Russian ambassador says German MFA’s statements on FAZ journalist case unfriendly

BERLIN, August 20. /TASS/. Russia’s ambassador to Germany, Sergey Nechayev, has sharply criticized the remarks made by a German Foreign Ministry spokesman regarding the controversy involving Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) journalist Michael Martens. Nechayev described the comments as unfriendly and a distortion of reality, particularly in light of recent developments. "Moscow has taken note of the unfriendly and misleading statements made by German Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Giese during a press conference in Berlin on August 19," Nechayev stated in a response to TASS. He emphasized that Giese’s remarks effectively excused Martens and overlooked the broader context. Nechayev pointed out the bitter irony in Germany’s stance on freedom of speech, noting, "The unfounded accusation that Russia lacks free speech is especially striking, considering that in Germany, foreign media - especially Russian outlets - are banned merely for presenting an alternative perspective to the mainstream narrative. Access to such viewpoints is systematically blocked for ordinary readers." He further condemned the actions against Russian journalists, stating, "They are expelling ‘undesirable’ Russian journalists who seek to provide an objective picture of Russia and convey the authentic position of the Russian leadership.".