112.ua: Russia sends Ukraine protest note over searches at RIA Novosti news agency

By 112.ua.

Published May 15, 2018 at 8:31 pm

The Russian flag flutters on the rooftop of the Russian embassy in Kyiv on March 28, 2018.Ukraine is to expel 13 Russian diplomats as part of a coordinated effort by European nations and the US to punish Russia over an attack on a former Russian spy in England. Poroshenko announced Monday. "In response to a cynical chemical attack in Salisbury, Ukraine, in the spirit of solidarity with our British partners and transatlantic allies and in coordination with EU countries, decided to expel 13 Russian diplomats from the few that remain (in Kyiv)," Poroshenko said in a statement.

Photo by AFP

The Russian embassy in Ukraine sent the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry a protest note due to the searches in the main office of RIA Novosti news agency. This is mentioned in the respective message on the embassy’s website.

‘In spite of our multiple demands to stop the systematic use of force against the reporters working for Russian information agencies, the Ukrainian side breaches its international commitments and the internal law, offending the freedom of speech, interfering with journalist activity and the public expression of views, oppressing correspondents,’ the message says.