Berlin, August 19, 2024 – The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns a decision by Russian authorities to open a criminal case against Italian journalists Stefania Battistini and Simone Traini for alleged illegal border crossing from Ukraine into Russia.
“Trying to put Italian journalists Stefania Battistini and Simone Traini on trial seems to be a desperate attempt by Russian authorities to intimidate and silence international journalists covering the Russian-Ukraine war,” said Gulnoza Said, CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia Program Coordinator, in New York. “Russian officials must stop their harassment of journalists and respect the essential role of the press in conflict zones.”
The decision to launch a criminal probe follows the two journalists’ reporting on a Ukrainian military offensive into Russia’s southern Kursk region that began August 6. Reporting from the town of Sudzha, Battistini and Traini, correspondents for Italian public broadcaster RAI, were shown in a Ukrainian military vehicle as they spoke with residents and looked at damaged houses and cars. The report marked the first foreign media report from the affected area.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova alleged that facts were “entirely rewritten” in Battistini and Traini’s reporting. “Turning everything upside down—black was called white, and white was called black,” Zakharova said and added that law enforcement agencies would further investigate the matter.
If found guilty, the journalists could face up to five years in prison.
After the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Italy’s ambassador on August 16 over the border crossing, Battistini and Traini left Russia on August 18 to temporarily return to Italy, according to reports and their employer RAI who said the reason was “exclusively to guarantee safety and personal protection” of the two journalists.
CPJ sent emails to Battistini, and Russia’s Foreign Ministry requesting comment but has not received a response.
Editor’s note: The dates of this Ukrainian military offensive and the journalists’ return to Italy have been updated.