Russian authorities have issued an arrest warrant for a journalist from the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), accusing him of inciting hatred and hostility.
According to the Russian state news agency TASS, the decision was made by a court in Moscow. The FAZ Balkans correspondent had been added to the list of people wanted by the Russian Interior Ministry last week.
His name, at least initially, did not appear in the Interpol system. This has also raised questions about the possibility of enforcing the order outside of Russia, especially in Serbia, one of the countries where the journalist carries out his professional activity and which has historically had close relations with Moscow.
The issue is related to a question the journalist asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the latter's visit to Belgrade, a little over two weeks ago.
In his question, the journalist demanded to know what specifically the Europeans could do to help Ukraine kill more Russians, later clarifying that he was referring to Russian soldiers.
The statement provoked a sharp reaction from Moscow. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova considered the wording a call for the killing of Russians and called it unacceptable and criminal.
FAZ later responded by admitting that the question was inappropriately phrased and could create the wrong impression. The newspaper said it had clarified the issue and expressed regret for the way the question was phrased.
If prosecuted under Russian law, the journalist could face a sentence of up to six years in prison.
Russia continues its war against Ukraine, which began in February 2022. Since the beginning of the conflict, Ukraine has received significant military and financial assistance from the United States and other Western countries.
