On Wednesday, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) announced on Wednesday that it had excluded the Union of Journalists of Russia (UJR) from its organization. The reason given is the opening of branches of the SZHR in the Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine.
“The IFJ is an organization based on international solidarity, on the principles of cooperation between member unions and respect for the rights of all journalists. The actions of the Union of Journalists of Russia to establish four branches in the annexed Ukrainian territories have openly undermined this solidarity and provoked conflict with journalists’ unions,” IFJ President Dominique Pradalié said in a statement .
The International Federation of Journalists is based in Brussels and represents the interests of 600,000 journalists from 146 countries.
In January, the Finnish, Norwegian, Danish, and Icelandic journalists’ unions threatened to quit the IFJ in protest at the IFJ’s “corrupt activities”, which they say include the IFJ’s failure to take action connected with the establishment of branches of Russian trade unions in the occupied regions. from Ukraine.
Dominik Pradali said the IFJ would cooperate with four Scandinavian unions and agreed that their criticisms were correct. She also said the IFJ would urgently seek ways to continue supporting independent journalists inside and outside Russia who are at risk or in need of help.