Russia: CFWIJ condemns move to target as Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty journalists as ‘foreign agents’
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October 9, 2021- Tatyana Voltskaya, Yekaterina Klepikovskaya, Yelizaveta Surnacheva and Yelena Slovyova have been tagged as 'Foreign Media Agents' in a recent move from the Justice Ministry. The list includes five Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) journalists, among others. Legislation adopted by the country in 2012 requires a non-governmental organisation (NGO) to identify itself as "foreign agents" and present for audits. The recent modifications in the law, which has been repeatedly amended, have majorly targeted foreign-funded media, including RFE/RL’s Russian service and its services in other languages. A number of RFE/RL reporters have been included in the list. The CFWIJ stands in solidarity with the targeted journalists in their fight for freedom of the press. We urge the Russian Justice Ministry to stop modifying laws in order to intimidate journalists.
Tatyana Voltskaya, Yekaterina Klepikovskaya, and Yelena Solovyova report for RFE/RL's Russian Service while Yelizaveta Surnacheva is a correspondent at the Current Time in Kyiv. Jamie Fly, president RFE/RL, has denounced the harsh move as another attack on free media in Russia and reassured of the network's commitment to its audience. "Today's targeting by the Kremlin of five Russian nationals who work for RFE/RL is just the latest attempt to silence independent media in Russia. We will continue to fight this absurd use of the “foreign agent” law to control the information that the Russian people can access and engage with," vowed Fly. "Our commitment to serving our audiences in Russia will not waver."
RFE/RL has also issued an official condemnation stating that "due to its refusal to submit to the unjust and invasive content labeling provisions of the “foreign agent” law, RFE/RL now faces nearly $4.4 million in fines, and the prospect of additional fines in the near future as well as criminal liability for officers of its own Russia-based legal entity." The network has already filed a lawsuit in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) over the unjustified modifications in the law and fines.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism has been closely observing the suppression of free media in the country. We have documented several cases of threats and harassment where women journalists were stripped of their rights as journalists. We urge the Russian government and its bodies to end threats to press freedom in the country and demand they stop harassing reporters and journalist networks striving to ensure freedom of speech and right to information.
