[000:00:00;00] the violation of freedom of speech on the rights of journalists. what russia's foreign ministry calls the detention of the chief editor delaney a news agency by forest. people, not fear. on a ledge, the espionage unsanctioned breeds, charges whose wrong summons the french ambassador. the recent call teens, the pasting b islamic countries, the prim leader, and what it calls a quote insulting to decent way on british intelligence is spying on russian forces on his behalf. i'm just going to leave the documents published by the great news outlets we hear from the old. there was also

a reason for the consideration the very low continue, where are the or shooting in from it's a pm here in moscow. and this is the international with the late his world news is good to happy with us. now, president putin has ordered a 36 hour sci fi in the ukraine conflict zone for orthodox christmas, which is celebrated by both russians and ukrainians. the uter last will russians. these vall comes into effect at noon, january the 6th will last until midnight of january. the 7th, however, a ukrainian presidential adviser has rejected. the move, mcalpine de la, has explained the offer as a polk, received and called on russia. she withdrew its troops before the fire can be agreed. now the editor in chief of the lithuanian branch of these news

agency has been detained in the latvian topics rica. my cousin who holds the latvian passport is reportedly being accused of espionage and the violation of vu sanctions against russian. moscow is brown, the journalists arrest, a violation of international law. roxanne says he has been the object of harassment and persecution. my number of baltic states for many years. he said that he personally experienced the repressive machine and the actions of the collective west. and now unfortunately, his fears and assumptions have become a reality. the international community should and is even obligated to do everything to make these presumptions. regimes returned to the rule of law. i told him in the city without a senior correspondent nor at garcia to talk as 3 what's going on and more. what do we know about the detain journalist and the circumstances off his arrests so far was due for very little. we have fall requests for information. it is unclear when ah, details will emerge will be shared with us. nevertheless,

as things stand now merits casem, a citizen of latvia has been detained by lack vin security services, state security services, suspected he is under suspicion of espionage and also awe of violating anti russian sanctions of the european union. this is, this is an argument violating sanctions that the latvian serv used and lithuanians and estonians have used for years to try and justify these blanket brands on russia, new sources, russian cultural channels. oh, at this point he is in prison in jail, detained. ah, the request for bail was denied without any reason, given his lawyer hasn't yet received any information. we don't even know if she has

been able to talk to, to talk with him. we have heard of course, reaction from our, the head of sputnik, a student with through alien as well admitted of he is on the european sanctions than the logic that the europeans have gone by. the baltic states have gone by. is that if someone works, even a european citizen works for someone who's under sanctions, no matter how removed, you know, a journalist, the in the niche organization that they are violating the entire blocks sanctions. this is the of, this is something that had been lost that in years prime by you appear in media groups amongst others who had urged estonians, latvians, lithuanians to, to relax. there are sort of their wording ool, their views, and how this law should be implemented while the law should be implement. able to finish a slit,

it would take me several hours to simply name all the journalists who come under pressure in eastern europe. here is just one of my own stories, in brief, which is all back in 2019. i was detained at villainous airport, searched and questioned for 5 or 6 hours to state security officers performed a role play of good cop bad cop. the bad one shouted at me, you're working for kissing health. why did you come here? the other one asked me if you're a latvian citizen, so why are you working for them? you know who they are, they're not really. people rushes a peculiar country only. finally, he said, you're lucky, you're not a russian citizen, or we would be having a very different conversation. and now we'll just kick you out and close the border for you for 5 years. come on the this is been something either that's been building for years. this, this pressure on our, to you on spook nick on other russian language channels. it is, there's, there's a sense that the baltic states, there's been

a concentrated effort to block the population off from anything russian which is year, which is an undertaking, given that a significant percentage of the population, no 3 states, latvia, estonian, the 3 near is russia. how do you think this case fits into the bigger picture of halle bo 2nd? are they eat countries? have been tracing the media while, etc. the, this, this goes back way before the special military operation that russia launched in 2022. this, this goes back to 2015 at which is when this, this pressure started to build in 2016, for example. latvia, sorry, lithuania blocked. sputnik locked the channel, the network on line that they pulled their domain names off so that the pressure just began to build and build. so employees journalists were, were threatened with the with persecute,

with prosecution. they were also persecuted, so they were pulled out. they were, they were arrested, taken for talks by our state security agents urged her her follow inside their resignations to stop working for sputnik then you had people arrested. you had journalists arrested for working for, for russian news networks. this is, this is all in the face of a fact that the european human rights, charter, least the freedom of expression. and the freedom of expression is defined. it is the freedom to hold beliefs, to share opinions and to receive opinions. and this is a journalist who had been doing just that. he was also working in moscow for years now. he travelled back to latvia to, to, to meet with family for, for reasons we don't yet know at the spite,

