31/08/2017 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 31 August, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service, Maja Kocijancic, reiterated the importance the European Commission attributes to freedom of expression and the media. Her comments were made following the prevention of three journalists (one Russian and two Spanish) from working in Ukraine. "We expect Ukrainian authorities to refrain on imposing unnecessary limitation on free flow of information and media", she said, stating that the protection of national security and citizens should be provided while upholding fundamental rights and freedoms. A Russian journalist was expelled from Ukraine on 30 August and banned from the territory for three years, being accused of spreading anti-Ukrainian propaganda. Two Spanish journalists were meanwhile prevented from entering Ukraine on 24 August because they "threatened national security" when they wanted to cover the conflict in eastern Ukraine. (CG)