Russia says it plans to summon the German ambassador over alleged harassment of its journalists

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Russia says it plans to summon the German ambassador over alleged harassment of its journalists

By Reuters

June 26, 2025 2:25 PM UTC Updated ago

Spokesperson of Russia’s Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova attends the annual press conference held by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, January 14, 2025. REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina/ File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

MOSCOW, June 26 (Reuters) – Russia will summon the German ambassador soon to inform him of retaliatory measures in response to what it sees as the harassment of Russian journalists based in Germany, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.

Russia has clashed repeatedly with Germany over the issue, and expelled a German correspondent and cameraman last November in what it said was a symmetrical response to German moves against Russian state TV journalists.

Germany said the Russians’ departure was linked to residence rules, and that Russian journalists can report freely in the country.

Zakharova said Germany was applying undue “pressure and harassment” against Russian journalists and their family members. She has previously spoken of passports being revoked and limits on journalists’ freedom of movement.

Russia continues to accredit Western correspondents, although many left the country after Moscow in 2022 launched its full-scale war against Ukraine, which was followed by the passage of new censorship laws, and the 2023 arrest of U.S. reporter Evan Gershkovich on spying charges. Gershkovich, who denied the accusation, was freed in a prisoner swap last year.

Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Writing by Gleb Stolyarov and Mark Trevelyan Editing by Andrew Osborn

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