Europe & Central Asia

Contact CPJ Europe & Central Asia

Facebook: CPJ ECA Desk
Program Coordinator:
Gulnoza Said

Researcher:
Anna Brakha

Tel: 212-465-1004
Fax: 212-214-0640

Knight Foundation Press Freedom Center
P.O. Box 2675
New York, NY 10108 USA

  

CPJ, partners alarmed after Slovak Prime Minister sues journalist, publisher

The Committee to Protect Journalists joined seven partner organizations in a statement on Friday, October 4, 2024, condemning legal action taken by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico against Peter Bárdy, the editor-in-chief of the news website Aktuality and the outlet’s publisher, Ringier Slovak Media. The statement called on the court to dismiss the case. The…

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Mission to Georgia

CPJ, partners’ mission to Georgia finds ‘climate of fear’ ahead of elections

On October 1-2, the Committee to Protect Journalists joined eight partner organizations of the Council of Europe’s Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists and members of the Media Freedom Rapid Response consortium on a fact-finding mission to Georgia, ahead of the country’s October 26 parliamentary elections. The mission met with civil…

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Abzas Media's Mahammad Kekalov, (left) Sevinj Vagifgizi, Elnara Gasimova, Ulvi Hasanli, Hafiz Babali, and Nargiz Absalamova.

Azerbaijan extends pretrial detention of 11 journalists ahead of COP29

New York, October 4, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the extended pretrial detentions of 11 journalists in recent weeks, and calls on Azerbaijani authorities to release them ahead of the COP29 climate conference in November. “The continued incarceration of 11 journalists from Azerbaijan’s last remaining critical media outlets cynically ensures that the country’s boldest…

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Ukrainian soldier

CPJ urges Russia to drop charges against journalists accused of ‘illegal’ border crossing

Berlin, October 3, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Russian authorities to stop harassing international reporters after the Federal Security Service (FSB) filed criminal charges against three journalists on September 27 for allegedly crossing the Russian border illegally from Ukraine. The criminal cases have been initiated against Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Europe correspondent Kathryn…

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Death threat sent to Serbian news agency Tanjug over Kosovo reporting

New York, October 2, 2024 — The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Serbian authorities to swiftly complete their investigation into a death threat emailed to journalists at the privately owned news agency Tanjug over its reporting on Kosovo, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. Authorities said they suspect the threat came from Albania….

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Georgian far right parties and their supporters hold a banner that reads, "No to LGBT darkness," in front of parliament during a rally against Pride Week in Tbilisi, Georgia, in 2022.

CPJ, partners condemn Georgian bill banning LGBTQ+ content

The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 22 other organizations advocating for press freedom on Monday in condemning Georgia’s Family Values Bill that would ban broadcasters from reporting on LGBTQ+ issues. The bill would fine broadcasters who air content that promotes LGBTQ+ gender identification and relationships. Georgian press freedom advocates say state authorities often use legislation…

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Temirov Live journalists

Kyrgyzstan prosecutors seek 6-year prison terms for 11 investigative journalists

New York, September 26, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Kyrgyz authorities to drop the prosecution against 11 current and former staff of anti-corruption investigative outlet Temirov Live and release those in detention, after prosecutors on Thursday requested 6-year prison sentences for the journalists on charges of calling for mass unrest. “The conviction of…

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The Council of Europe logo in Strasbourg, France in 2022.

CPJ, others: Council of Europe must push Azerbaijan on abuses

CPJ joined 10 other civil society organizations on Wednesday in urging the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to further pressure Azerbaijan over its “grave human rights situation” and to stop its crackdown on critical voices. In January, PACE voted to exclude Azerbaijan’s delegation because the country had not “fulfilled major commitments” on…

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The new charges against Nikalayevich are believed to be related to his coverage of the 2020 Minsk protests calling for President Aleksandr Lukashenko (pictured here in February 2024) to resign. (Photo: Belarusian Presidential Press Service via AP)

Belarus detains journalist Yauhen Nikalayevich ahead of trial

New York, September 23, 2024—Belarusian authorities should disclose their reason for detaining journalist Yauhen Nikalayevich ahead of his September 26 trial on charges of violating public order in the southwestern city of Pinsk, and ensure that no journalists are jailed because of their work, said the Committee to Protect Journalist on Monday.  “Journalist Yauhen Nikalayevich’s detention, despite a spate…

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Rabia Önver

Turkey investigates Kurdish journalist for ‘spreading disinformation’ over crime reporting

Istanbul, September 23, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists urged the Turkish authorities on Monday to drop the disinformation investigation into Rabia Önver, a reporter for the pro-Kurdish news website JİNNEWS, and stop using house raids to harass journalists. “The police raid of JİNNEWS reporter Rabia Önver’s house was completely unjustified for an alleged disinformation investigation…

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