Mircea Barbu: 5 years for reporting the truth?
Russian authorities issued an arrest warrant in absentia for Romanian journalist Mircea Barbu, a correspondent for Hotnews, after he filed a report in the Russian province of Kursk.
Prosecutors in Russia accuse Barbu of illegally crossing the border, claiming he entered the area alongside Ukrainian troops during a surprise offensive launched in early August.
Currently in Romania, Barbu admitted crossing the border into Kursk province with Ukrainian soldiers but emphasised that his actions were solely for journalistic purposes. He stated: "From now on, it will be much harder to travel and, consequently, to do my job. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried."
Shortly after the warrant was issued, the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) condemned Russia's action as an attack on freedom of the press. "Criminalising independent media is an attempt to silence the truth," the Ministry stated.
Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu strongly condemned the decision, which he called a blatant attack on freedom of the press, and emphasised that Romania would not allow any Russian interference in the country's democratic processes.
Political leaders in Bucharest expressed solidarity with Barbu. Nicolae Ciucă, president of the Senate, stated that Barbu was "condemned for his courage in reporting the truth from Kursk" and called the actions of the Russian authorities a "cynical attempt to silence the voices denouncing the abuses."
If detained by Russian authorities, Barbu faces up to five years in prison.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
