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Russia opens criminal case against German journalist over question to Zelenskyy
🇱🇹 Lithuania /Crime & Justice

Russia opens criminal case against German journalist over question to Zelenskyy

From Delfi · () Lithuanian

Translated from Lithuanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Russian authorities have opened a criminal case against a German journalist working for Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) on suspicion of inciting hatred and hostility.
  • Russia is considering an international search for the Vienna-based correspondent, who covers Southeast European affairs.
  • The case stems from a question the journalist asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about helping Ukraine eliminate more Russian soldiers, a question FAZ later described as ambiguously worded.

Russian authorities have initiated a criminal investigation against a German correspondent for the newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), accusing him of inciting hatred and hostility. The TASS news agency reported that Russian officials are currently evaluating whether to issue an international arrest warrant for the journalist, who is based in Vienna and covers events in Southeast Europe.

The question asked by the correspondent V. Zelenskyy was what Europeans could do to help Ukraine eliminate more Russian soldiers.

— DelfiDescribing the question posed by the German journalist to President Zelenskyy that led to the criminal case.

The FAZ press service stated they had no information regarding the investigation when contacted by the dpa news agency. The case appears to be linked to a question the journalist posed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a press conference in Belgrade earlier this month. The question concerned what Europeans could do to help Ukraine eliminate more Russian soldiers.

FAZ emphasized that the pursuit of eliminating as many Russian soldiers as possible is not the newspaper's editorial position.

— DelfiClarifying the newspaper's stance after the controversial question was raised.

Following the press conference, FAZ issued a statement expressing regret that the journalist's question was ambiguously worded. The newspaper emphasized that advocating for the elimination of Russian soldiers does not reflect its editorial stance. According to TASS, if found guilty under Russian law, the journalist could face up to six years in prison.

According to TASS, the journalist found guilty in Russia could face up to six years of imprisonment in a correctional labor colony.

— DelfiOutlining the potential legal consequences for the journalist in Russia.

Russian officials have strongly condemned the journalist's actions. Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia's Security Council, told the state news agency RIA Novosti that the correspondent would "have to answer for his actions." In response, FAZ denounced the "slander and threats" directed at its correspondent, calling them "unacceptable" and asserting that freedom of the press includes the right to ask questions, particularly at press conferences. The newspaper added that it would "respond with legal means" to threats against its employees.

FAZ condemned the 'slander and threats' directed against the newspaper's correspondent, stating, 'This is unacceptable.'

— DelfiFAZ's reaction to the Russian authorities' actions and statements.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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