Estonia says it has every right to deny Russian journalists accreditation if they undermine country’s security
The Estonian presidency of the Council of the European Union said that it has a right to deny Russian journalists accreditation if it considers that their actions are aimed at subversive activities, reported EUobserver.
"Estonia reserves the right of not accrediting or considering as media such channels [like those belonging to the Rossiya Today group] whose editorial offices are not independent, who do not follow good journalistic practice," the Estonian presidency stated.
Estonia also said that three Russian journalists were denied accreditation to go to an EU foreign ministers meeting in Tallinn because they were "promoting hostile subversive activities and propaganda under the cover of press freedom."
In addition, Estonia noted that this principle is valid for all events held during the six-month presidency of Estonia in the EU Council. The press secretary of the Estonian presidency, Piret Seeman did not say if Russia would be excluded from all EU events.
The Estonian presidency also stressed that they welcome the attendance of Russian journalists who "adhere to the principles and values of the independent press in their work."
Before the announcement, Estonia had rejected a request to provide accreditation to the staff of the Russia Today news agency, which was supposed to cover informal meetings of the Foreign Ministers of the European Union countries in Tallinn on September 7 and 8.
Estonia took over the presidency of the European Union from Malta on July 1.