KIEV, March 9. /TASS/. Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has confirmed that journalist Christian Wehrsch·tz, head of the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation’s (ORF) office in Kiev, had been barred from entering the country and that fears for his life were behind the ban.
"The SBU confirms the information that Austrian journalist Christian Wehrsch·tz was banned from entering Ukraine for one year," the SBU wrote on Facebook. "The reason behind the decision was the necessity to ensure the journalist’s security."
According to the SBU, the measures were taken to avoid possible provocations during the journalist’s stay in the country.
In December 2018, Christian Wehrsch·tz said he feared for his life in Ukraine and called on the Austrian government and the ORF top officials to influence the authorities in Kiev so that they stopped obstructing journalists’ work. He also noted that he had been denied accreditation.
On March 7, Ukraine barred Christian Wehrsch·tz, head of the ORF office in Kiev, from entering the country for one year. Kiev accused the journalist of crossing illegally the state border, of justifying Crimea’s reunification with Russia and of anti-Ukraine propaganda. In response, Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl accused Ukraine of censorship and, lambasting Kiev’s decision, urged it to lift the entry ban.