An investigation will be opened for “illegal crossing of the border of the Russian Federation and filming of a video in the territory of the village of Sudzha, in the Kursk region” against Rai journalist Stefania Battistini and operator Simone Taini. This was reported by the Russian news agency Ria Novosti, according to which the internal security services of the FSB are in charge of the case. After the report made for Tg1 in the Russian territories occupied by Kiev's troops in their advance, rumors have circulated in recent days about the possible opening of criminal proceedings against them. In addition to the two Italians, the FSB is also said to be assessing the position of Nick Peyton Walsh, correspondent for CNN following the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. According to some reports, the British journalist also illegally crossed the border into the territory of the Russian checkpoint of Sudzha.
Stefania Battistini on Tg1
The journalist then intervenes on Tg1, Saturday August 17, to explain how the report was made at the center of the confrontation with Moscow. “We crossed the Russian border so simply by car, we went there embarked in an armored vehicle, with a press drafted as required by international regulations for war reporters”, explains Stefania Battistini, “the reporter is an expected figure and also with the reinforced protection”, this did not save the lives of many journalists, because often carrying the word press amounts to making journalists targets”, he adds, recalling the many colleagues killed. “The service was created thinking that it was right to show the public, without violating the laws of the Russian Federation, by simply telling the facts: it is necessarily about telling a part. But it seemed important to us to do it”, he concludes, explaining that Ukrainian television was also at the front, the day before the New York Times, CNN and France Presse.
Rai journalists in Kursk ready to return to Italy
After the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the Italian ambassador in Moscow for a strong formal protest, Rai CEO Roberto Sergio announced that, as a precautionary and temporary measure, the company had decided, exclusively to guarantee the safety and security of staff, to send Battistini and Traini back to Italy. “Tonight, on Tg1 at 8pm, correspondent Stefania Battistini will talk about the behind the scenes of the report made with Simone Traini that became a world scoop. The first international troupe to enter Russian territory, the scene of the Ukrainian incursion. A report that respected the rules of international law on the specific figure of the war correspondent and whose sole purpose was to bear witness, to see with our own eyes, to document the reality of a conflict,” Rai announces in a note.
Russia, Rai and CNN services from Kursk – Videos
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