NO VISAS TO UKRAINIAN JOURNALISTS

Germany denied entry visas to a group of Ukrainian journalists who planned to cover the XX World Youth Day and the first foreign trip by Pope Benedict XIV. The majority of visa applicants work for nationalistic periodicals and on-line editions. They are planning to file a complaint to Paris-based group “Reporter sans frontiers” and to write letters of protest. The journalists are furious because in their writings they promote “European values” and they have never expected to be treated like this by Germany. However a source in the German embassy in Kiev said that the group had lied in their application forms stating to be pilgrims and not journalists. According to consular officials the journalists wanted to enter Germany under false pretences and it was the only reason for rejection of their visa requests.