Alexander Makarov and Pavel Sergeev
In Buryatia, journalists of the France24 TV channel were detained in the border zone of the Kyakhta district while gathering information about the people killed in the special operation in Ukraine.
“We have such a situation. On the 20th day after our son’s death a film crew came to visit us. I understood that these people were completely unconnected with these events and had a very bad aim. I don’t want to besmirch my son’s name and ask the authorities to confiscate all the footage and hold those people responsible. These people should be punished for coming to people at the time of their grief. They ask stupid, more words I can’t choose, stupid questions, and what is the purpose of it,” says Tatiana Otto.
The video was obtained from the parents of Alexander Otto, a petty officer in the fifth airborne assault company of the second airborne assault battalion of the 11th AAB, a Guards sergeant, who died in Ukraine on May 10 during a special military operation. According to them, a certain, allegedly journalistic group was gathering negative information on Buryatia’s soldiers. On June 1, they were detained in the border area of the Kyakhta District and taken to the police in Ulan-Ude.
The detainees were Alexander Makarov, a correspondent of the Dozhd TV channel, recognized as a foreign agent in Russia and currently an employee of Agence France 24, and Pavel Sergeev, an employee of Agence France 24.
– Could you tell us please, why did you come to Buryatia?
– I have no desire to talk to you here and now.
– When can we?
– Let me have a smoke, talk to my comrade.
– One question.
– Let’s talk a little later.
– It was explained to us that you have come to Buryatia to collect discrediting material, false information about servicemen of the Russian Federation.
– I did not quite understand your question, answers Pavel Sergeev of Agence France 24.
The men got nervous in front of the TV camera, but the men could not simply run away either. Nervously smoking cigarette after cigarette the man tried to evade a direct answer. His 21-year-old colleague was full of water, while just recently he was active in the ranks of the opposition and furiously shouted various slogans. Now he has nothing to say and his colleague has to make excuses.
The lawyer who was engaged by the journalists to settle the situation actually confirmed that the ultimate purpose of the gathering of information by the journalists was to discredit the Russian army.
– As far as I know, they are dealing with issues related to the Russian servicemen who are involved in the special operation in Ukraine.
– So they give out discrediting information?
– Well… it is not known. Maybe that is why the Interior Ministry tried to resolve the situation this way.
– So you also think that they gather discrediting information about our troops?
– Yes, yes, of course, – answers Maxim Barlukov, lawyer.
In conclusion, after an administrative fine was imposed for being within 5 km of the border without an individual pass, both foreign media agents were nevertheless released. At the same time, a number of federal telegraph channels, which had already posted information about the detainees, noted that the group presented themselves as journalists from the Zvezda TV channel in front of the residents of Buryatia.
