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EM location Saint Petersburg
Photo: Alexander Demianchuk / imago images / ITAR-TASS
After criticism and protests, the ARD journalist Robert Kempe can now report from Russia about the European football championship. As the WDR announced, Kempe receives a complete accreditation for the tournament after Russia initially rejected it. He will also get access to the Russian venue Saint Petersburg. “This example shows how important it is to create publicity. As the media, we have to be vigilant and expressly point out if our journalists cannot report freely, «said WDR editor-in-chief Ellen Ehni.
According to the European Football Union (Uefa), Kempe's accreditation had already been valid for the other ten venues of the European Championship.
Ehni had criticized the non-admission to Saint Petersburg as an unacceptable restriction on the freedom of the press and asked Russia to clarify.
Three years ago, the ARD doping expert Hajo Seppelt was refused a visa to travel to Russia for the soccer World Cup.
This decision was reversed by Russia - also under international pressure.
After warnings from German security authorities, Seppelt canceled the trip.
Seppelt had contributed significantly to the clarification of the systematic sports fraud in Russia and was therefore attacked there.
Kempe had also critically examined the World Cup in Russia and the work of the International Olympic Committee in documentaries in the past.
He has been working for WDR and ARD for ten years.
mfu / dpa