US-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva sentenced to 6½ years in secret trial
New York, July 22, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemns Friday’s sentencing of U.S.-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva to 6½ years in prison on charges of spreading “fake” news about the Russian army. “Russia’s appalling assault on the media continues to escalate with the secret sentencing of Alsu Kurmasheva,” said CPJ Director of Advocacy and Communications Gypsy…
In Venezuela, restrictions and self-censorship limit coverage of opposition ahead of election
Antonio Di Giampaolo has hosted his popular radio news program En el Aire, Spanish for “On the Air,” for nearly 40 years. On May 17, Di Giampaolo planned to broadcast an interview with opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González, but executives at the station Éxitos 93.1 FM in the western city of Maracay nixed the plan with no explanation, according to the journalist. “I had…
Urgent appeal to UN says journalist José Rubén Zamora was tortured, should be freed
Mexico City, July 18, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists supports the urgent appeal filed to U.N. officials by an international legal team on behalf of Guatemalan investigative journalist José Rubén Zamora, who the appeal says has been wrongfully imprisoned since 2022 and held in conditions “that amount to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading…
CPJ calls on US to investigate threats against exiled Cuban journalist
Miami, July 12, 2024—Miami-based Cuban journalist José Jasán Nieves Cárdenas, told the Committee to Protect Journalists that he received a threatening text message on June 21 from an unknown number with an Ecuadorian country code, which said, “we know exactly where to find you” and included a photo and video of a car driving past…
Mexican journalist Victor Morales found dead on highway
Mexico City, July 11, 2024—Mexican authorities must credibly investigate the killing of journalist Víctor Alfonso Culebro Morales, apprehend those responsible, and determine whether he was targeted for his work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. The body of Morales, founder and editor of the Facebook-based news site Realidades, was found on the side of…
Cuban police detain, threaten journalist José Luis Tan Estrada ahead of July 11 anniversary
Miami, July 9, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Cuban authorities to allow the media to report freely on July 11 demonstrations, following threats made against independent journalist José Luis Tan Estrada to deter him from covering the anniversary of the massive 2021 protests. Tan Estrada said on Facebook that he was in a…
UN group says detention of Guatemalan journalist Zamora violates international law
Mexico City, July 2, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention’s Monday declaration that the continued imprisonment of Guatemalan investigative journalist José Rubén Zamora is arbitrary and in violation of international law. CPJ echoes the group’s call for Zamora’s immediate release. “The U.N. Working Group’s acknowledgment of José…
CPJ welcomes investigation of prosecutor linked to murder case of journalist Garry Tesse
New York, July 1, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the Thursday decision by Carlos Hercule, Haiti’s Minister of Justice and Public Security, to place Ronald Richemond, the federal prosecutor of the city of Les Cayes, on leave until further notice. CPJ has reported on allegations linking Richemond to the murder of Haitian radio journalist…
Guide to legal rights in the U.S.
The Committee to Protect Journalists is responding to the needs of journalists in the United States as they face a range of challenges, from confrontations with law enforcement at demonstrations to raids on newspaper offices, and learn to navigate what has become an increasingly hostile environment for many in the media. The following advice and recommendations are intended to give the…
US journalist Evan Gershkovich faces 20-year sentence as trial begins in Russia
New York, June 26, 2024—As the closed-door trial of U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich opened in a Russian court on Wednesday, the Committee to Protect Journalists denounced it as a travesty of justice and renewed its call for the journalist’s immediate release. “U.S. reporter Evan Gershkovich goes on trial today after nearly 15 months of unjust…