Russia opens criminal case against CNN journalist for ‘illegally crossing’ into Kursk region

ISTANBUL

Russia on Thursday announced that it opened criminal cases against three journalists, including a CNN correspondent, who allegedly “illegally crossed” the country’s border and reported from the Kursk region.

A statement by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said it filed criminal cases “against American journalist Nick Paton Walsh and Ukrainian correspondents Olesya Borovik and Diana Butsko,” who are said to have “illegally crossed” the Russian border and filmed in the area near the town of Sudzha.

The town of Sudzha is about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the Ukrainian border. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed his country's forces took control of the settlement last week.

“They will be put on the international wanted list in the near future,” the statement said, adding that they could face up to five years in prison if convicted.

Walsh is the CNN’s international security editor, though multiple media reports have noted him to be a British citizen.

Borovik works for My-Ukraine television channel, while Butsko is associated with the Kyiv-based online news outlet Hromadske.

The statement recalled that criminal cases were also opened earlier against Italian journalists Simoni Traini and Stefania Battistini for the same reasons.

The FSB released a statement on the two Italian journalists on Saturday.