A German journalist has been placed on a wanted list in Russia.
The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) reported on Friday that its Balkan correspondent has been listed by name in the Russian Ministry of the Interior's wanted database.
The reason given for the listing is criminal proceedings. According to Russian sources, the charges against the journalist include "incitement to hatred."
The Russian authorities have taken the action in response to a question that the FAZ journalist put to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky just under two weeks ago during the latter's visit to the Serbian capital, Belgrade.
The FAZ explained that the question had been worded in a misleading manner. "We have clarified this and expressed our regret at the wording," the statement continued.
The newspaper viewed the manhunt as an "attempt to intimidate a German journalist and the free press." The FAZ said it rejects this attempt to obstruct independent reporting through threats of criminal prosecution.
"Freedom of the press is non-negotiable," the FAZ concluded. "It applies even when questions or reports provoke criticism."
Under Russian law, the journalist faces up to six years' imprisonment.
According to the Russian state news agency TASS, he had asked Zelensky what European countries could do to "to help you to kill more Russians."
The spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, described these calls for the killing of Russians as unacceptable and criminal.
The Russian Foreign Ministry sharply criticized the journalist last weekend.
Among other things, it described him as a "fascist propagandist" and accused him of dehumanizing Russians and legitimizing hatred towards Russia.
Furthermore, the ministry described the journalist's remarks as "revanchist" and criticized the fact that the question had not been condemned in the West.