Another attack on media freedom by Russia
Vienna (OTS) – The ORF editorial team is protesting sharply against the announced expulsion of our colleague and head of ORF Moscow, Carola Schneider. ORF correspondent Maria Knips-Witting was recently expelled.
The expulsion of the two blameless and competent ORF journalists as a result of diplomatic retaliation from the Russian side makes independent reporting from Russia more difficult. This is crucial in times of international conflict in order to give the population in Austria a comprehensive picture of both sides of the conflict.
Carola Schneider is a long-time correspondent with specialist expertise in reporting from Russia and countries of the former Soviet Union. She always adhered to Russian accreditation rules.
The move by the Russian Foreign Ministry is therefore in no way understandable and should rather be seen as a further attack on media freedom, against which we protest. This makes it all the more important for the ORF editorial team to continue to provide the Austrian audience with independent and comprehensive reporting from and about Russia.
The ORF editorial board
Dieter Bornemann, Simone Leonhartsberger, Peter Daser, Margit Schuschou
Questions & Contact:
Dieter Bornemann, M.A.
Chairman of the editorial board
Dieter.bornemann@orf.at