2021
Brazilian journalist Diego Santos receives envelope with threat and bullets
Rio de Janeiro, April 8, 2021 – Brazilian authorities should promptly and thoroughly investigate the threat made to journalist Diego Santos and ensure his safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On the morning of April 1, Santos checked the mailbox outside his home in the city of Boa Vista, the capital of the…
Russian RFE/RL journalist Daria Komarova faces 3 trials over protest coverage
Vilnius, Lithuania, April 8, 2021 — Russian authorities should drop all charges against journalist Daria Komarova and allow her and other members of the press to cover protests without fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, the Leninsky district court in Cheboksary, the capital of the central Russian republic of Chuvashia, held…
CPJ joins open letter calling on Brazilian Congressional leaders to protect press freedom
The Committee to Protect Journalists today joined seven Brazilian and international press freedom organizations in publishing an open letter addressed to Rodrigo Pacheco, president of Brazil’s Federal Senate, and Arthur Lira, president of the Chamber of Deputies, calling on Congressional leaders to protect press freedom and journalist safety in the country. The letter, published today to…
Colombian Supreme Court confirms defamation conviction of journalist Vicky Dávila, RCN
Miami, April 7, 2021 — In response to a recent decision by the Labor Cassation Chamber of the Colombian Supreme Court confirming the defamation conviction of journalist Vicky Dávila Hoyos and media outlet RCN, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “It is troubling that the Colombian Supreme Court confirmed the damages imposed…
Nigerian governor threatens to ‘deal with’ journalists who covered 2018 corruption case
On March 19, 2021, Abdullahi Ganduje, the governor of Nigeria’s northern Kano state, said in an interview with the BBC’s Hausa-language service that he planned to “deal with” journalists who produced a 2018 series of videos published by the privately owned Daily Nigerian news website, which alleged that he had received bribes. “We are making…
Radio Capital FM journalists face criminal defamation investigation in Guinea-Bissau
Lisbon, April 7, 2021 — Authorities in Guinea-Bissau should drop their criminal defamation investigation into the privately owned broadcaster Radio Capital FM and two of its journalists, and reform its defamation laws, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On February 9, the public prosecutor’s office issued a summons to Radio Capital FM asking for…
CPJ calls on Energy Transfer to drop subpoenas to Unicorn Riot, journalist Niko Georgiades
New York, April 7, 2021—Energy Transfer, the U.S. based company which partially owns the Dakota Access Pipeline, should immediately withdraw its subpoenas seeking unpublished reporting material from U.S. nonprofit media collective Unicorn Riot and from the organization’s reporter, Niko Georgiades, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The two subpoenas, filed with a Minnesota district court on…
Peruvian journalist Carlos Alberto Tafur receives death threat after reporting on local corruption
Bogotá, April 6, 2021 – Peruvian authorities must swiftly and thoroughly investigate the death threat received by journalist Carlos Alberto Tafur and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On March 29, an unidentified man sent a voice message to Tafur, host of the daily “Señal Informativa Digital” news and…
CPJ joins call for Moroccan authorities to release journalist Omar Radi, ensure fair trial
Yesterday, CPJ and 14 other civil society groups urged Moroccan authorities to release Le Desk investigative reporter Omar Radi, who has been in pretrial detention since his arrest on July 29, 2020, and to ensure that he receives a fair trial. Radi’s trial on charges of sexual assault and undermining state security was set to begin today, but the main…
Congolese security forces threaten 2 radio stations over reports on military abuse
Dakar, April 6, 2021 — Congolese authorities must ensure the safety of journalists at the privately owned broadcaster Radio Télé Communautaire Babombi (RTCB) and the community broadcaster Radio Communautaire Amkeni Biakato (RCAB), and should refrain from threatening them over their reporting, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Security forces have repeatedly threatened and intimidated…