SBU is asked to explain on what grounds a Russian media personality arrived in Ukraine
Russian media personality Yevgenia Albats has arrived in Ukraine and is traveling around the country. She writes about her experiences on Facebook. Ukrainian journalist Zoya Kazanzhi asked the Security Service of Ukraine to explain which authority granted Yevgenia Albats, a citizen of the Russian Federation, a visa for visiting Ukraine and on what grounds, as well as which officials or public organizations will escort her during her stay in Odesa.
Kazanzhi also inquires whether Albats's statements do not fall under article 436-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: "Justification, recognition as legitimate, denial of the Russian Federation's armed aggression against Ukraine, glorification of its participants."
Zoya Kazanzhi cited two statements by Albats from an interview she gave after Russia's full-scale attack on Ukraine on February 24:
"Western war experts do not believe that the Russian army will be defeated now. There is currently no data to suggest that it will be crushed. And it will not be crushed by the year's end, either. For worse… or better…. I still remain loyal to my flag after all. I can't wish them... oops."
"The boys are poorly equipped, they don't have bulletproof vests."
In her comment to IMI, Zoya Kazanzhi explained what kind of reaction she expects after filing her reguest to the SBU.
"It would be nice if she was expelled, but I understand that she may have already left, because 'Palanka' (a checkpoint – Ed.) is near Odesa. Odesa tends to be their final destination. They (namely Russian media workers – Ed.) cross the border, then head to Chisinau, and from there they fly wherever they need. This was how Ovsiannikova left," the journalist explained.
She is aware that she might not receive the expected response from the SBU. "Why am I doing all this? Since 'good Russians' have been visiting our country more frequently, the authorities responsible for issuing visas to such 'good' Russians must communicate this, inform us about the way the relations with these 'good Russians' are being regulated. Do we let them in or not? Do we work with them? Are we protecting them?" Zoya Kazanzhi said.
She added that she presumes that individual Russian citizens being allowed to enter may have political grounds, and that someone from pro-government circles may be interested in them visiting.
"Because such visits cannot take place without a blessing from above," the journalist stressed.
Judging by Yevgenia Albats' posts, the first large Ukrainian city she visited was Khmelnytsky. She also has posts from Vinnytsia, including a photo of the Officers' House, which the Russians previously hit with a rocket. Although in her post, Albats does not specify whose rocket it was that hit the building.
Likewise, she did not specify whose "Kinzhals" were flying towards Kyiv, where she was staying on the day of the shelling.
As Channel 24 reports, the State Border Guard Service could not say how Albats had managed to get to Ukraine. SBGSU spokesman Andriy Demchenko noted that he could not divulge information about border crossings by third parties.
"Detector Media" reports, citing its sources, that Albats crossed the Ukrainian border not by her Russian passport, but by an Israeli one. In addition, the law enforcers heard nothing about Albats being banned from entering Ukraine.
Evgenia Albats is a Russian journalist. Until February 2022, she hosted her own program on the radio station "Echo of Moscow", titled "Total Albats". Albats is also the editor-in-chief of The New Times magazine. In September 2022, Ukrainian journalist Ayder Muzhdabaev criticized Albats for supporting the Russian army, and her criticism of the Russian army being insufficiently equipped for the invasion of Ukrainian territory, which resulted in losses in the Russian army.
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