Russia revokes Austrian journalist's accreditation

MOSCOW. June 10 (Interfax) - Russia has withdrawn accreditation from Maria Knips-Witting, a journalist with the Moscow bureau of the Austrian broadcaster ORF, after the Austrian authorities cancelled the accreditation of Tass correspondent Ivan Popov, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

"She was ordered on June 10 to hand in her accreditation ID and to leave the Russian Federation shortly," the ministry said in a statement published on its website.

On April 30, the Austrian authorities revoked Popov's permanent accreditation, after which he was informed that this registration was terminated and he had two weeks to leave the country, the ministry said.

"The Austrian authorities have not made any statement clarifying such steps," it said.

"On May 31, the Austrian ambassador was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry, which lodged a resolute protest with him over the discriminatory actions against Russian journalists. The head of the diplomatic mission was warned that if Vienna did not review its decision, which violates Russian journalists' rights, retaliatory measures would be taken in relation to Austrian correspondents accredited in Russia. The Russian side stressed that such a scenario was not Moscow's choice, but a retaliatory measure taken out of necessity," the ministry said.

Despite the Russian demarche, Austria went ahead with its initiative, and Popov had to leave Vienna on June 7, the ministry said.

"Due to that, symmetric measures were taken with regard to journalist of the Austrian Radio and Television (ORF) Moscow bureau Knips-Witting," it said.

"If Vienna continues its practice of discrimination against Russian journalists, the appropriate reaction will immediately follow in relation to Austrian journalists," the ministry said.

"In accordance with media freedom principles and on the basis of reciprocity, we will be ready to consider providing accreditation to new ORF staff in Russia after the Austrian government creates conditions for the work of Russian media representatives and for the full-fledged resumption of the functioning of the Tass news bureau in Vienna," it said.