as you heard him being well aware that he was being politically persecuted, but that they were out for him and he was right. it appears that he was right. nevertheless, we should wait. so to learn the details and see just how drummed up these charges off. and yet more at it, it seems like russian media outlets in some countries are just becoming coming on to increasing pressure that they will it it's, it's the same story. now we're seeing the same story in moldova, for example, we, we've a, across the european union, archie was, was switched off. we're, we're not kicked off online platforms. you, you know, the already parallels being drawn between what the soviet union did, which is jam radio, liberty a signal which is, which is try to try to sort of build a wall between the soviet people. and then he outside information. and that is what

in reverse is, is happening again, except it appears that it's europe, which is for many years prided, soften on freedom of speech and human rights. now trying to restrict information, even opinion, even opinion, news from its own people. the keep them all contained within this bubble that is fed by european news agencies. the va, the, that is again fed with american news agencies improve western views mo, at many thanks for coming. able to keep going to be keeping a close eye on the situation with this journalist, my cousin, thank you for coming in and updating us as an senior correspondent like as if thank you. i k o, we can now discuss the case with our guests. international attorney kline preston and a human rights lawyer. martin told to me, thanks that both of you joining us on the program this evening. now the 1st

question decline please. of the work of a journalist involves carrying out various investigations and now that merit tasm has been detained on these alleged espionage charges. what do you make of these accusations? a non journalist supposed to be protected, like mine says by international law. well, the answering thing about espionage cases is there, the definition of what constitutes espionage is very broad generally. and so it allows for governments to assert and alleged those, those charges without a lot of scrutiny, because they're, they're able to make these charges really under political, for political purposes. and so that's what's problematic about assessing what is happened here because it appears to be consistent with the anti russians area that's that's been in the baltic states since 2015 at least.

and so for them to make allegations and charges the best been ours. that is to me is, is a very suspicious type charge because it's easily level. what's the difference in a journalist, or what's the difference in, let's say a sports trainer who's, who's investigating how the rigor that the, the lap in national hockey team place. it's information about the company or the country. it, it happens involves sport. what's the difference in a journalist like murat, ca, sam, who you know, he was, he was actually kicked out of lithuania. he was investigating a or covering rather an election when that happened. and so what's there might be, there's really no difference it's, it's a political to, oftentimes where

a country has the ability for other purposes, not the purposes that, that are apparent to level these charges and, and it appears that could be what happened with the murat casino and it does seem to become it becoming very dangerous. well, for the job of a journalist, a question for martin, please, do you think that perhaps a very fine line between the investigative work of a journalist and what could be considered espionage? i mean, could this be a case of some sort of misunderstanding? oh, do you think it's more about the crack down on the media? i think that it's up to you, free for people are doing and when we look at the politics and the last years, for example, the german, the 1st just wanted to protest against that the f s vector groups were celebrating in riga and be a grad by repression as well. so i think in the moment the freedom of speech and

that situation of wall in between ukraine and ukraine. so your p in states, freedom of expression, freedom of press danger, because see as far as i could research tomorrow, casa was doing normal, june of journalists, look at no length on hughes for doing it. you know, of course, that's a fine line in between that, but this find 9 is not if you express different thoughts of the mainstream in another country, you spite, i mean that would undermine every freedom of preston. every every journalist work. when we look at that, for example, as a german journalist, someone goes to russia and press something which is not in line with the russian government. he could be blamed for anything of the country wants to construct and

to me, it seems in a moment. like in that situation and being in government as a between injustice. want to maybe put an example with that journalist on all of us. so i don't, i don't like that way of entering free freedom of speech. free press, free journalist. because when we go on like that, there will be only escalation and enemy pictures in all of society. we should reject that and clearly say that must be justice. and if that is clear evidence, but as far as i can see, there's no. ready the evidence. climb what, what do you make of the timing of my cousins arrest? well, i mean, it's consistent with other actions that are occurring that involve the nato countries. and you know, morocco, cassim, he's been followed pretty closely,

i think on the ukrainian side mirror, torrance. and so i think it's consistent with what's been happening in the west for quite some time here in the united states, for instance, when as soon as the, the special military operation began all of our channels. i used to have russian channels. i had a specific satellite on my own satellite dish from home and they just, they just took them away. they were all block immediately without warning, nothing. so there's been in the west, very concerted effort to, to stop the access of information between, you know, russia and, and people here. and i think this is just consistent with the fact that this is a the charges are espionage. it's such a vague and broad,

