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.
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