OSCE says Russia must not intimidate champions of media freedom

VIENNA (Reuters) - Europe's main human rights and security body said unannounced inspections of media NGOs being conducted in Russia could intimidate groups supporting media freedom in the country and have a "chilling effect" on their work.

Dunja Mijatovic, representative for media freedom at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), said she was concerned about the inspections, which President Vladimir Putin says have been conducted under a new law requiring many non-governmental organisations to register as "foreign agents" if they get foreign funding.