2021
Nicaraguan journalist Wilih Narváez and family repeatedly harassed, threatened
Guatemala City, March 4, 2021 — Nicaraguan authorities must quickly and thoroughly investigate the harassment of journalist Wilih Narváez, ensure his safety, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On February 24, an unidentified man went to Narváez’s house in Managua, the capital, and yelled at the journalist’s mother…
Cambodia deports Chinese journalist Shen Kaidong for ‘fake news’ on COVID-19 vaccine sales
Bangkok, March 4, 2021 – Cambodian authorities should allow journalist Shen Kaidong to reenter the country and work freely, and should refrain from deporting members of the press over their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On February 24, authorities in the city of Siem Reap arrested Shen, a Chinese citizen and editor-in-chief…
Staff of Cuban press freedom group ICLEP lose internet service, fear targeted disruption
Miami, March 4, 2021 — Cuban authorities must ensure that journalists and staff at the Cuban Institute for Freedom of Expression and the Press (ICLEP) are able to access the internet, and should allow its journalists to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Since February 24, dozens of employees of ICLEP, a…
Georgian journalist Vakhtang Sanaia receives concussion from assault by 3 attackers
New York, March 3, 2021 – Georgian authorities should thoroughly investigate the attack on journalist Vakhtang Sanaia, and ensure that the perpetrators are held to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. In the early hours of February 25 in Tbilisi, the capital, three unidentified men attacked Vakhtang Sanaia, an anchor at the local…
Translators and journalists released without charge in Ethiopia
Nairobi, March 3, 2021 — In response to Ethiopian authorities’ decision today to release two media workers and two reporters who had been detained in relation to their coverage of the conflict in the northern state of Tigray, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “We welcome the release of the translators and…
Russian journalist Natalia Zubkova in hiding following attack, death threats
New York, March 3, 2021 – Russian authorities should immediately investigate the attack on journalist Natalia Zubkova, and ensure that the perpetrator is held accountable and the journalist can work safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. In the evening of February 25, an unidentified hooded man in dark clothes attacked and threatened Zubkova,…
Foreign correspondents in China face COVID-19 restrictions and expulsions, FCCC finds
The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China found that “media freedoms deteriorated significantly in 2020” in its annual report, released Monday. The report, titled “Track, Trace, Expel: Reporting on China Amid a Pandemic,” surveyed 150 club members representing news organizations from 30 countries and regions. In 2020, China used the COVID-19 pandemic to impose restrictions on…
Liberian journalists assaulted while covering senate election, sports tournament
On December 14, 2020, two supporters of Liberian senatorial candidate Botoe Kanneh beat up and threatened to kill Henry Bobo Gboluma, a reporter with the privately owned Local Voices Liberia news website, according to Gboluma, who spoke by phone with CPJ, and a report by his employer. Gboluma said he photographed the men at an…
Investigative journalist Visar Duriqi assaulted in Kosovo
Berlin, March 3, 2021 — Kosovo authorities should conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the assault of journalist Visar Duriqi and ensure his safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Shortly after midnight on February 25, three unidentified masked men attacked Duriqi, an investigative reporter for the local news website Insajderi, outside his…
At least 3 US reporters face court hearings on charges from 2020 coverage of protests and rallies
New York, March 3, 2021 – Local authorities in Iowa, Massachusetts, and North Carolina should drop all charges against journalists who were arrested while doing their jobs, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. This month, three journalists who are facing charges are scheduled to appear in court in relation to their coverage of protests…