moscow’s increasing overreaches against the independent press in Russia and abroad. Truth is often among the first casualties of war and it is apparent that Moscow’s second invasion since February 24, 2022, has been in the independent press. In March, Russia passed a draconian law threatening journalists with prison sentences up to 15 years for information the state deems “fake”. The law has since been amended to allow evasion of accountability for Russian military forces and government agencies abroad. The CFWIJ stands in solidarity with our colleagues in Russia, Ukraine and foreign journalists striving to ensure accurate and independent reporting. We register strong protest against the move to blacklist 29 journalists from the UK. Attacks on the fourth estate come fast in the event of war and this fascist behavior by the Russian government is an impediment to free speech and press freedom everywhere.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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