Graham Phillips is “strongly recommended” to leave Donbass

from cassad  eng: 

British journalist Graham Phillips, who became a national hero of Novorossia after being wounded near Donetsk, recently published a letter that he obtained from the British Foreign Office. «We have been alerted to a number of social media updates that have caused some to raise questions about your presence in Ukraine in a journalistic capacity. — the letter says.  — Particular things that have raised concerns include being photographed while wearing military uniforms, separatist insignia, or holding firearms. We are very concerned that you may be putting yourself in danger through these types of activities which could be seen as a blurring of the line between journalism and active involvement in a conflict».
Later the foreign office employee reminds that the FCO of the United Kingdom doesn’t recommend British citizens to travel over the territory of Crimea, Donetsk, and Lugansk regions, and also in the Kharkov region. “As we have previously discussed with you, we recommend that British Nationals leave these areas”.

Graham Phillips prepared an answer, which he also put up on social networks. In his letter the nice European diplomatic manners are combined with the quite Russian frankness and “novorussian” views. «I accept that my working practices may appear unconventional, — he writes to the Foreign Office. – However they are easily explainable – I wear camouflage when filming from frontline positions so as not to attract extra attention to those I am with, or myself. The Ukrainian military are equally inclined to shoot journalists as combatants.».

The British journalist explains his political position to the British diplomats, which in essence puts him into the same category with the separatists in the eyes of the Europeans and the Kiev authorities. «Firstly, on a factual point, I’m not in Ukraine, I am in Novorossiya, which voted to secede from Ukraine in referendums last May 11th, after the violent revolution of Euromaidan installed an unelected, far-right government,» — Graham explains. — «I wear ‘separatist insignias’ because I think Novorossiya is a beautiful country. I’ve taken part in firearm drills to augment my experience, and understanding, as a war correspondent.»

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