German Government and Journalists Defend FAZ Correspondent Martens

The German Foreign Ministry has stated that it is closely monitoring the situation after Russia issued a warrant for Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) correspondent Michael Martens and that it is in constant contact with Martens. 

The ministry responded to a question from the German daily TAZ by saying that it is demanding from Russia in all appropriate forums and through existing communication channels to “cease the criminalization and persecution of free expression of opinion.”

At a press conference in Belgrade at the beginning of August, Martens asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky what Europeans could do to help Ukraine “kill more Russians,” before correcting himself to “more Russian soldiers.”

Last week, Russian authorities issued a warrant for Martens on charges of “inciting hatred” under Article 282 of the Russian Criminal Code, and a conviction could carry a sentence of up to six years in prison.

The German Journalists’ Association (DJV) warned that Martens, as the FAZ correspondent for the Balkans, is exposed to particular risk. DJV President Mika Beuster said that as a correspondent, Martens must regularly travel to Southeast European countries.   

“There is a danger that the arrest warrant could be enforced in countries that maintain close relations with Russia,” Beuster said, as reported by TAZ.

DJV has therefore requested that German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul summon the Russian ambassador to the ministry. “An arrest warrant for a journalist who was performing his profession is an unacceptable attack on media freedom,” Beuster said.

The Russian Embassy in Germany has contacted the Berlin prosecutor’s office to check whether there is a possibility of prosecuting Martens under German law, it was confirmed to TAZ. 

A spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office said that it must first be checked whether there are grounds for suspicion, but that this is not connected to any potential investigation.

The organization Reporters Without Borders has also called for political support for Martens, stating that the German government and the European Union must make it clear that Russian repression against independent media must not be extended internationally, TAZ writes.

Martens’s home daily, FAZ, two days after Martens asked the controversial question in Belgrade, expressed regret over the ambiguous wording about killing Russians, stating that it was not in line with editorial policy.

However, TAZ writes, the Frankfurt daily now fully stands behind its journalist.

FAZ described the Russian warrant as “an attempt to intimidate German journalists and free media.” The daily rejected any attempt to obstruct independent reporting through criminal law threats, TAZ writes.

Michael Martens has been the FAZ correspondent for Southeast Europe since 2002, and for a time also lived in Belgrade.