Europe & Central Asia

Contact CPJ Europe & Central Asia

Facebook: CPJ ECA Desk
Program Coordinator:
Gulnoza Said

Researcher:
Anna Brakha

Tel: 212-465-1004
Fax: 212-214-0640

Knight Foundation Press Freedom Center
P.O. Box 2675
New York, NY 10108 USA

  

Albanian PM accused of trying to intimidate journalist Ambrozia Meta

Berlin, March 27, 2024—Albanian government officials must stop undermining press freedom by using abusive language and intimidating behavior against journalists who ask critical questions, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday.  CPJ’s statement follows an exchange documented in video footage and media reports between journalist Ambrozia Meta and Prime Minister Edi Rama at a March…

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The Berlaymont building, headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium, in 2022.

CPJ joins call for EU to prioritize rule of law

CPJ joined 38 other civil society organizations on Wednesday in calling on the European Commission to strengthen its fifth annual rule of law report, which assesses media freedom in European Union member states. With Europe due to vote from June 6 to 9, the 39 groups also called on the new European Commission to prioritize…

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Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich stands in a glass cage in Russia's Moscow City Court on March 26, 2024.

After fifth detention extension, CPJ renews call for Russia to release US journalist Evan Gershkovich

New York, March 26, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Russia to immediately release U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich following Tuesday’s court decision to extend his pretrial detention until June 30, 2024. “CPJ strongly condemns the three-month extension of Evan Gershkovich’s detention, just days before the one-year anniversary of his arrest on fabricated charges. Today’s…

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Stella Assange, the wife of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, speaks to the media, following a ruling on whether Julian Assange can appeal against extradition from Britain to the United States, in London, Britain, March 26, 2024.

CPJ welcomes UK High Court’s delay on Assange extradition, calls on US to drop charges

Washington, D.C., March 26, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the British High Court’s Tuesday ruling, which could allow Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to contest his extradition to the United States. According to the court’s decision, the U.S. government has three weeks to give assurances that Assange will be able to rely on First Amendment…

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Belarusian journalist Ihar Karnei sentenced to 3 years in prison on extremism charges

New York, March 22, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the sentencing on Friday of Belarusian journalist Ihar Karnei to three years in prison and a fine of 20,000 rubles (US$6,115) on charges of participating in an extremist group. “It took three days for the Belarusian authorities to send Ihar Karnei to prison for three…

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Russian journalist Igor Kuznetsov was recently detained for allegedly organizing protests.

Russian journalist Igor Kuznetsov given 3-year suspended sentence, remains behind bars

New York, March 22, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists on Friday condemned the three-year suspended sentence issued to Russian journalist Igor Kuznetsov for participating in an extremist group and called on authorities to release him immediately and drop all charges against him. On Wednesday, a court in the Russian capital, Moscow, gave Kuznetsov, a reporter…

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Spanish journalist Xavier Colás denied visa renewal, expelled from Russia

New York, March 22, 2024—Russian authorities must reconsider their decision to not renew the visa of Spanish journalist Xavier Colás and allow him to work freely in the country, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Wednesday, Spanish daily newspaper El Mundo reported that Russian authorities refused to renew Colás’ visa, the outlet’s longtime correspondent in…

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Andrei Tolchyn

Belarusian court sentences camera operator Andrei Tolchyn to 2.5 years

New York, March 21, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for journalist Andrei Tolchyn’s immediate release after a Belarusian court on Thursday sentenced him to 2.5 years in prison for facilitating extremism and defaming President Aleksandr Lukashenko. “The 2.5 year prison sentence handed to journalist Andrei Tolchyn on unfounded charges is yet another demonstration of…

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Spanish official threatens and doxxes journalists at 2 news outlets after corruption exposé

Berlin, March 21, 2024—Spanish authorities must conduct a swift, thorough, and transparent investigation into threats against and harassment of elDiario.es news website and El País newspaper and their journalists by an aide to Madrid’s regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso, after elDiario.es published allegations of corruption involving the conservative leader’s partner, the Committee to Protect Journalists…

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Russia jails journalist over plane crash coverage, detains another during election

New York, March 19, 2024—Russian authorities must drop all charges against journalist Sergey Kustov, release him, and stop prosecuting the press to stifle their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On Monday, a court sentenced Kustov, chief editor of local broadcaster Bars, to 10 days imprisonment on charges of disobeying a police officer,…

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