Court arrests in absentia a German citizen who filmed a report in Kursk region

The court chose a measure of restraint in absentia for German citizen Nicholas Connolly, who is accused of illegally crossing the state border of the Russian Federation to shoot a report. This was reported in the joint press service of the judicial system of Kursk region on December 4.

According to the investigation, Connolly and other unidentified persons crossed the border of the Russian Federation on the transport of Ukrainian military formations to shoot footage for a reportage on the territory of Sujansky district of Kursk region.

"Charged in absentia with committing a crime under Part 3 of Article 322 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ('Illegal crossing of the state border of the Russian Federation')," the agency said in a statement in its Telegram channel.

The court elected a measure of restraint in the form of detention of the German journalist from the moment of his detention on the territory of the Russian Federation.

Connolly became aware ofthe illegal crossing of the Russian border on August 23. In his report, the journalist said that he went to the city and was there under the surveillance of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) for several hours.

Since August 17, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has opened criminal cases against seven foreign journalists who illegally entered the Russian border region.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on August 21 that every case of illegal penetration of Western journalists into the Russian territory was monitored. She reminded that foreign correspondents can visit the Russian Federation only if they receive accreditation from the ministry and an appropriate visa.

The AFU attacked Russian positions in the border areas of Kursk Region on August 6. The situation in the region was recognized as a state of emergency of federal character. The liquidation of the AFU units invading the Russian territory is underway.

The special operation to protect Donbass, the beginning of which was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was taken against the background of the aggravated situation in the region.