PRAGUE – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic has said the “continued intimidation” of the media nongovernmental organizations in Russia “further endangers” the media freedom situation.

In a statement on February 24, Mijatovic said that the “excessive pressure” imposed on the Mass Media Defense Centre (MMDC) and other civil society organizations in the media field, is “deeply worrying.”

“Discrimination of media organizations on vague pretexts effectively infringes free expression and free media,” she added.

The comments come after the Justice Department of Voronezh Region carried out an inspection of MMDC on February 9 as part of an official procedure for including the NGO in the register of “foreign agents.”

Mijatovic said MMDC is "one of the key organizations in Russia providing legal support on media legislation issues for journalists, judges, media lawyers and law enforcement bodies, raising public awareness about these matters.”