A Russia Today TV host denied she will be heading to Ukraine’s Crimea region after criticizing Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine.
Abby Martin, a host based in the United States, made the comments Monday during a broadcast of her show, Breaking the Set.
“I can't stress enough how strongly I am against any military intervention in sovereign nations' affairs,” Martin said. "I will not sit here and apologize or defend military aggression.”
Martin went on to say she didn’t “know as much as I should about Ukraine's history or the cultural dynamics of the region, but what I do know is that military intervention is never the answer."
Russia Today issued a response, saying it doesn't “beat its journalists into submission, and they are free to express their own opinions.” The state-owned network went on to say that as Martin noted she doesn’t have a deep understanding of the region, “we'll be sending her to Crimea to give her an opportunity to make up her own mind from the epicenter of the story.”
However, in a Twitter post thanking Britain’s The Telegraph for a story about her comments, Martin said she would not be heading to Crimea.
The episode of Breaking the Set that includes Martin's statement is no longer available on the Russia Today site. The Telegraph included this segment of the program in its report on Martin.
Abby Martin, a host based in the United States, made the comments Monday during a broadcast of her show, Breaking the Set.
“I can't stress enough how strongly I am against any military intervention in sovereign nations' affairs,” Martin said. "I will not sit here and apologize or defend military aggression.”
Martin went on to say she didn’t “know as much as I should about Ukraine's history or the cultural dynamics of the region, but what I do know is that military intervention is never the answer."
Russia Today issued a response, saying it doesn't “beat its journalists into submission, and they are free to express their own opinions.” The state-owned network went on to say that as Martin noted she doesn’t have a deep understanding of the region, “we'll be sending her to Crimea to give her an opportunity to make up her own mind from the epicenter of the story.”
However, in a Twitter post thanking Britain’s The Telegraph for a story about her comments, Martin said she would not be heading to Crimea.
Hi @Josiensor, thanks for your article. But I am not going to Crimea despite the statement RT has made. Please update accordingly.
— Abby Martin (@AbbyMartin) March 4, 2014
The episode of Breaking the Set that includes Martin's statement is no longer available on the Russia Today site. The Telegraph included this segment of the program in its report on Martin.