Moscow summons German envoy over 'persecution of Russian journalists'

The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the German ambassador on Friday over a dispute about the treatment of Russian state media correspondents.

German envoy Alexander Graf Lambsdorff will be informed "about retaliatory measures in response to the persecution of Russian journalists" in Germany, a ministry spokesman told Russian state news agency TASS.

According to Russian media, the case concerns a journalist working for a Russian state outlet whose visa was not extended by immigration authorities in Berlin.

The passports of the man's wife and child were also temporarily confiscated, it said.

On Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused German authorities of doing everything they can to ensure that Russian journalists leave the country.

At the International Economic Forum in St Petersburg last week, Zakharova threatened countermeasures against German journalists in Russia.

In November 2024, Russia expelled two employees of German public broadcaster ARD amid a similar dispute. At that time, the residency permits of two men working for Russian state television in Berlin were not renewed.