Arrest warrant for Rai crew act of persecution says Tajani

(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 8 - Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has condemned Moscow's decision to issue an arrest warrant for two reporters for Italian State broadcaster Rai over their coverage of Ukraine's surprise incursion into Russia's Kursk region in August.
    A Russian court on Monday ordered the arrest in absentia of journalist Stefania Battistini and her cameraman Simone Traini for "illegally crossing" the border from Ukraine in their report.
    It also called for them to be extradited.
    "The Russian arrest warrant for two Rai journalists is another form of persecution of press freedom," Tajani said via X.
    "The Italian government will always stand in the defense of the right to independent reporting".
    Russia had put the Italians and several other Western correspondents on a wanted list over Kursk reports.
    Ukrainian forces have controlled large areas of the region since their incursion on August 6. (ANSA).