MOSCOW. March 18 (Interfax) - The Russian Foreign Ministry has urged the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's representative for freedom of media Dunia Mijatovic to give an assessment about violations of reporters' rights in Ukraine and to ensure that the authorities in Kyiv abide by the corresponding obligations.
"We hope the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's representative will give a prompt and unbiased assessment to violations of journalist rights and ensure that those in power in Kyiv abide by the obligations Ukraine assumed as an OSCE members," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a commentary.
The media came under psychological pressure and are targeted in attacks in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, it said.
"Threats of physical violence were issued against Rossiya 24 reporter Artyom Kola. A 10,000-hryvni award was pledged for his head. The websites of the Russian media covering the situation in Ukraine were hacked in early March. Russia Today television came under a hacker attack on March 2 and Rossiiskaya Gazeta on March 7. The broadcasts of the television stations RTR-Planeta, Channel One - World Network and NTV World were stopped in Ukraine on March 4," the foreign ministry said.
Russian reporters were denied entry into Ukraine under various pretexts, it said.
"A film crew from the state television and radio company VGTRK, including correspondent Veronika Bogma, cameraman Antuan Kechedzhiyan, assistant Vladimir Shumakov and VGTRK employee Andrei Meshcheryakov, were denied entry into Ukraine at the Donetsk airport on March 6. A team of the television channel TV Center - correspondent Mikhail Shekoyan, cameraman Maxim Pankin and assistant Anatoly Zanin - was deported from the Donetsk airport on March 7. A film crew from NTV television station - correspondent Garry Knyagnitsky, cameraman Sergei Koreshkov and sound engineer Dmitry Anisimov, and Channel One's cameramen Andrei Konik and Oleg Pudov have been denied entry into Ukraine, as well," the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
"The Russian Foreign Ministry has said on many occasions that international organizations, and profile and rights nongovernmental associations must not apply double standards or selective approaches to media freedom in Ukraine, and they must not turn a blind eye on such manifestations of censorship," it said.