A journalist who investigated the poisoning of the Russian opposition determine Aleksei A. Navalny and was prominently featured in a documentary movie concerning the imprisoned chief mentioned he was “banned” from attending the British Academy Movie Awards, the place the movie was nominated, after being advised his presence would symbolize a safety danger to the general public.
The journalist, Christo Grozev, is on the Russian Inside Ministry’s “wished” listing, based on the Russian state-run information company TASS. His reporting on Russia with the open-source investigative group Bellingcat, together with into the 2018 Novichok poisonings, has gained a number of worldwide press awards.
Mr. Grozev’s reporting on Mr. Navalny’s poisoning is a key driver of the documentary movie, “Navalny.” He sat subsequent to the titular determine throughout a now-famous scene through which the opposition chief seems to cellphone a Russian intelligence officer and trick him into confessing the assassination plot.
Mr. Grozev mentioned on Twitter on Friday that he and his household had been “banned” from attending Sunday’s BAFTA ceremony in London and had been advised that they “symbolize a public safety danger.”
BAFTA organizers advised the documentary staff that, “on the recommendation of U.Ok. police,” that they had determined Mr. Grozev and his household “could not attend any BAFTA occasion this weekend,” the journalist mentioned by way of direct message on Saturday.
Mr. Grozev mentioned he fled his dwelling in Vienna in January after legislation enforcement companies from a number of international locations notified him about dangers to his security from Russian intelligence. He now lives in the US.
He mentioned he had not acquired a ban from the Academy Awards, the place “Navalny” was nominated for Finest Documentary Characteristic, nor from the Administrators Guild of America Awards, which he deliberate to attend on Saturday evening in Beverly Hills, Calif.
BAFTA’s choice mirrored “the rising risks to unbiased journalists world wide,” Mr. Grozev mentioned on Twitter, including that the hazards “don’t stem simply from murderous dictators, but additionally from having journalists’ voices hushed — as a substitute of amplified — by the civilized world they’re making an attempt to serve.”
The Metropolitan Police, in an announcement denying that they particularly ordered such a ban, acknowledged that “our recommendation can imply organizers have tough selections to make.”
“The truth that some journalists face the hostile intentions of international states while within the U.Ok. is a actuality that we’re completely involved with,” mentioned the assertion, which didn’t straight identify Mr. Grozev.
BAFTA confirmed on Saturday that different members of the “Navalny” staff — Diane Becker, Shane Boris, Melanie Miller and Odessa Rae — would attend the ceremony, however didn’t reply questions on whether or not Mr. Grozev had been uninvited and why.
“The protection of all our company and workers on the ceremony is all the time our highest precedence, and now we have strong and acceptable safety preparations in place yearly,” the award organizers mentioned in an announcement.
