FSB opens case against DW and TSN journalists for reporting from Sudzha

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has opened cases against Natalya Nahorna, a Ukrainian journalist with the TV channel "1+1", and DW correspondent Nick Connolly, reports "Mediazona", citing the pro-state media and the FSB's Public Relations Center.

They are accused of illegally crossing Russia's border as part of a group upon prior conspiracy (Part 3 of Article 322 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). The prosecution was triggered by the journalists' reporting from Suzha (Kursk region) during the Ukrainian Armed Forces' offensive aimed to counter the aggressor's actions.

Natalya Nahorna reporting from Sudzha on August 14, 2024. Screenshot from TSN by the IMI

In total, since August 17, the FSB has opened "illegal border crossing" cases against seven foreign journalists. These include the CNN correspondent Nick Paton Walsh, the reporters Simone Traini and Stefania Battistini with the Italian RAI, and the Ukrainian journalists Olesya Borovyk and Diana Butsko.

On August 14, Natalya Nahorna's report from Sudzha aied on TSN. In the video, she showed the Russian flag, noting that "Ukraine's defenders have removed it from an administrative building in the Sudzha settlement" and that this flag would be sent to the Russo–Ukrainian war museum.

On August 22, DW published Connolly's report from Sudzha. In it, the journalist visits the city accompanied by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and talks to the locals, who say that they were left without electricity, water or phone connection.