MOSCOW — Russian authorities have filed criminal charges against a CNN reporter and two Ukrainian journalists for allegedly crossing the border illegally into Ukrainian-held territory of the Kursk region, the Federal Security Service (FSB) announced Thursday.
The journalists charged include CNN’s Nick Paton Walsh and Ukrainian journalists Olesia Borovyk and Diana Butsko. They face accusations of “illegally crossing the state border of Russia,” an FSB spokesperson told the state-run Interfax news agency.
“Criminal charges have been filed, and investigations are underway,” the spokesperson said. If convicted, the journalists could face up to five years in prison. The FSB also stated that the accused would soon be placed on an international wanted list.
This action follows a series of similar moves by Russian authorities against international journalists reporting from the region. Earlier, charges were pressed against two Italian journalists from broadcaster RAI for filming in Sudzha, a town in the Kursk region captured shortly after Ukrainian forces launched a surprise incursion on August 6.
In response to the charges against its journalists, RAI announced that they would return to Italy for safety reasons. The Italian ambassador to Moscow was summoned over the incident.
The crackdown on international journalists extends beyond these specific cases. On Tuesday, Russia’s Foreign Ministry summoned a senior U.S. Embassy official in Moscow, citing “provocative actions” by American journalists reporting from Ukrainian-held parts of the Kursk region. The ministry also alleged U.S. mercenary activity on Russian territory.
These developments come amid escalating tensions in the region following Ukraine’s incursion into the Kursk region, which has been ongoing since early August. The charges against journalists raise concerns about press freedom and the ability of international media to report on the conflict.
Media rights organizations have expressed alarm over the increasing restrictions on foreign journalists in Russia and the contested regions. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked Russia 155th out of 180 countries in its 2023 World Press Freedom Index, citing a deteriorating environment for independent journalism.
The charges against Walsh, a veteran CNN international correspondent, and his Ukrainian colleagues highlight the risks faced by journalists covering the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. CNN has not yet issued a public statement regarding the charges against Walsh.
As the situation develops, diplomatic tensions are likely to rise, particularly between Russia and the countries whose journalists have been charged. The United States, Italy, and Ukraine may face pressure to respond to what many see as an attack on press freedom.
