Brussels, 27 February 2023
The High Representative/Vice-President for Foreign and Security Policy has, via his spokesperson, publicly condemned the Russian attempt to intimidate Mr Grozev.
The spokesperson pointed that Russian authorities have not given reasons for this decision and recalled that Christo Grozev is a well-respected investigative journalist who has made valuable contributions to the investigation of a number of highly important cases where Russian authorities have been involved, such as the 2014 downing of MH17, the 2018 Skripal poisoning, the poisoning of Alexei Navalny in 2020, and most recently atrocities committed by the Russian army during its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.
The spokesperson reminded Russian authorities that the right to information is enshrined in international documents to which Moscow is a party and condemned Russia’s actions against independent Russian media as well as the blocking of access to foreign websites.
The EU continues to actively support Russian independent media organisations, including those who have been forced to continue their work outside Russia, where they are more safe and secure. The EU is stepping up its action for the protection of journalists worldwide, through specific mechanisms, programmes and initiatives.
The EU will continue to speak up, publicly and in international organisations, in defence of media freedom and of independent journalists who are targeted by Russian authorities.