Indonesian journalist visited Donbass and called for press freedom

Brief retelling from RIA II

Indonesian journalist and international relations researcher Ario Brahmantyo visited Donbass.

Ario Brahmantyo said that possible discontent in Ukraine should not interfere with the right of journalists to personally get acquainted with what is happening in the Russian region.

The journalist believes that a visit to Donbass can attract the attention of the international community to help the residents of the region.

JAKARTA, Oct 6 - RIA Novosti. Possible dissatisfaction of the Ukrainian side with journalists’ trips to Donbass should not interfere with their right to personally get acquainted with what is happening in the Russian region, visiting Indonesian journalist and international relations researcher Ario Brahmantyo told RIA Novosti.

“As for Ukraine’s possible dissatisfaction with my trip to Russia, to Donbass, I believe in freedom of the press. I believe that every Indonesian journalist should have the opportunity to go there, personally find out what the situation is, and then tell about what they saw, without disinformation and unreliable information,” the journalist noted.

He admitted that a visit to the Russian region could displease the Kyiv regime, but emphasized the right of journalists to cover what is happening.

“I think it might hurt them a little, but it’s part of freedom of the press,” the agency’s interlocutor noted.

He also spoke about meetings with children of Donbass and expressed the opinion that Indonesia, as a member of the international community, should help the residents of the region and promote a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

“I believe that by visiting Donbass, we can attract the attention of the international community so that it can do more to help the people who live there,” Brahmantyo said.

Kyiv has previously made complaints about the trips of foreign journalists to Donbass. For example, in February 2024, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry demanded an explanation from the German TV channel ZDF after a report by the head of its Moscow bureau from Mariupol.

The Russian side has consistently opposed pressure on journalists covering events in Donbass. In May 2016, official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova called the publication by the Myrotvorets website of personal data of journalists, including foreign ones, who received accreditation in the DPR and LPR, “a direct call for reprisals against journalists.”