BRUSSELS – The International Press Association (API-IPA) on Monday urged Belgian authorities not to expel journalist Margarita Zuaui and her 18-year-old son, who is enrolled at the Université libre de Bruxelles.
“We urge the Belgian authorities to approach this case with restraint and fairness,” said Dafydd ab Iago, president of API-IPA. “Zuaui and her son have complied with all legal requirements and have been living in Belgium for years. Her right to continue working as a journalist – and their right to remain as part of Belgian society – deserve full respect under European principles of law and proportionality.”
Zuaui is not facing expulsion due to sanctions or accusations of wrongdoing. Instead, she risks losing her residency status after her family reunification pathway – linked to her husband’s previous status – was terminated.
A Russian national and API-IPA member since 2023, Zuaui has lived and worked in Belgium since Aug. 28, 2020. She and her son are fully integrated into Belgian society, speak local languages and participate actively in school and community life. She previously held accreditation as a correspondent for RIA Novosti and retains valid Belgian press accreditation as an independent journalist.
Her husband, also previously accredited as a journalist, complied with an order from Belgian authorities to leave the country by June 25. He is challenging that decision through legal means.
Their son, also a Russian national, recently graduated from secondary school in Uccle and is beginning his first year at ULB in September.
API-IPA warned that shifting interpretations of EU restrictive measures could undermine journalists’ rights and set a dangerous precedent. Zuaui’s EU press accreditation has been withdrawn by citing the EU restriction on providing economic resources to sanctioned entities, including certain media outlets.
“For three years, journalist accreditation – both to the EU institutions and for the Belgian press card – has been granted without being considered equivalent to providing funds or resources to sanctioned outlets,” ab Iago said. “It now seems officials have abruptly shifted their interpretation, treating accreditation as economic support. This logic is difficult to understand and has serious implications for press freedom.”
The association noted that withdrawing accreditation without an appeal process or safeguards for press freedom risks undermining European legal standards. It cited Council Regulation (EU) 2022/350, which states restrictions on sanctioned outlets do not prevent their staff from carrying out journalistic activities such as research and interviews. Those protections for freedom of expression were explicitly reaffirmed by both the European Commission and the EU Council of Ministers as recently as May 17, 2024.
“Belgian and EU authorities must remain consistent with the fundamental rights and freedoms recognized in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights,” ab Iago said. “Sanctions must not prevent our members from carrying out their work as journalists. That is especially true as neither Margarita nor her husband are themselves subject to EU sanctions.”
“Our members are working journalists – not sanctioned individuals,” he added. “We urge Belgian authorities to uphold European values of press freedom, legal certainty and proportionality.”
About API-IPA
The International Press Association (API-IPA) represents accredited correspondents and media professionals reporting from Brussels and across the European Union. API-IPA defends the rights of journalists to work freely and independently in line with European democratic values.
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