Russia Today claims that one of its journalists was detained at Otopeni Airport and expelled from Romania
Journalist Chay Bowes (from Russia Today). Photo source: Margarita Simonian / x
The Russia Today (RT) publication, controlled by the Russian state, states that one of its journalists, Chay Bowes, was detained on Thursday at Henri Coandă International Airport and later expelled in Romania.
“Our correspondent, Chay Bowes, was expelled from Romania and climbed on a plane to Istanbul, outside the European Union,” Margarita Simonian, the chief editor of Russia Today, in a post on the social network X.
- HotNews addressed the Romanian authorities (MAE, SRI and Border Service) questions about this alleged incident and we will come back with their answer.
Simonian claims that Bowes came to Romania with the intention of reporting on this year's elections and accuses the Romanian authorities of “transforming the country into an authoritarian testing”.
“Chay is an Irish citizen, and an EU member country can refuse the access of another European citizen only in extreme conditions, when it represents a threat to public order, security or health. Chay has not committed any crime, apart from the intention to relate to the elections in Romania for our post. Rt.
Breaking: Our Correspondent Chay Bowes Has Now Been Deported from Romania, and Place on a Flight out of the EU to Istanbul.
Chay is irish, and while an I Country can refuse entry to Another I Citizen Under Extreme Conditions, He Has to Be a Three to “Public Polycy, Security … pic.twitter.com/xy5szjyutj
– Margarita Simonyan (@m_simonyan) May 1, 2025
The journalist reports in a news published by the Russia Today website that the police have climbed the plane immediately after landing and searched for Bowes. According to him, the people of the law told him that their “superiors” wanted to interview him and asked him about the purpose of his visit to Romania.
“Only they wanted me. They got on the plane, asked who Chay Bowes and six of them took me from there,” he said.
After a short restraint, Bowes was expelled from Romania. According to his wife's claims, he was climbed on a plane to Istanbul.
