Moscow, Feb 12 (EFE).— Russia has opened a criminal case against Spanish journalist Alberto Rojas, a correspondent for El Mundo, accusing him of illegally entering the Kursk region, which is partially occupied by Ukrainian forces.
Russia’s Investigative Committee (CIR) claims that Rojas crossed the border alongside Ukrainian troops without the required documents.
“The investigation established that in February 2025, Rojas illegally crossed the state border with soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine without the documents permitting entry into the Russian Federation,” read an official statement posted on Telegram.
Since August 2024, Russian authorities have launched multiple criminal cases against Western journalists accused of entering Kursk illegally, though none have been detained.
According to CIR, Rojas traveled to the Sudzha district of Kursk, which Moscow considers Ukraine’s main operational base in the region. Authorities said they are taking measures to locate him and move forward with his detention.
“The investigation will determine all the circumstances of Rojas’ alleged crime, and a legal assessment of his actions will be made,” the statement added.
Last week, El Mundo published a report by Rojas from the border between Ukraine’s Sumy region and Russia’s Kursk, in which he described his journey to positions held by Ukraine’s 47th Brigade.
A court in Kursk recently ordered the in-absentia arrest of two American journalists accused of crossing the Russian border illegally with Ukrainian forces.
Russia has warned that it is monitoring all unauthorized border crossings by foreign journalists and will not let such actions go unanswered.
The Russian Foreign Ministry reiterated that foreign media representatives must obtain accreditation from the ministry to work in the country.
In March 2024, Russia refused to renew the visa of El Mundo’s former correspondent in Moscow, Xavier Colás, ordering him to leave the country within 24 hours. EFE
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