broadly defined crime that it can be used essentially at any time. and you know, it's really hard to find what constitutes espionage. so to me it, it appears to have the strong possibility of being a little motivated the time is just consistent in my view with what's happening and in the west and has been happening for quite some months. and the eu has of course, tried to justify its way thing cracked down on media outlets. they carry alternative views, including our china last t sitting by claiming that they split this information. but doesn't look like this is really all about fighting. so cool propaganda or is it about something big? to my mind, this is clearly center. so if you look at all the plot, the russian ra constance, like russia today, and tell people,

even general citizens are treated to give interviews to russia today, or who have context to russia. this is something which is of course, because to be seen in the listing way, various construction of an ad in the picture in. and then we'll control just with the situation we are in a special military operation. ukraine. many neutral countries joining in somehow more or less directly on the side of the crane. just to keep this war going on. on the show, just off the people off russia, shoulders of the normal, common people in ukraine. and the training government is bringing about that and the european countries, especially the baltic countries, have very sharp,

adding the pictures against russia. and we have to say by the mainstream cooper done than germany. so there is something going on that some ruling people and the nature of countries want to have a big distraction in the east of europe just to bring for the attention and on that truth it's dying for and was, and seeing german and the membership we are facing now is to be seen and that's all this the way. and i think as democrats and people in the us in responsibility for keeping human rights alive, you all have to say no to that. so that way, because there has to be freedom of speech, you have to walk if they have a different opinion. hi. it's better to discuss the dialogue than to have

a wall which is going on just for bringing on the ideas of the us government. some major government and some sort of and the ukraine, they profit off this role and of course we are confronted with all the consequences. and one consequence to my mind, the rest of my cousin enter my mind that she's a journalist. as far as i can see, and he has to be free because we showed him kinda live short kinda discussion when we go farther like that. someone who loves bliss and everyone can be blamed for anything in another country. if he doesn't go confirm with the. ready people in that countries that's not a good way to live. so. ready we have. ready to face that and say clearly more to be one, freedom of expression, freedom of speech, and not such constructive criminalization. many thanks to both of you for joining

us on the program to discuss a situation we've been speaking through international attorney, kline preston and human rights lawyer, martin goza. many thanks. thank you. iran that is outraged by recent cartoon depictions of the country, the supreme leader in french magazine, surely at paris, has remained silent on the months. it was a wrong foreign minister slams. the pictures is highly offensive, and there's some and it's french and boy. the insulting and indecent act of a french publication, publishing cartoons, opposing religious and political authority, will not be left without a decisive and effective response. we will not allow the french government to cross the line. it is definitely chosen the wrong path. so it is a contest launched by the infamous frank satirical magazine, shaheer do that is sparked a diplomatic incident now between france and iran. the french ambassador to iran

has been summoned and iran has announced that its ending the activities of the french institute for research in iran, quote, as a 1st step. this is a french cultural, historical, and archaeological institute that's based in tehran, that's part of the cultural wing of the french embassy. now the magazine itself has already been sanctioned by iran on december 12th, as part of a list of entities accused of founding the protest. flames in iran were talking about the anti, he's our protest that has been ongoing. the position of the french president emanuel mac ho and his government towards shortly ado, cartoons in general, has always been to defend them as free speech. michael was particularly vocal about that in october 2020. when school teacher samuel patty was murdered in the wake of having shown the shock viejo cartoons that sparked the 2015 headquarters shootings to his class as part of a lesson. and on thursday, french foreign minister,

kathleen could. busy not double down on that position saying quote, let's remember that in france, press freedom exists. sure, unless you count all of the sweeping and unqualified censorship imposed on russian media outlets. amid the ukraine conflict by the e. u. across all 27 member countries, including france, in that case, the french government has nothing at all to say in defense of press freedom. last month shall be a duke called for submissions of caricatures of iran, supreme leader riding on the magazines website that quote, cartoonists and caricature arrests must support iranians who are fighting for their freedom and quote, make sure that ali come ne is the last supreme leader. the iranians have to suffer the statement is an obvious reference to the unrest in the country related to the ongoing anti. he shop protests. now the submissions to the magazines, contest,

hashtags, mullahs get out, have just hit french new stands, and it comes the very same week of the anniversary of the attacks on the magazines, paris headquarters on january, 7th, 2015, during which the publications employees were targeted in a shooting by 2 gunman, who self identified as members of al qaeda and whose motive was found to have been the publications of cartoons of the prophet mohammed. now that incident resulted in 12 deaths, murders, and 11 other people being injured. so all this has escalated now rather quickly with this new incident between iran and france. tenant of the russians they, they my vouchers, love fellow in has harshly condemned the german government statement that is considering sending frozen russian assets to ukraine. this will mark the beginning of a process where all states will ignore international law at their discretion and take what they see fit the german leadership according to its own histories,

