Russia Today channel anchor, Abby Martin, says what Russia did is wrong, 3rd March 2014
At the very end of Monday, March 3rd's episode of Russia Today's Breaking the Set programme, anchor Abby Martin delivered a monologue, explaining her own personal position over Russia and the United States playing with the sovereignty of the Ukrainian people, and spoke against any military aggression.
In the wake of Martin's remarks, RT (formerly Russia Today) released a statement saying that all RT journalists are “free to express their own opinions, not just in private but on the air", and that “there will be absolutely no reprimands made against Ms. Martin." However, RT also announced that Martin would be sent to Crimea, the site of the Russian invasion: “In her comment Ms. Martin also noted that she does not possess a deep knowledge of the reality of the situation in Crimea," an RT spokesperson said. “As such we'll be sending her to Crimea to give her an opportunity to make up her own mind from the epicentre of the story." - wrote Josie Ensor on telegraph.co.uk, on Tuesday, March 4th. Martin’s reaction on Twitter was: “ ...thanks for your article. But I am not going to Crimea despite the statement RT has made.”
As the first invitee of CNN's Piers Morgan Live Blog on Wednesday night, Abby Martin said that at least her program offers editorial freedom, and that she's experienced support from her network since the incident, suggesting that other media outlets aren't allowed the same leeway. "“You guys are beholden to advertisers that you cannot criticize. That's why I work for a station that I can criticize," she said. (Piers Morgan denied not being allowed to say anything he wanted.)