Sent back from Chisinau airport for failing to explain their visit

Over the past weekend, several journalists of the Russian NTV television were sent back immediately after their arrival at Chisinau International Airport. According to the border police, these Russians were not allowed to enter our country because “they couldn’t explain the purpose their visit and floundered in their own declarations.”

Moldovan mass media communicated that on October 3 and 4 two teams of the Russian NTV television were refused entry to Moldova. On Saturday, October 3, reporter Evgeny Zuev, cameraman Sergey Korenkov, and sound engineer Vladislav Petrov were sent back from the airport. Several hours later, journalist Anton Talpa of the same television was not allowed to enter Moldova and took the first available flight to Moscow. NTV website informs that the journalists were detained at Chisinau International Airport under charges of violation of the legislation regulating entry to Moldova and crossing of the State border.

According to the border police press office, the four Russians were refused access for failing to meet the necessary conditions. “They couldn’t explain the purpose of their visit and floundered in their own words, initially claiming that they had other professions, and only later we found out they were journalists. The last one said he was visiting a friend, but he didn’t know the friend’s name or any address. He later said that he was going to film a ceremony. They didn’t present themselves as journalists,” Daniela Minzatu, head of the border police press office, told Media Azi.

It has not been the first time when Russian journalists were refused access on the territory of Moldova. A month ago, a team of Lifenews, who wanted to film the events from central Chisinau, was also detained.