Russian journalist’s accreditation downgraded for approaching German FM

Valentin Bogdanov, the head of state broadcaster VGTRK’s New York bureau, was later restored to his previous status

The head of Russian state VGTRK broadcaster’s New York bureau, Valentin Bogdanov, had his accreditation downgraded for attempting to request a comment from German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September, according to the journalist himself. The accreditation was later restored following a complaint from the Russian Foreign Ministry.

According to the ministry, Bogdanov sought a comment from Baerbock on the prospects of peace talks between Moscow and Kiev at which point he was literally pushed away.

A video published by the broadcaster shows the Russian journalist trying to ask his question before being almost immediately intercepted by a member of the German delegation, who shoves him aside.

On Wednesday, VGTRK also said that the UN had downgraded Bogdanov’s accreditation over the incident, accusing him of violating rules for the media. The UN did not name any specific regulations that the reporter had supposedly breached, according to the broadcaster.

Bogdanov himself told RT that he was told he should have requested “additional consent” from Baerbock to get an “interview.” “It was not an interview, it was a request for a comment made in a specially designated zone” where various state officials talk to the media, he added.

According to Bogdanov, US-based Russian journalists have faced similar problems ever since the alleged Russian interference in US elections became a hot-button topic in US politics.

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Efforts have been made to ensure that Russian journalists are seen as “people engaged in some kind of illegal activity, although there have never been any open trials,” Bogdanov said. “This is information warfare. Don’t be mistaken.”

In the wake of the UN move, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Moscow demanded a clarification from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, as well as an assessment of the actions of the German delegation.

“We will seek justice,” Zakharova said on Wednesday, adding that Russia wanted the journalist’s accreditation restored and action taken against Baerbock and her team. The Russian envoy to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, also said that he had written a letter to Guterres in which he called the UN decision “absolutely unacceptable” and demanded it be repealed. The UN secretary-general promised to review the issue, Nebenzia said.

On Saturday, Bogdanov said on his Telegram channel that his accreditation had been restored and thanked all those who supported him and aided his cause. “This is our joint success!” the journalist said.

Neither Berlin nor the UN has officially commented on the incident.