the security services opened an investigation against two Italian journalists – L’Express

2024-08-17 15:18:09

The Russian security services (FSB) opened an investigation on Saturday August 17 against two journalists from the Italian channel RAI. They made a report in the Kursk region, after crossing the border “illegally” from Ukraine, according to the FSB, Russian news agencies reported.

The FSB “opened a criminal investigation” against Italian journalists Stefania Battistini and Simone Traini for “illegal border crossing,” Russian services said in a statement cited by Russian agencies.

The Italian ambassador to Russia, Cecilia Piccioni, was invited to Moscow on Friday by Russian diplomacy on this topic. At the end of his calls, a spokesman for Italian diplomacy said that the ambassador had defended to the Russian authorities the “independent” work of journalists on the ground, in the Russian region of Kursk, where the Ukrainian army has been leading an offensive since the. August 6.

READ ALSO: “New fiasco” for Putin: how the invasion of Ukraine in Kursk changed the situation

“The ambassador (Italy) is strongly opposed by the actions of a film crew from the public broadcaster RAI which entered Russia illegally to cover the criminal terrorist attack by the Ukrainian army against the Kursk region”, for his part opposed diplomacy Russia has a publication.

The journalists returned to Italy

The report, published this week, was produced by two Italian journalists from RAI, Stefania Battistini and Simone Traini, with the Ukrainian army in the Russian town of Sudja, which is about ten kilometers from the Ukrainian border and which kyiv says it has been completely defeated. Soudja is home to a major gas station for Russian giant Gazprom, which also supplies Europe via Ukraine.

Two Italian journalists, who are not in Russia, face five years in prison, according to the Penal Code. Stefania Battistini and Simone Traini will be returned to Italy “to guarantee their safety”, said the CEO of RAI. Italian news agency Ansa.

READ ALSO: In Italy, public television accused of being under the influence of power: “RAI in Télé Meloni”

Ukrainian troops attacked the Kursk region on August 6, capturing, according to kyiv, 82 districts and 1,150 kilometers during a surprise attack that surprised the Russian army.