MOSCOW, 14 APR – RIA Novosti. The tendency of impeding professional activities of Russian journalists abroad are apparent in 2019, one example was the pressure on the staff of Sputnik Estonia, follows from the annual report of the Commissioner for human rights Tatyana Moskalkova, published in “Russian newspaper”.
the report is the situation in Estonia called “unprecedented pressure” on employees Sputnik Estonia. The editorial staff in December of 2019 received from the leadership of the police and border guard Board of Estonia of the letter with threats of prosecutions if they are until January 1, 2020 will not cease the employment relationship with MIA “Russia today”, the employees of Sputnik was repeatedly summoned for “conversations” in various power structures of the country, the report notes.
as justification for their actions the authorities of Estonia has called the sanctions imposed by the EU on 17 March 2014 against a number of individuals and legal entities in the light of events in Ukraine. However, the EU sanctions introduced against MIA “Russia today”, which includes the Sputnik, and personally against the Director General of the Agency Dmitry Kiselev.
the Head of the Estonian foreign Ministry Urmas Reinsalu told RIA Novosti that his country is pursuing the sanctions policy of the European Union in respect of the Sputnik, and with respect to the personal sanctions imposed on Kiselyov.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, commenting on the situation around Sputnik Estonia, said that the Russian authorities will do everything to support Sputnik when working in other countries. A senior source in Moscow said RIA Novosti that the actions of the Estonian authorities are of the attitude of the British curators, this will be taken into consideration for adoption in the near future symmetric measures against the British media in Russia.
