The OSCE has issued a strongly worded statement condemning a raid on the Tatar TV station ATR in the Crimean city of Simferopol.
Dunja Mijatovic, the organisation’s representative on freedom of the media, said: “I have repeatedly reminded of the need to safeguard the work of journalists and media outlets. This practice of intrusion of free and independent media cannot be tolerated in the OSCE region”.
According to the OCSE, on January 26 masked forces raided the ATR offices and newsroom in Simferopol.
They searched the premises and detained the staff of the television station.
The masked forces also confiscated equipment and shut down ATR’s analogue broadcasting.
Mijatovic added: “It is crucial for the Crimean Tatars to be able to receive and obtain information and news from ATR. ATR must be allowed to resume its broadcasting as soon as possible”.