OSCE media representative urges Russian authorities not to harass journalists covering protests

VIENNA, 9 December 2011 -- The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, urged today Russian authorities to protect journalists reporting from the scene of protests from detention and police harassment.
On 5, 6 and 7 December police apprehended about two dozens reporters covering post-election demonstrations in Moscow and Saint Petersburg.
“Journalists must be free to report on public events including protests and demonstrations. The duty of the police is to protect journalists, not harass and detain them. The Russian authorities should investigate all these incidents and ensure that the perpetrators are swiftly prosecuted, ” Mijatović said.
At least two journalists, Forbes.ru editor Aleksei Kamensky and FORUM.msk editor Anatoly Baranov, were charged with refusing to comply with the lawful demands of police officers. Kommersant newspaper correspondent Aleksandr Chernykh said he was beaten by a law enforcement officer during his detention.
Other detained journalists included Bozhena Rynska, a columnist with the Gazeta.ru online newspaper; Timur Zaynullin of the Interfax news agency; Ilya Barabanov, the deputy chief editor of the New Times/Novoye Vremya magazine; Ilya Vasyunin, a reporter with the Dozhd television station; Yana Makarova of the RIA Novosti news agency; and Aleksandr Komelkov of the Arsenevskie Vesti newspaper. Most of them were released after a few hours.
“My Office will continue to follow the situation and the response by the authorities,” said Mijatović. She expressed hope that Russian authorities would recognize the important role journalists play in reporting on matters of public interest. “Safety of journalists throughout the OSCE region remains a major concern and a priority of my work. We are ready to support and assist Russian authorities in ensuring full implementation of their OSCE media-freedom commitments.”