OREANDA-NEWS  Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, after seizing passports from family members of Sergei Feoktistov, head of the representative office of the Rossiya Segodnya media group in Berlin, told RIA Novosti that Moscow would provide support and take all measures to protect Russian journalists.

Earlier on Tuesday, Feoktistov told RIA Novosti that German police had come to his family's Berlin apartment and seized the passports of his wife and seven-year-old daughter. He himself was not allowed off the flight at Berlin airport last Friday, despite the fact that the German authorities had previously ordered him to leave Germany by August 19. Dmitry Kiselyov, CEO of the Rossiya Segodnya media group, told RIA Novosti that the seizure of passports by the German police from Feoktistov's wife and daughter indicates that Germany is sliding into a rut for war with Russia and is preparing public opinion accordingly.

"We will take all measures to protect Russian journalists. They will be provided with on-site support. Russian diplomats in Berlin are currently engaged in this," Zakharova said.

The German authorities had not previously extended Feoktistov's residence permit and demanded that he leave Germany, as stated in a document from the land migration agency, which was made available to RIA Novosti. The document specified that he must leave the country before August 19, otherwise departure will be carried out forcibly.