Russia Accuses EUX.TV of ‘Dirty Propaganda’

BRUSSELS (EUX.TV) — The Russian embassy at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in Brussels has accused EUX.TV, the Europe channel, of “Russophobe” reporting that supports “dirty propaganda aims.”

Reacting per email to an analysis article on the EUX.TV website, Alexey Zaytsev, press officer at the Russian Mission to NATO, said an article published on Tuesday shows the webtv channel’s “interest in anti-russian campaign very clear.”

The article involved, written by EUX.TV editor Raymond Frenken, was published under the headline “Russia’s Contempt for Free Press Kills Dutch Journalist”. Click to read it.

It analysed media coverage of the war in Georgia in the light of the killing earlier that day of Dutch RTL Nieuws journalist Stan Storimans, who was reporting from the Georgian town of Gori. The article mentioned a number of examples of questionable reporting both on the Russia Today TV channel and on CNN to underline the need for independent reporting from inside a conflict zone.

“I’m not in the mood to analyse your Russophobe scribblings,” said Zaytsev, “but if even you yourself write in your absurd article “the exact circumstances of his death are not fully clear yet” so how can you blame Russia for what is not proved?”

Dutch European Affairs Minister Frans Timmermans told EUX.TV in Brussels on Wednesday that the Dutch government is still waiting for details on the killing of Storimans. The Dutch Foreign Minister has asked the Russian embassy in The Hague for such an official explanation.

“We are still waiting for further details to be provided,” said Timmermans. “‘Much is unclear about what actually happened yesterday and we are very shocked by the death of Stan Storimans.” Watch interview.

Watch more EUX.TV interviews with EU ministers on Georgia.

Russian Intimidation of EU Media?

EUX.TV, launched in Brussels two years ago, is an independent non-profit web platform that covers European politics through a website and a branded YouTube channel. The fledgling channel, run by a small team of news professionals, students and trainees, regularly brings critical coverage of EU developments and regulary airs opinions considered unfavorable by those running the EU.

“If the EU wants to be seen as credible, it needs to let itself be questioned,” said Frenken, a former CNBC Correspondent who now also works as a freelance journalist. “That means asking tough questions. At EUX.TV, we often play devil’s advocate. It makes us unpopular in some circles, which also means we can forget about ever getting any institutional subsidies.”

“At least at the EU in Brussels many people understand this and respect that this is the way journalists operate. The Russian government clearly has a different definition of what journalism should be. There are simply too many examples of colleagues in Russia being intimidated. Let’s hope this is not going to happen in Brussels.”

– Via the EUX.TV newsroom news@eux.tv

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