Moscow summons German envoy over ‘persecution' of Russian media
MOSCOW: Moscow summoned German ambassador Alexander Graf Lambsdorff on Friday to protest Berlin's 'persecution' of Russian journalists, Russian state media reported.
The row began after Russia's top media official in Berlin accused German police of confiscating his family's passports, prompting Moscow to warn of retaliation.
'The German ambassador was summoned to the Russian foreign ministry today,' the ministry said, according to the state RIA news agency.
Relations between Moscow and Berlin have broken down since Russia sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022.
Germany has been one of Kyiv's biggest supporters, supplying it with military and financial aid.
Earlier in June, the head of Russia's state media company in Berlin, Sergei Feoktistov, said police had come to his family's apartment and confiscated their passports.
He said police took the measure to prevent the family from going into hiding, after Feoktistov was ordered to leave the country, Russia's RIA news agency reported.
Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman warned last week that Moscow was preparing countermeasures and urged German correspondents in Moscow to 'get ready.'
Russia has repeatedly accused Western countries of mistreating its journalists and imposing restrictions on its media abroad.
The European Union banned Moscow's flagship news channel Russia Today in 2022, accusing the Kremlin of using it to spread 'disinformation' about its military campaign in Ukraine.
Russia has itself blocked access to dozens of Western media outlets and imposes reporting restrictions on the conflict.
It has barred several Western journalists from entering the country.
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Moscow summons German envoy over ‘persecution' of Russian media
MOSCOW: Moscow summoned German ambassador Alexander Graf Lambsdorff on Friday to protest Berlin's 'persecution' of Russian journalists, Russian state media reported. The row began after Russia's top media official in Berlin accused German police of confiscating his family's passports, prompting Moscow to warn of retaliation. 'The German ambassador was summoned to the Russian foreign ministry today,' the ministry said, according to the state RIA news agency. Relations between Moscow and Berlin have broken down since Russia sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022. Germany has been one of Kyiv's biggest supporters, supplying it with military and financial aid. Earlier in June, the head of Russia's state media company in Berlin, Sergei Feoktistov, said police had come to his family's apartment and confiscated their passports. He said police took the measure to prevent the family from going into hiding, after Feoktistov was ordered to leave the country, Russia's RIA news agency reported. Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman warned last week that Moscow was preparing countermeasures and urged German correspondents in Moscow to 'get ready.' Russia has repeatedly accused Western countries of mistreating its journalists and imposing restrictions on its media abroad. The European Union banned Moscow's flagship news channel Russia Today in 2022, accusing the Kremlin of using it to spread 'disinformation' about its military campaign in Ukraine. Russia has itself blocked access to dozens of Western media outlets and imposes reporting restrictions on the conflict. It has barred several Western journalists from entering the country.
