Commenting on the Royal Opera’s decision • “Propaganda commissioned reportage”
In a statement, the Russian embassy writes that they are “concerned about the situation” surrounding the employee at the Royal Opera House who “criticized” Expressen’s reporter who did a report in the Russian region of Kurskwhich has been occupied to some extent by Ukraine.
Commenting on the Royal Opera’s decision
After Expressen’s publication, an employee at the Royal Opera commented on the report.
“A Swedish journalist who wants to be on the list of journalists who illegally violated Russian territory. Hope he stays there in the world,” wrote the employee.
Following the statement, the Royal Opera has chosen to remove the employee from the opera’s productions.
“This is in line with the double-standard policy already customary in the West, where the so-called freedom of expression only applies to mainstream opinions, while every form of dissent is punished,” writes the Russian embassy about the Royal Opera’s decision.
The embassy also writes that they want to “recommend Swedish journalists” not to criticize and chase “dissidents”, who they believe use freedom of expression.
Warns Swedish journalists
The report is described as a “one-sided and propagandistic commissioned report”, which is believed to have the “tacit consent” of the Swedish authorities. Expressen’s editor-in-chief, Klas Granström, says that the statement will not affect their work.
– The Russian regime’s attempt to prevent Expressen from doing journalism has no effect. Their threats do not stop us from telling what is happening on the ground in Russia and Ukraine and about the suffering caused by the offensive war, says Klas Granström.
In the statement, the embassy also warns Swedish journalists, and reminds that violations of Russian legislation will “result in very serious consequences, up to criminal liability”.
TV4 Nyheterna has searched the Russian embassy in Stockholm