KIEV, April 9 (RIA Novosti) – The actions of the Ukrainian border police in prohibiting entry to Russian journalists is a poor example of democracy, a member of the country’s parliament told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.
“Entry bans for journalists are a bad example of democracy. All journalists regardless of their origin have to be allowed to come to Ukraine,” said Anna Herman, a Ukrainian parliamentarian. According to Herman, Ukraine needs to demonstrate it is not afraid of others "playing with ideas."
“The bans only provoke further interest. We remember how the cable network banned Russian channels, but there are satellites and the Internet, and those who want to can still watch them," she added.
A de-facto ban on the entry of Russian journalists into Ukraine is gaining steam. Ukrainian border guards denying Russian media representatives entry to the country have cited the journalists’ lack of funds, even though in several cases they had ample supplies of cash at hand as well as bank statements proving financial resources.
RIA Novosti photographer Alexei Kudenko was prevented from entering the country after arriving at the Donetsk airport on Tuesday.
Earlier on Tuesday, Ukrainian border guards removed another RIA Novosti correspondent, Andrei Malyshkin, off a train to the eastern Ukrainian city of Lugansk, with the same “not enough cash” comment from officials.
The country also barred the entry on Wednesday of the editor-in-chief of the Russian Pioneer magazine, and Kommersant special correspondent Andrey Kolesnikov and photographer Dmitry Azarov.
