Reserved journalists and artists can cross border - SBGS
Media and cultural personnel can cross the state border if they have documents confirming their mobilisation.
This was stated by the spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service, Andrii Demchenko, Censor.NET reports citing Ukrinform.
"As far as I know, the proposal (to allow media and culture representatives to go on working trips abroad. - Ed.) is currently being discussed," he said.
Demchenko explained that the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications intends to regulate the issue of crossing the state border by media and cultural figures, ‘so that there are no more questions about crossing the border by this category of citizens.’
An explanation of why this decision was made is to be provided by the MCSC.
"The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine is complying with the law and will continue to do so," the SBGS spokesman added.
Demchenko reminded that there are many cases when both media and cultural representatives are reserved for the period of martial law.
"The relevant category of reserved citizens can continue to cross the border if they have documents on reservation, military registration, and, in fact, if they are going on a business trip to convey either the position of Ukraine or to cover information outside the country. Then they have the right to cross the border on the basis of these documents," he concluded.
Earlier, the Ministry of Culture announced that from 3 March 2025, it would suspend the issuance of letters of support for the travel of artists and media professionals liable for military service abroad.
The head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Freedom of Speech, Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, said that since 2022, only 9 media representatives who left the country legally have not returned to Ukraine.
Advisor to the Minister of Culture Dmytro Zolotukhin said that 500 men had fled Ukraine during the year, crossing the border with letters from the Ministry of Culture.
Members of the Media Movement called on the Ministry of Culture to cancel the decision to suspend the issuance of letters of authorisation for journalists to travel abroad, as this creates ‘artificial obstacles’ to their professional activities.
