Russian court issues in absentia arrest order for CNN journalist
CNN reporter Nick Walsh faces arrest in absentia for supposedly crossing into Russia's Kursk Region unlawfully with Ukrainian forces. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
Nick Walsh, an American journalist for CNN, has been accused of illegally entering Russia with the Ukrainian military. A district court in Russia’s Kursk Region issued an in-absentia arrest warrant for Walsh on Friday. He is alleged to have crossed the Russian border unlawfully in August while reporting on areas of the Kursk Region occupied by Ukrainian forces.
The court instructed authorities to arrest Walsh when he is found within Russian territory or if he is extradited. Under Russian law, he could face a potential prison sentence of up to five years due to these charges.
Walsh was among several Western media crews that ventured into the occupied parts of the border region following Ukraine's incursion in early August. Initial advancements made by Ukrainian forces were soon countered by Russian troops, who have been systematically pushing back since then.
In August, Russian authorities began legal proceedings against various Western and Ukrainian journalists who reported from the occupied areas. By mid-September, the Russian Interior Ministry announced arrest warrants for four journalists from American, German, and Italian media outlets, alongside three Ukrainian nationals.
Nick Paton Walsh was part of a team that visited Sudzha, a town with a pre-conflict population of 5,000 that was taken by the Ukrainian military during the early days of the invasion. CNN reported that he went there at the invitation of the Ukrainian government, traveling in an armored convoy with Ukrainian soldiers. Walsh filmed damaged buildings and interviewed Russian civilians, some of whom were sheltering from the conflict.
In response to the news of charges against Walsh, CNN stated that it had provided "factual, impartial reporting covering both the Ukrainian and Russian perspectives on the war." The network emphasized that Walsh was "escorted by the Ukrainian military to view territory it had recently occupied" and argued that his actions were in accordance with international law.
Moscow has accused Western journalists who entered the border regions of disseminating “propaganda” for Ukraine. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claimed that reporters embedded with Ukrainian troops were "manipulating public opinion" and neglecting to report on "Kiev’s crimes against civilians."
As of late August, Russian officials reported that Ukraine's incursion in the Kursk Region had resulted in at least 31 civilian deaths and 143 injuries. The Russian Interior Ministry also issued similar arrest warrants for journalists Nick Connolly, Stefania Battistini, and Simone Traini. Following these developments, the Italian state broadcaster decided to recall its journalists.
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
The court instructed authorities to arrest Walsh when he is found within Russian territory or if he is extradited. Under Russian law, he could face a potential prison sentence of up to five years due to these charges.
Walsh was among several Western media crews that ventured into the occupied parts of the border region following Ukraine's incursion in early August. Initial advancements made by Ukrainian forces were soon countered by Russian troops, who have been systematically pushing back since then.
In August, Russian authorities began legal proceedings against various Western and Ukrainian journalists who reported from the occupied areas. By mid-September, the Russian Interior Ministry announced arrest warrants for four journalists from American, German, and Italian media outlets, alongside three Ukrainian nationals.
Nick Paton Walsh was part of a team that visited Sudzha, a town with a pre-conflict population of 5,000 that was taken by the Ukrainian military during the early days of the invasion. CNN reported that he went there at the invitation of the Ukrainian government, traveling in an armored convoy with Ukrainian soldiers. Walsh filmed damaged buildings and interviewed Russian civilians, some of whom were sheltering from the conflict.
In response to the news of charges against Walsh, CNN stated that it had provided "factual, impartial reporting covering both the Ukrainian and Russian perspectives on the war." The network emphasized that Walsh was "escorted by the Ukrainian military to view territory it had recently occupied" and argued that his actions were in accordance with international law.
Moscow has accused Western journalists who entered the border regions of disseminating “propaganda” for Ukraine. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claimed that reporters embedded with Ukrainian troops were "manipulating public opinion" and neglecting to report on "Kiev’s crimes against civilians."
As of late August, Russian officials reported that Ukraine's incursion in the Kursk Region had resulted in at least 31 civilian deaths and 143 injuries. The Russian Interior Ministry also issued similar arrest warrants for journalists Nick Connolly, Stefania Battistini, and Simone Traini. Following these developments, the Italian state broadcaster decided to recall its journalists.
Navid Kalantari for TROIB News
