Rossiya 1 TV reporter Yevgeny Rozhkov, who was denied entry into Ukraine without cited reasons, wants Kyiv to provide official explanations, Rossiya 1 television said.
“The Ukrainian leadership is again raising obstacles to Russian reporters. They have denied entry to Rossiya 1 correspondent Yevgeny Rozhkov today,” the television station said in a statement posted on its official website.
“Yevgeny Rozhkov is returning to Russia and he wants the Ukrainian side to give him an official document citing a reason for his entry ban. He also wants to get back his passport which the Ukrainian authorities had promised to return to him aboard the plane on Russian territory,” Rossiya 1 said.
“Rozhkov said that the only explanation he managed to get from border guards is “You are denied entry into Ukraine.” Nothing more. An officer promised at first that a higher-up officer would come and provide explanations, but the higher-up never came,” Rossiya 1 said.
The journalists had all necessary documents on him, including a return ticket, the television station said. “He produced the documents and they did not arouse any interest before they heard the name of the television channel. Yevgeny Rozhkov was then invited for questioning. His documents were re-checked more attentively and the officers left, but then returned and told Rozhkov to go, saying, “You are denied entry.” It looks like the decision was made by the border guard’s bosses,” Rossiya 1 said.
