RT's Baghdad correspondent Ashraf Muhammad al-Azzawi, who was detained by local security forces on Tuesday, told RIA Novosti the details of the incident.
According to the journalist, officers from the Directorate of organized crime and a representative of the state Media and Communications Directorate visited the TV channel's office in the Iraqi capital. They, al-Azzawi noted, said there had been some irregularities in the office and asked if there was any equipment that would allow them to transmit information or broadcast.
"I told them that we don't have such equipment and that the whole process is done through special broadcasters. Then one of the law enforcers said that they had orders to close the office and detain me," said the reporter.
After that the journalist was taken to the Directorate of organized crime; the reason for his detention was not explained to him. Initially he was told that the Media and Communications Directorate had filed a complaint against RT's office.
At the Directorate, al-Azzawi answered numerous questions from law enforcement officers concerning his personal life. He then received a call from the head of the Media and Communications Directorate, who said that authorities had not filed any complaints against RT's office.
"Frankly, I didn't understand what I was accused of or why I was there from ten in the morning until ten at night. Colleagues in the syndicate of journalists were by my side from the moment I arrived," the reporter said.
According to him, the head of the syndicate of journalists told law enforcement that the channel was operating legally after its office in Baghdad resumed operations.
Moreover, the journalist noted, the Media and Communications Directorate did not inform him of any possible difficulties. After active intervention by the Russian television channel, Ashraf said, he was given his personal belongings and phone back.
"The investigation of me would have continued like this, but after active contacts (by RT and the syndicate of Iraqi journalists) the case was suspended," he noted.
The correspondent described his detention as very strange because he was never given a reason.
"I was released on bail, bailed by the head of the journalists' syndicate, Muayad al-Lami. The Media and Communications Directorate also sent people to bail me out," the reporter explained.
According to Ashraf, he "thanks his colleagues at RT and journalists in Iraq and beyond for their solidarity."
RIA Novosti has not yet had a comment from Iraqi authorities.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Creative Commons
Based on materials from RIA Novosti