UN penalizes Russian journalist who questioned German minister: Accreditation level downgraded

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock experienced tension with a Russian journalist during the 79th UN General Assembly. The journalist, who was attempting to ask Baerbock a question, was blocked by the minister's security detail. The incident drew reactions in the German press and sparked debates regarding 'freedom of expression.' One week after the incident, the UN announced that it had downgraded the Russian journalist's accreditation level.

Valentin Bogdanov, Bureau Chief of the 'Russia 1' television channel, who works at the UN headquarters in New York, gave a statement regarding the incident.

Bogdanov stated that he saw German Foreign Minister Baerbock in an area without restrictions for journalists on the first day of the 79th UN General Assembly and wanted to approach and ask a question just like other journalists.

Speaking to AA, Bogdanov reported that he asked the German Foreign Minister a very brief question regarding the situation in Ukraine: 'Can direct negotiations be conducted between Germany and Russia?' The Russian journalist expressed that the answer to this was a very simple 'Yes' or 'No'.

Bogdanov said that Baerbock did not answer the question and directed him toward a press conference that would be held later.

'GERMAN DIPLOMAT ATTACKED ME'

Explaining that he then headed toward the press conference where German journalists were also present, Bogdanov stated that he was 'attacked by a German diplomat.'

Bogdanov stated that the diplomat working at the Permanent Mission of Germany in New York touched him several times and physically assaulted him, despite him saying, 'Do not touch me, I am an accredited UN correspondent.'

Explaining that he was pushed by other individuals as well when he tried to head toward the press conference again, Bogdanov noted that they later left the scene.

HAD BEEN WORKING AT THE UN FOR 11 YEARS

Bogdanov said that he had been working at the UN for 11 years and knew all the rules very well, and that he immediately contacted the UN press office regarding the incident he experienced.

He reported that one week after the incident, the UN press office sent him a letter informing him that the press accreditation levels of himself and his cameraman had been downgraded on the grounds that they had 'violated the rules.'

Bogdanov stated that the letter mentioned that the consent of officials was required for interviews, noting that this was not an interview and that he was just trying to ask a single question like all the other journalists there.

'I WAS PUNISHED FOR DOING MY JOB'

Noting that he was 'punished just for doing his job,' Bogdanov also reported that the UN press office did not contact him to provide information about the decision or to receive information from him.

Bogdanov also stated that the physical intervention against him was an assault under US law and that he could file a complaint, but that he had no such intention.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock

RUSSIA TOOK THE MATTER TO HIGHER AUTHORITIES

Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia stated in his announcement that he had brought the matter to the attention of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Noting that he had written a letter to Guterres, Nebenzia said, 'We demanded that this is unacceptable and that the decision be reversed immediately.'

Nebenzia stated that Guterres would look into the matter, adding that the treatment the Russian journalist faced was shocking and that the person who should be punished was the individual at the German Permanent Mission who intervened against the journalist.

UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric reported that the matter was being handled by the UN Department of Global Communications.

Stating that he did not have further details yet, Dujarric noted that he would share information when he obtained it.

Russia 1's New York Bureau Chief Valentin Bogdanov