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Ukraine removes BBC journalists from banned list | Ukraine removes BBC journalists from banned list |
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Ukraine is to remove the names of three BBC journalists from a sanctions list that has been criticised as "absurd" by one rights group. | Ukraine is to remove the names of three BBC journalists from a sanctions list that has been criticised as "absurd" by one rights group. |
Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko signed a decree on Wednesday, naming almost 400 people and 90 legal entities as security threats. | Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko signed a decree on Wednesday, naming almost 400 people and 90 legal entities as security threats. |
Mr Poroshenko's press secretary and the UK ambassador to Ukraine tweeted that the three names would now be removed. | Mr Poroshenko's press secretary and the UK ambassador to Ukraine tweeted that the three names would now be removed. |
Journalists from Spain and Germany were also taken off the list. | Journalists from Spain and Germany were also taken off the list. |
The UK ambassador, Judith Gough, said it was a "welcome move". She had visited Mr Poroshenko earlier in the day. | The UK ambassador, Judith Gough, said it was a "welcome move". She had visited Mr Poroshenko earlier in the day. |
The AP news agency said two of the Spanish journalists had disappeared in Syria in July and were believed to have been kidnapped by the Islamic State group. | |
All those on the list were subject to sanctions related to the pro-Russian uprising in eastern Ukraine that started last year. | All those on the list were subject to sanctions related to the pro-Russian uprising in eastern Ukraine that started last year. |
As well as the three BBC journalists, who are all based in the Moscow bureau, other reporters from Spain and Germany were on the list. | As well as the three BBC journalists, who are all based in the Moscow bureau, other reporters from Spain and Germany were on the list. |
The Reporters Without Borders group said the decision was "an absurd, counter-productive breach of freedom of information". | The Reporters Without Borders group said the decision was "an absurd, counter-productive breach of freedom of information". |
The Committee to Protect Journalists, who said there were 41 journalists and bloggers on the list, said: "While the government may not like or agree with the coverage, labelling journalists a potential threat to national security is not an appropriate response." | The Committee to Protect Journalists, who said there were 41 journalists and bloggers on the list, said: "While the government may not like or agree with the coverage, labelling journalists a potential threat to national security is not an appropriate response." |
Mr Poroshenko had stressed that the sanctions decision was taken "in co-ordination with our partners from the European Union, the United States of America and other countries". | Mr Poroshenko had stressed that the sanctions decision was taken "in co-ordination with our partners from the European Union, the United States of America and other countries". |
Almost 8,000 people have been killed since fighting erupted in eastern Ukraine in April 2014, a month after Russia annexed the southern Crimea peninsula. | Almost 8,000 people have been killed since fighting erupted in eastern Ukraine in April 2014, a month after Russia annexed the southern Crimea peninsula. |
Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of arming the separatists and also sending its regular troops in eastern Ukraine. | Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of arming the separatists and also sending its regular troops in eastern Ukraine. |
Moscow denies this, but admits that Russian "volunteers" fight alongside the rebels. | Moscow denies this, but admits that Russian "volunteers" fight alongside the rebels. |
A ceasefire in eastern Ukraine has been holding in the last two weeks, although there have been reports of occasional shelling. | A ceasefire in eastern Ukraine has been holding in the last two weeks, although there have been reports of occasional shelling. |