Russia Expels Two German Journalists in Escalating Media Retaliation

November 27, 2024 – Germany/Russia –

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced the expulsion of two German journalists—Frank Aischmann, ARD’s Moscow correspondent, and Sven Feller, his cameraman—in what it called a “reciprocal measure.” The move was framed as retaliation against Germany’s decision not to renew visas for two Russian state media reporters working for Channel One in Berlin. While Germany cited local administrative procedures as the reason, Russia labeled the act as politically motivated and responded by stripping the German journalists of their accreditation.

The expulsions are part of a growing trend of tit-for-tat actions between Russia and European nations, particularly following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In recent years, Russia has refused visas or accreditation to journalists from Spain, Finland, and the Netherlands, severely shrinking the pool of foreign correspondents allowed to operate in the country.

Germany’s ARD, one of the country’s largest public broadcasters, condemned the Russian decision, calling it a severe blow to press freedom. Jörg Schönenborn, WDR’s program director (ARD’s regional affiliate), described the move as “a drastic step that restricts the possibility of independent reporting from Russia.” The German Foreign Ministry also criticized the decision as “unjustified and arbitrary,” emphasizing that visa issues were not driven by political interference but by local bureaucratic concerns.

Press freedom watchdogs reacted swiftly. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) warned that the use of journalists as political pawns undermines the fundamental right to information and weakens public understanding in times of geopolitical crisis. The move was seen as part of the Kremlin’s broader strategy to limit international scrutiny and further control the domestic narrative.

The expulsions reflect a wider crackdown on independent journalism in Russia, which has accelerated since the invasion of Ukraine. Foreign media outlets have faced mounting restrictions, and many have been forced to suspend operations or report from outside the country.

With the space for independent and foreign journalism in Russia rapidly diminishing, the removal of Aischmann and Feller raises fresh concerns about transparency, access to information, and the future of critical reporting from within the Russian Federation.

Reference – 

https://www.dw.com/en/russia-kremlin-orders-2-german-ard-journalists-to-leave/a-70902452

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/27/world/europe/russia-german-journalists-expelled.html

Russia expels 2 German journalists in retaliatory response