Journalists at RaajjeTV have been barred from carnival area where the ruling Progressive Party of the Maldives (PPM) Asthaa rally on Thursday night.

The station’s journalists were barred after releasing official passes for the event.

Cameraman Ahmed Mamdhooh reported they were not allowed in, even after they had produced the passes. Officials at the entrance said they were instructed not to allow RaajjeTV journalists in.

PPM Deputy Leader and Vilufushi Constituency MP Riyaz Rasheed and Fonadhoo Constituency MP Abdul Raheem Abdullah had not answered the repeated calls made by the station. Additional attempts to contact senior figures was futile as well.

This is not the first time RaajjeTV was banned from covering PPM rallies.