The Union of Journalists of Russia has been expelled from the International Federation of Journalists
This is reported by the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine.
Former IFJ President Jim Boumela noted that the decision marked the conclusion of a process that had been ongoing since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
According to him, the Russian organisation’s membership had effectively remained suspended following the IFJ Executive Committee’s decision in 2023. At the same time, the Russian side did not take the opportunity to lodge a full appeal and merely sent a letter containing general explanations.
Ukrainian journalists launched a campaign for the expulsion of the Union of Journalists of Russia as early as 28 February 2022. Later, the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine and the Independent Media Trade Union of Ukraine lodged an official protest with the IFJ leadership.
One of the main arguments was the establishment by the Union of Journalists of Russia of its branches in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine — in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.
According to Reporters Without Borders, Russia is holding 26 Ukrainian journalists — the highest number in the world among foreign media workers.
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