should bear in mind how attempts to encroach on to others ended for them. as soon as such a decision takes place, we have the right to take similar actions with respect to the assets of germany and other states. earlier, the german government suggested sending russia frozen us as to aid in restoring ukraine if its allies do the same. berlin is also considering an option of seizing assets of russians who have been linked to having participated in the conflict. at the end of november, the european commission had also called for the confiscation of russian resources in order to aid ukraine. that's not close to the chairman of the gym and councils constitution on sovereignty. ralph t 9. my many thanks for joining us on the program. nice to see you. how do you assess the statements of the german government about the possibility of sending russian assets to ukraine? well, i must say this is really

a breaking off of our law of our constitutional law festival. we do have article. ready 14 of the basic law, which is still called our constitution, although it isn't any. and that protects ownership. and it's a very stroll article and you can't deprive someone of his own. it should easily. you should at least have a court decision. and i don't see that here, this is just a political move and a very symbolic one. again, the government is indulging in symbolic acts. they are arresting people for, for opposing to government. arresting people. ready for signing with russia, which some people may do or not, but now they are confiscating private property which is protected by the constitution and about basic law and in germany by article 14 and also of

course by international law and international standards. so here we see another symbolic act of the shoulder government, which is rather ridiculous. if you look at it, that at the same time we have increased our trade with russia, despite the section by 33 percent. that's what euro stops us. so i look at it from, from 2 angles here, but it's rather ridiculous. as we heard, the chairman of russian stadium has already condemned the german government's proposal. but one of the great, the implications of such a highly controversial moved by berlin coast as an investment that is being made in germany that is not secure anymore. i mean that they're shooting themselves into down foot because who will later trust drug money again and say, okay, we can invest in germany. we can invest in the german infrastructure, one the economy. when we are not that the survivor and the political disagreements between governments later,

tiffany is also considering confiscating assets with russian individuals involved in the conflicts of precedence. would such a move create? but 1st of all, one would still believe in the doubt. off of an innocent and dubious will be, say, in latin. so 1st you have to prove someone guilty of a crime before you can deprived in love as property rights. i mean, this is a standard, isn't it? into national standards also and in germany it's a standard and you can't just make a political decision and say, because we don't like what this person is being involved. you know, there must be a criminal charge to criminal investigation. it has to lead to a conviction and, and the court of justice if that is not held, then you can't deprive someone of his property does is just nonsense. and as i said, it's as an bolick act to come up own faith. yes. and that's,

that's where i see the short government crumbling into disaster from one disaster to the next disaster. of course, the german chancellor way was the confiscation of the assets to be a coordinated effort among berlin's allies. how likely is it that the west will we to consensus on this move? well, i think this is again washington who is telling him, or maybe it is a self imposed step that he's taking in order to be liked by washington. so he's over fulfilling what the sanctions really mean. and as i said before, despite the sanctions, we are still doing good business by, by 20000000000 euros from last year. 33 percent up from last year of international . so the traders still to as so, i mean, what do they want, the sanctions and the her driving economy. we say it doesn't hurt the russian economy that much. so why are we having sanctions at all?

this is a political question, and the answers to be found in washington and not in berlin. while seen on my chairman of the german council for constitution and sovereignty. many thanks for your time. it's always a pleasure. thank you. thanks for having me. the british military intelligence and collusion with a u. s. tech company as a power the spying on russian forces and sharing the data with ukraine, helping his troops target the russian army. those claims made by news outlet. the gray zone which was published, leaked classified documents through aggressive harvesting of data. the technology has enabled the planning of military offensives in artillery attacks, assassinations, asset recruitment, and other measures. the leaked files raised serious questions about whether anomaly 6, a technology has been used throughout the ukraine conflict in an array of targeted operations against specific individuals in infrastructure. if it has britain bears

ultimate responsibility for the outcome of these disturbing actions, which in some cases amount to crimes against humanity. according to the report, a u. s. phone called anomaly 6 is providing intel on russian military movements in real time using smart phone at tracking devices. the data is allegedly sent to british intelligence via the private military group, prevail partners and is then handed over to ukraine to help it's ami target russian forces. the grey zone at it's a kit clara bugs a c k intelligence tip offs could lead to collateral damage using a normally 6 to technology, the loans, the defense intelligence. and she said she will extension be premium military can very easily identify the small firms. oh, very individuals you know, where they are, civilian or military, who are you? total is for the specific a talked there is also