BUCHAREST, Romania – A Russian journalist, who was denied travel to Bucharest to receive a prize for his reporting on the Chechen war, Thursday accused authorities of human rights violations and a "primitive" approach to journalism.

"In Russia, there is a very primitive approach to journalism," said Lyudmila Babitsky, reading a message from her husband, Radio Liberty correspondent Andrei Babitsky, to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

"In ... [Grozny], there was ruthless destruction of the city, and thousands of people died under the bombardment. ... Torture became routine in the Chechen war," Babitsky said.

Referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said in the message, "He called me a traitor and why?" Babitsky said this was because his reporting was very critical.

Delegates from the 54 member countries of the OSCE stood up to applaud Mrs. Babitsky, who read her husband's message. Russian delegates remained seated.

"We are now seeing a turning point in the president's relations with journalists," said Gert Weisskirchen, chairman of an OSCE commission on democracy and minority issues, who handed over the prize to Mrs. Babitsky.

"Andrei Babitsky is awarded this prize because he reports on life-endangering situations that people find themselves in. We want them [such journalists], we need them, especially if they are a bit troublesome," he said.

Babitsky was one of a few journalists to cover the fierce fighting between Russian troops and Chechen rebels in the southern Russian province in December and January, before being arrested and charged with identity card irregularities.

Earlier, 17 U.S. lawmakers criticized Russian authorities for refusing to allow Babitsky to travel to Bucharest to pick up the prize.

"Andrei Babitsky is a courageous and distinguished journalist who was arrested in January 2000 and illegally detained for 40 days by the Russian authorities for his objective coverage of the Chechen war," said a statement signed by the American lawmakers and read at the start of the OSCE parliamentary session.

Babitsky is not allowed to travel outside Moscow while he is under investigation by Russian authorities for his contacts with Chechen leaders.