Moscow Arrests FAZ Journalist Over 'Kill More Russians' Question
A court in Moscow issued an arrest warrant in absentia against a German journalist who asked President Zelenskyy about the 'killing of Russian soldiers'. Michael Martens, a correspondent for the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung based in the Balkans, was arrested for two months; the Moscow court session took place in his absence.
Consensus
- The Moscow court issued a warrant for the arrest of Michael Martens, a journalist for Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
- Martens was charged under Part 2 of Article 282 of the Russian Criminal Code, which covers inciting hatred or enmity.
- The case was triggered by a question Martens asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a joint press conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in Belgrade on August 8.
- Martens asked how European countries could help Ukraine kill more Russian soldiers.
- The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs declared Martens a wanted person and issued an international arrest warrant.
- The editorial office of FAZ stated it regretted the wording of the question and distanced itself from any call to kill Russian soldiers.
- The court proceedings were held in absentia, and Martens was sentenced to two months in custody.
Points of divergence
- Martens was arrested for two months, and the court session took place in his absence. — tg_dwglavnoe
- The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed interest in Serbia's reaction to Martens' statement, and the Russian embassy in Berlin requested a legal assessment of the statement. — vedomosti
- Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, stated that Martens would face consequences for his remarks. — vm
- Martens claimed his question was a reference to Winston Churchill’s wartime remarks and that he acknowledged the right of Ukraine to self-defense. — tg_radiosvoboda
- FAZ described the question as 'ambiguous' and 'misleading,' and stated it does not support calls to kill Russian military personnel. — mediazona
Coverage (8 sources)
- Court in Moscow arrested journalist Michael Martens of Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) in absentia on charges of inciting hatred or enmity... — Радио Свобода
- Journalist FAZ was arrested in absentia after a question about the killing of Russians — Ведомости
- Court in Moscow arrested German journalist in absentia who asked Zelenskyy how Europeans can help kill more Russian soldiers — Медиазона
- Court in Moscow arrested German journalist in absentia who asked Zelensky about 'killing Russian soldiers' — DW Главное
- Court in Russia arrested journalist in absentia who was interested in the killing of Russians — Вести
- Journalist FAZ Martens arrested in absentia in Moscow and declared wanted — Коммерсантъ
- Journalist FAZ was arrested in absentia after scandalous question to Zelensky: what did he ask — Вечерняя Москва
- Card of FAZ journalist Michael Martens, against whom a case was opened in Russia after words about killing Russians, appeared... — ТАСС (Telegram)
Key entities
- Michael Martens
- Moscow
- FAZ
- Russia
- Zelenskyy
- TASS
- Basmanny District Court
- MVD
- Serbia
- RIA Novosti
- Ukraine
- RBC
- Basmanny Court
More on Michael Martens
- Fico Condemns Journalist's Call to Kill More Russians
- Russia Issues International Warrant for German Journalist
- Russia Indicts German Journalist Over 'Kill More Russians' Question