Moscow: The Russian domestic Federal Security Service (FSB) has initiated criminal proceedings against three Western war reporters for illegal stays in the Kursk region on the border with Ukraine, the FSB said on Saturday in Moscow.
A journalist and a staff member from the Italian TV broadcaster Rai had illegally crossed the Russian state border and filmed in the town of Sudzha in the Kursk region, the FSB stated, naming those involved.
The reporters are not correspondents permanently reporting from Russia. According to the FSB, they allegedly crossed the border unlawfully with Ukrainian troops.
Proceedings are also being initiated against another foreign journalist who, according to the FSB, was present at the Russian checkpoint in Sudzha. The Russian Foreign Ministry had summoned the Italian ambassador in Moscow, Cecilia Piccioni, to lodge a protest against the illegal border crossing by the Rai crew. (DPA)