Maria Gaidar, leader of the youth movment Yes! (center) and member of the movement's coordinating committee Natalia Morar (right) in 2006
Photo: Alexander Miridonov
| Other Photos |
 |
|
 |
New Times Staffer Non-Grata in Russia
Natalia Morar, a correspondent for the Moscow-based magazine New Times and citizen of Moldova, was informed by the border service of the FSB that her presence in Russia is “undesirable” as she tried to return through Domodedovo Airport in Moscow from a trip to Israel with other journalists. She was not allowed into the country. The FSB representatives informed her that they were acting “on an order of the central apparatus” but did not provide documents to back up that claim. Numerous state agencies have the authority under article 27, point 7, of the law “On the Procedure for Leaving the Russian Federation and Entering the Russian Federation” and no explanation is required.
The border service wanted to send Morar back to Israel, in spite of the fact that her Israeli visa had expired. After her colleagues traveling with her intervened, she was sent to Chisinau, where her parents live. Morar was warned that the ban on her entry into Russia may stay in effect for up to five years. She had studied and worked in Russia legally for six years and, according to New Times deputy editor-in-chief Evgenia Albats, had all the necessary documents to live and work in Russia through the middle of next year. She planned to receive Russian citizenship in April of next year.
Albats is convinced that Morar was turned away because of her professional activities, particularly her investigations of the murder of Central Bank deputy chairman Andrey Kozlov, Discount Bank and campaign financing. She said that the magazine would complain to Russian Foreign Ministry and FSB and possibly sue the FSB.
All the Article in Russian as of Dec. 17, 2007
|
|
|
