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

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on June 26, 2025

2 min read

· Last updated: January 23, 2026

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

Russia to Call German Ambassador Over Alleged Journalist Harassment

MOSCOW (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 TrevelyanEditing by Andrew Osborn)

Key Takeaways

  • Russia claims German harassment of its journalists.
  • German ambassador to be summoned by Russia.
  • Previous expulsions of journalists have occurred.
  • Germany cites residence rules for journalist actions.
  • Tensions rise over media freedom and diplomatic relations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What action is Russia planning regarding the German ambassador?
Russia will summon the German ambassador to inform him of retaliatory measures against what it perceives as harassment of Russian journalists in Germany.
What has been the response from Germany regarding Russian journalists?
Germany stated that the departure of Russian journalists was linked to residence rules and emphasized that Russian journalists can report freely in the country.
What accusations has Russia made against Germany?
Russia has accused Germany of applying undue pressure and harassment against Russian journalists and their families, including revoking passports and imposing limits.
How has the situation affected Western correspondents in Russia?
While Russia continues to accredit Western correspondents, many have left the country following the onset of the full-scale war against Ukraine and the introduction of new censorship laws.
What previous actions have occurred between Russia and Germany regarding journalists?
In November, Russia expelled a German correspondent and cameraman as a symmetrical response to German actions against Russian journalists.

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