Danish journalist Matilde Kimer has had her journalistic activity accreditation restored for war zones and military facilities. Artem Dekhtiarenko, the head of the Department for Interaction with the Media and the Public of the Office of the Head of the Security Service of Ukraine, said this in response to respective request from the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU). At the same time, the department emphasizes that the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) had not prohibited Matilde Kimer from entering Ukraine, but any journalist “can be denied accreditation without explaining the reasons.”
Earlier, the NUJU had appealed to the SSU and the Armed Forces of Ukraine with a request to additionally consider all the circumstances related to the termination of the accreditation of Danish journalist Matilde Kimer. The Union also requested to investigate the arguments of the European Federation of Journalists, the Danish Union of Journalists, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, and to consider the possibility of restoring Ms. Kimer’s accreditation. The Department of Public Relations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine informed the NUJU of the fact that a “change in the position of the SSU” is necessary to grant “military accreditation” to the Danish journalist.
In a letter received by the NUJU from the SSU on January 5, it was emphasized that the SSU had not prohibited journalist Matilde Kimer from entering our country. Instead, only representatives of mass media who have received the appropriate accreditation may be admitted to the areas of hostilities and military facilities. During the accreditation, the SSU provides an opinion on the relevant request of the Department of Public Relations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The final decision on the granting (abolition) of the accreditation to a representative of the mass media shall be taken by the said Office. When making a decision, a number of factors are taken into account, including risks to the national security and defense of Ukraine, compliance or violation by the journalist of the rules of work of a representative of mass media in the area of hostilities, etc. A denial on accreditation can be made without explaining the reasons. At the same time, the previously adopted decision can be reviewed in compliance with the established procedure.
“Journalist Matilde Kimer’s accreditation has been restored,” said the SSU in its reply.
As earlier reported, the “military” accreditation of Ms. Kimer had been canceled under an assumption that the journalist could cooperate with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
NUJU information service
