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Two Italian freelance journalists leave Ukraine after being censored by Kiev

Saturday, 11 March 2023 2:18 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 11 March 2023 2:59 AM ]

Max Civili
Press TV, Rome

After a year spent in Ukraine covering the ongoing conflict with Russia, Italian freelance journalists Andrea Sceresini and Alfredo Bosco returned to Italy a couple of weeks ago on advice of Italy's foreign ministry.

The two had their press accreditation suspended by the Ukrainian authorities while they were returning from the Bakhmut front, in early
February. For weeks they were unable to work, awaiting interrogation by the Ukrainian security service.

Both journalists claim that Kiev's decision was unfounded.

Some Italian media have reported that at least eight Italian journalists have been blacklisted by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, over the past weeks. According to journalists Sceresini and Bosco, all of them had reported from the Donbass region in previous years.

Andrea Sceresini is an expert on far-right terrorism in Italy's 70s. He has been freelancing for a number of authoritative Italian broadcasters and newspapers from many areas of crises including Egypt and Venezuela. Alfredo Bosco established himself for his photo reportages on Mexico's drug cartels and 2010s' Haiti's cholera outbreak.

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has yet to comment on the suspension of the two journalists' press accreditations by the Ukrainian authorities nor has she ever expressed support for them. Rome has been a staunch supporter of Kiev since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, over a year ago.

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