H.E. Igor Ivanov
Foreign Minister
Moscow
Russia

Fax: (007095) 230 21 30 / 244 34 48 / 244 41 12

H.E. Mikhail Lesin
Minister of Press, Broadcasting and Mass Communication Affairs
Moscow
Russia

Fax: (007095) 229 93 59 / 200 22 81

Vienna, 9 February 2004

Your Excellencies,

The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in over 120 countries, is deeply concerned about the Russian authorities’ decision to deny a visa and accreditation to Vibeke Sperling, the Russian and Eastern European affairs correspondent for the respected Danish daily newspaper, Politiken.

Since the 1970s, Vibeke Sperling has reported on the Soviet Union and later Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) for the Danish media. Sperling was a correspondent for the Danish daily newspaper Information in Moscow from 1981-82, for the Danish Broadcasting Corporation from 1993-97 and, most recently, for Politiken from 2001-02.

In between her extended visits to Moscow, Sperling has travelled extensively throughout Russia and to other CIS countries and has never previously been denied a visa. The first time she was refused was on 6 October 2003 when she went to collect her visa at the Russian embassy in Copenhagen in order to participate in an international conference in St. Petersburg. When she visited the embassy, she was told, “Moscow has turned down your application.” No reason for the decision was given.

In the following week, the director of the Danish Foreign Ministry, Friis Arne Pedersen, took up the case at a meeting with the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Vladimir Chizhov, in Moscow. Chizhov promised that “the relevant authorities” would be asked to review the matter. At the beginning of January 2004 the Danish embassy in Moscow was informed that the application for renewal of her accreditation and issue of her visa had been turned down.

Since this decision was made, the Danish Foreign Ministry and embassy in Moscow have informed Politiken that they can do no more. In view of this, IPI calls on Your Excellencies to reconsider the decision.

As a result of the failure of the Danish Foreign Ministry, Politiken, and several Russian and international media to obtain an official Russian explanation, we strongly believe that Sperling’s critical coverage of human rights issues in Russia is the real reason for the refusal to let her work in the country. We are informed that in most cases where foreign journalists and researchers are denied visas, it has to do with their reporting on the conflict in Chechnya, which Sperling has also covered over the years. At this moment in time, it is of course only IPI’s informed opinion, as no explanation has been forthcoming; however, since Sperling has committed no offences under Russian law, IPI is forced to conclude that her entry into Russia is being denied for political reasons.

We view the barring of a foreign journalist from working in Russia without a plausible reason as tantamount to censorship. IPI wishes to affirm that by their very nature democracies should be open to critical reporting and allow journalists to practice their profession freely. When a veteran correspondent like Sperling is denied entry possibly because of her reporting, we fear for the free flow of information. IPI, therefore, regards Sperling’s case as an important one in the principled fight to protect free media and freedom of speech in Russia.

We look forward to hearing from you with regard to this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Johann P. Fritz
Director