March 2020 - Committee to Protect Journalists

Police officers wield batons against a man for breaking lockdown rules after India ordered a 21-day nationwide lockdown to limit the spreading of coronavirus in New Delhi, India, on March 25, 2020. On March 31, the Indian Supreme Court denied a government request for prior censorship of coronavirus news. (Reuters/Adnan Abidi)

Indian Supreme Court denies government request for prior censorship of COVID-19 news

March 31, 2020 5:41 PM EDT

New Delhi, March 31, 2020 – The Indian government should stop trying to censor news coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

A man reads newspapers in Tehran, Iran, on January 4, 2020. The country recently banned all newspaper printing and distribution, citing fears of spreading COVID-19. (AP/Vahid Salemi)

Iran bans printing of all newspapers, citing spread of coronavirus

March 31, 2020 4:50 PM EDT

Washington, D.C., March 31, 2020 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today expressed concern over Iranian authorities’ decision to suspend all newspaper printing and distribution in the country, where newsgathering and distribution is already tightly restricted.

Journalist Azimjon Askarov has been imprisoned in Kyrgyzstan since 2010 on trumped-up charges. Photo provided by Askarov's family.

Kyrgyz president must release journalist Azimjon Askarov amid COVID-19 epidemic

March 31, 2020 4:49 PM EDT

CPJ today joined eight other human rights and press freedom organizations to call for the immediate release of journalist and human rights defender Azimjon Askarov, who has been serving a life sentence in retaliation for his reporting since June 2010.

A police officer is seen at a roadblock in Lagos, Nigeria, on March 31, 2020. The Nigerian government recently imposed restrictions on journalists' movement and access to stem the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP/Sunday Alamba)

Nigeria restricts journalist movement and access, citing coronavirus

March 31, 2020 4:09 PM EDT

Abuja, March 31, 2020 — Authorities in Nigeria must ensure that measures taken to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic do not prevent journalists from covering the news freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Governor Wanda Vazquez and National Guard general Jose Reyes tour screening stations established to detect the new coronavirus on arriving passengers at the Luis MuÃ±oz Marin Airport in Carolina, Puerto Rico, on March 16, 2020. Reporter Bárbara Figueroa Rosa described the challenges of covering Puerto Rico’s coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti)

Reporter Bárbara Figueroa Rosa on covering Puerto Rico’s coronavirus outbreak

March 31, 2020 3:52 PM EDT

In the three years since Hurricane Maria hit the island, Puerto Rico has experienced a financial, political, and public health crisis, but reporter Bárbara Figueroa Rosa told CPJ that these events “have no comparison” to the impact the coronavirus pandemic could have on the U.S. territory.

A medical worker is seen in Minsk, Belarus, on March 13, 2020. Journalist Siarhei Satsuk was recently detained on bribery charges after publishing reporting on COVID-19. (AP/Sergei Grits)

Belarusian journalist Siarhei Satsuk detained on bribery charges after publishing COVID-19 report

March 31, 2020 2:55 PM EDT

Vilnius, Lithuania, March 31, 2020 – Belarusian authorities should immediately release journalist Siarhei Satsuk and drop all charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Journalist Igor Rudnikov is seen in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on June 17, 2019. Rudnikov was released from prison last year, but has faced opposition from local Kaliningrad officials and is struggling to continue publishing his paper. (AFP/Olga Maltseva)

For Russia’s Igor Rudnikov, coronavirus makes fight with Kaliningrad even tougher

March 31, 2020 2:30 PM EDT

Igor Rudnikov is the editor-in-chief of the independent Novye Kolyosa newspaper, based in the western Russian city of Kaliningrad. In 2017, agents from Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) arrested Rudnikov over his paper’s reporting, as CPJ documented at the time.

Voice of Myanmar editor-in-chief Ko Nay Lin is escorted by police to court in Mandalay, Myanmar, on March 31, 2020. He is facing life in prison on terrorism charges for his reporting. (AFP/Zaw Zaw)

Myanmar editor faces life in prison for publishing interview with insurgent group

March 31, 2020 12:15 PM EDT

Bangkok, March 31, 2020 — Myanmar authorities should immediately release journalist Ko Nay Lin and drop all charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is seen in The Villages, Florida, on March 23, 2020. Authorities at the Florida State Capitol recently barred journalist Mary Ellen Klas from attending a news briefing by DeSantis. (AP/John Raoux)

Reporter denied access to Florida governor’s briefing on COVID-19

March 30, 2020 4:15 PM EDT

Washington, D.C., March 30, 2020 — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis should allow reporters to safely cover his news briefings, and not penalize journalists who seek to follow public health guidance on social distancing, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Police are seen outside Stockholm, Sweden, on October 5, 2019. Exiled Pakistani journalist Sajid Hussain Baloch recently went missing in Sweden. (Reuters/Anna Ringstrom)

Exiled Pakistani journalist Sajid Hussain Baloch goes missing in Sweden

March 30, 2020 2:00 PM EDT

Washington, D.C., March 30, 2020 — Swedish authorities should make every effort to locate missing journalist Sajid Hussain Baloch and ensure his safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.