Turkey tightens control over Russian reporters working in country
MOSCOW. Dec 3 (Interfax) - The Turkish Embassy to Russia has announced the country's decision to tighten control over Russian journalists working in Turkey, saying that from now on they will be required to apply for permission and accreditation.
"With regard to the journalists working in Turkey without permission. Various penalizing measures could apply. For that reason, before traveling to Turkey they will need to obtain the relevant permission and accreditation by applying to the media section at the Turkish Embassy in Moscow," the Turkish Embassy to Russia said in a statement obtained by Interfax.
To obtain accreditation, journalists will need to submit a letter from an employer stating the purpose of the visit, as well as the names and job titles of the people they are planning to interview during the trip.
These rules extend both to "short- and long-term trips to the Republic of Turkey for journalistic purposes," the embassy said.
Applying for accreditation "is a normal procedure practiced in many countries, and a useful one," the embassy told Interfax.
The rules requiring journalists to obtain accreditation existed before, a source told Interfax.
"This was not decided today. The rules existed before, but unfortunately, many journalists travelled without paying attention to the rules," he said.
When asked whether compliance with them will now be controlled, the embassy official said "yes."
