Germany, journalists defend FAZ correspondent after Russia issues arrest warrant

Germany's Foreign Ministry stated it is closely monitoring the situation after Russia issued an arrest warrant for Michael Martens, a correspondent for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ). The ministry, responding to the German daily TAZ, demanded that Russia "cease the criminalization and persecution of free expression" through all available channels. Martens had asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a press conference in Belgrade about what Europeans could do to help Ukraine "kill more Russians," later clarifying "more Russian soldiers." Russian authorities issued the warrant last week, citing "incitement to hatred" under Article 282 of the Russian criminal code, which carries a potential six-year prison sentence. The German Journalists' Association (DJV) warned that Martens, as FAZ's correspondent for the Balkans, faces particular risks. DJV President Mika Boester noted that Martens must regularly travel through Southeast European countries, and "there is a danger that the arrest warrant will be enforced in countries that maintain close relations with Russia." Boester urged the German Foreign Minister to summon the Russian ambassador, stating, "An arrest warrant for a journalist performing his duties is an unacceptable attack on media freedom." The Russian Embassy in Germany contacted the Berlin prosecutor's office to investigate potential prosecution of Martens under German law, though a spokesperson indicated that grounds for suspicion must first be established, independent of any potential investigation. Reporters Without Borders also requested political support for Martens, urging the German government and the European Union to clearly signal that "Russian repression against independent media must not be extended internationally." FAZ, Martens's employer, initially expressed regret over the ambiguous phrasing regarding killing Russians, stating it did not align with the newspaper's editorial policy. However, the newspaper has since fully backed its journalist, calling the Russian warrant an "attempt to intimidate German journalists and free media" and rejecting any effort to obstruct independent reporting through criminal threats. Martens has been FAZ's correspondent for Southeast Europe since 2002 and previously lived in Belgrade.

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cease the criminalization and persecution of free expression