The European Union delegation to Russia and the Association of European Businesses said Monday that they disagreed with The Moscow Times' characterization of a meeting between European business leaders and the EU's top envoy to Russia.
"The article is factually wrong and misrepresents the discussion," the two parties said in a joint statement.
The article, with the headline "Investors Appeal Against Sanctions" on the front page of Monday's print edition and the headline "European Investors Say Pleas Against Sanctions on Russia Ignored" on the newspaper's website, describes a contentious, closed-door meeting last Thursday during which European businesspeople expressed frustration that possible EU sanctions would punish them more than Russia and urged the EU to soften its stance.
The article, written by freelance contributor Cristina Giuliano, who serves as the Moscow bureau chief for the Italian news agency TMNews, and Moscow Times editor-in-chief Andrew McChesney, relied on interviews with several businesspeople who were present at the meeting. The businesspeople spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitivity of the situation.
McChesney said Monday that The Moscow Times stood by the article.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
