Translated material
The Russian news agency Sputnik Estonia has suspended work due to the dismissal of all employees
The Sputnik Estonia news agency has temporarily stopped work due to the dismissal of all employees. This is stated in the statement of MIA "Russia Today" (it includes "Sputnik Estonia").
The statement says that the employees of the agency were forced to leave from January 1, 2020 under the threat of criminal prosecution by the Estonian authorities.
MIA Rossiya Segodnya called the actions of the Estonian authorities "legal chaos", promised to do everything possible to protect the journalists of "Sputnik Estonia" from criminal prosecution and resume the work of the agency.
“Unfortunately, experience shows that, despite the seeming absurdity of the Estonian authorities' threats, the criminal prosecution of journalists in today's Europe is a reality. We do not consider it possible to risk the freedom of people, ”the Rossiya Segodnya news agency said in a statement.
- The editorial office of Sputnik Estonia employs 35 people.
- According to MIA Rossiya Segodnya, in October, Estonian branches of international banks froze Sputnik Estonia's salary transfers, tax and rent payments, and the landlord unilaterally terminated the office lease agreement.
- In December, agency employees reported letters from the Estonian Police and Border Guard Department stating that journalists must resign by January 1, 2020, otherwise they face criminal prosecution. The reason was the EU sanctions against Russia, which included the general director of the Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency Dmitry Kiselev.
- Vladimir Putin called the pressure of the Estonian authorities on Sputnik cynicism.