Moscow accuses "specialized international institutions" of inaction in light of violence against journalists in Ukraine
MOSCOW. Aug 31 (Interfax) - Growth in the number of unlawful actions against journalists in Ukraine, including Russian ones, has been prompted by inaction of "specialized international institutions," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
"Numerous instances of direct or indirect, particularly, psychological violence in relation to journalists [in Ukraine] have resulted from specialized international institutions' connivance and inaction. Their assessment of the situation in this field could be more resolute and possibly even tougher than we've heard, including through the OSCE channels," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said at a news briefing in Moscow on Wednesday.
At the same time, Russia acknowledges that "the organization [OSCE] has started to make such an assessment today," she said.
If earlier "an appropriate, prompt, and tough response had been given to instances [of violence] in relation to journalists, which took place [in Ukraine], such as forcible seizures, kidnappings, battery, and threats, perhaps there should have been no need for reaction to new analogous instances today," Zakharova said.
In particular, Russia expects an impartial and transparent investigation in Ukraine into the death of Russian journalist Alexander Shchetinin, she said.