Kazakhstan authorities jail, question journalists in protest aftermath
Stockholm, January 20, 2022 – Authorities in Kazakhstan must stop jailing and summoning for questioning journalists who covered the recent nationwide protests, and allow the press to work freely, the Committee to Protest Journalists said today. Since January 7, Kazakh authorities have sentenced at least three journalists to periods of detention ranging from 10 to…
‘Nothing like this ever happened here before’: Journalists describe covering mass protests in Kazakhstan
The nationwide antigovernment protests that erupted in early January 2022 in Kazakhstan – which left 225 dead, according to official figures – upended the country’s reputation as one of Eurasia’s most stable authoritarian regimes. They also posed an enormous challenge to Kazakh journalists. Journalists working to cover the unrest were detained by riot police and…
Belarusian journalist Aliaksandr Ivulin sentenced to 2 years in prison for protest coverage
New York, January 19, 2022 – In response to the sentencing of Belarusian journalist Aliaksandr Ivulin to two years imprisonment on Wednesday, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement of condemnation: “Belarusian authorities should immediately and unconditionally release journalist Aliaksandr Ivulin and let all members of the press work freely and safely,” said…
Why the UN’s push for a cybercrime treaty could imperil journalists simply for using the internet
Cybercrime is on the global agenda as a United Nations committee appointed to develop a treaty on the topic plans for its first meeting amid pandemic-related delays. The process is slated to take at least two years, but experts warn that such a treaty – initially proposed by Russia – could hand new tools to…
Albanian riot police attack journalists covering demonstration
Berlin, January 18, 2022 — Albanian authorities should swiftly and thoroughly investigate police attacks on journalists covering a recent demonstration, hold those responsible to account, and ensure that reporters can cover events of public interest without fear of injury, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On January 8, in Tirana, the capital, hundreds of…
US Embassy in Bulgaria warns investigative journalist Atanas Tchobanov of ‘imminent threat’
Berlin, January 13, 2022 — Bulgarian authorities should swiftly and thoroughly investigate any threats against investigative journalist Atanas Tchobanov and ensure his safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On January 7, officials at the U.S. Embassy in Sofia, Bulgaria, notified Tchobanov, a reporter for Bulgarian investigative news websites Bivol and BIRD, that they…
Journalists detained, news crew attacked, as Kazakhstan state of emergency continues
Stockholm, January 10, 2022 – Kazakh authorities should ensure the ability of the country’s media to work freely and release detained journalist Lukpan Akhmedyarov. They should also fully investigate assaults on the country’s press, including an attack on a convoy that killed one Almaty TV employee and injured another and an arson attack on the…
Turkish journalist Rojhat Doğru sentenced to life in prison
Istanbul, January 10, 2022 – Turkish authorities should not contest journalist Rojhat Doğru’s appeal, and should cease sentencing members of the press to lengthy jail terms for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On January 6, the Eighth Diyarbakır Court of Serious Crimes sentenced Doğru, a Turkey-based camera operator who covered conflict…
Danish reporters summoned by police in national security leak investigation
Berlin, January 7, 2022 — Danish authorities should cease summoning members of the press and ensure that the media can report without legal intimidation, the Committee to Protect Journalist said today. On January 4, the National Unit for Special Crime summoned at least seven national security reporters as witnesses in a leak investigation, according to…
Turkish court issues suspended prison term to journalist Nazan Sala
Istanbul, January 7, 2022 – Turkish authorities should vacate the suspended prison term issued to journalist Nazan Sala and stop harassing reporters for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, the Fifth Van Court of Serious Crimes convicted Sala, a freelance reporter, of making propaganda for a terrorist organization and issued her…