Moscow: OSCE calls for respect of media’s role at public events
Admin l Monday, July 29, 2019
VIENNA, Austria – The Organisation of Security Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has expressed concerns about series of attacks against journalists and the obstruction to media activities during an election-related demonstration on 27 July in Moscow.
In a statement, OSCE representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir condemned the incidents.
“I deplore all incidents where media workers were harshly treated or were obstructed by law enforcement while covering Saturday’s demonstrations in Moscow.
“The media plays an important watchdog role, and journalists should be guaranteed unhindered access to public events as well as safe working conditions at all times, including while covering protests,” Désir said. “I call on the Russian authorities to investigate all incidents involving journalists.”
On 27 July at least 15 media workers working or contributing to various media outlets, including Novaya Gazeta, RBK, the Associated Press, Meduza, Komsomolskaya Pravda, Deutsche Welle, Mediazona, The Village, Wikinews and others, were assaulted, detained or had their equipment damaged by police while covering a public demonstration in Moscow.
The Representative also noted that the Editor-in-Chief of the Dozhd news channel, Aleksandra Perepelova, was summoned and questioned by the Investigative Committee in relation to the media outlet’s coverage of the rallies in the city.
“I deplore all incidents where media workers were harshly treated or were obstructed by law enforcement while covering Saturday’s demonstrations in Moscow. The media plays an important watchdog role, and journalists should be guaranteed unhindered access to public events as well as safe working conditions at all times, including while covering protests,” Désir said. “I call on the Russian authorities to investigate all incidents involving journalists.”
The Representative alluded to the OSCE Ministerial Council Decision on Safety of Journalists adopted last December, “recognizing the crucial role of journalists in covering elections […], expressing serious concern about threats and violent attacks that journalists can face in this regard”, and calling on participating States to publicly and unequivocally condemn such acts.
