Maxim Bershtein and Natalia Meshkova have quit the Karelian branch of the Union of Journalists of Russia. The reason for their decision was the organization's expulsion of journalists who were labeled as "foreign agents." Georgy Chentemirov and Natalia Sevets-Yermolina, who publicly opposed the war in Ukraine, left Russia and were subsequently declared “foreign agents.” According to the “Stolitsa na Onego” publication, a total of 20 journalists have left the Karelian branch in response to these developments.
Two members of the media have renounced membership in the Karelian branch of the Union of Journalists. Natalia Meshkova, who has been a member for 40 years, and Maksim Bernstein, a member for 20 years, left the organization in protest of the expulsion of Georgy Chentemirov and Natalia Sevets-Ermolina, who were labeled as "foreign agents." Bernstein criticized the Union that instead of protecting the rights and freedoms of journalists, it had failed Chentemirov and Sevets-Ermolina.
According to Bernstein, the leadership of the Union of Journalists of Russia consists of individuals who lack journalistic qualities and are instead "nomenklatura, lackeys, and simply cowardly people." He added that remaining a part of the organization meant compromising on journalistic integrity, and now, with the expulsion of Chentemirov and Sevets-Ermolina, that line had been crossed.
According to the “Stolitsa na Onego” publication, a total of 20 journalists have exited the Karelian branch in protest.
In April, the Karelian branch of the Union of Journalists expelled Chentemirov and Sevets-Ermolina, who opposed the war in Ukraine and later left Russia. Chentemirov, who served as the head of the regional branch, refused to step down voluntarily.
