Europe & Central Asia
2019
Romanian investigative journalist Diana Oncioiu receives anonymous death threat
Berlin, June 13, 2019 — Romanian authorities should swiftly and thoroughly investigate the death threat against investigative journalist Diana Oncioiu and ensure her safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
CPJ Safety Advisory: Covering the European Games in Belarus
The second European Games is scheduled to take place in Minsk, Belarus, from June 21 to June 30. Local and international journalists covering the Games should be aware of media regulations, the potential for data theft, and the risk of a digital security breach.
Austrian politician Strache sues German newspapers over ‘Ibiza video’
Berlin, June 12, 2019 — German authorities should reject criminal complaints filed by former Austrian Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache against news outlets that published a video that led to his resignation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Police detain, allegedly beat Russian investigative journalist Ivan Golunov
New York, June 7, 2019 — Russian authorities should immediately drop all charges against investigative journalist Ivan Golunov, release him, and investigate allegations that he was beaten in police custody, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Croatian journalist Danijel Majić assaulted, harassed in Austria
Danijel Majić, a Croatian journalist working for German daily Frankfurter Rundschau, said he was physically and verbally assaulted by a Croatian TV presenter and members of the crowd in the Austrian city of Bleiburg on May 18, 2019, according to Majić’s newspaper. A Croatian publication later published photographs of Majić alongside other journalists who covered…
German draft legislation would enable intelligence agencies to spy on journalists
Berlin, June 7, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on the German Ministry of the Interior to drop draft legislation that would make it easier for intelligence services to surveil journalists and their sources.
Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week of June 2, 2019
German journalist accused of insulting president A prosecutor in Ankara has started an investigation into German journalist Süheyla Kaplan who is accused of “insulting” President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and terrorism propaganda, Deutsche Welle reported. Evidence cited against the journalist includes a political cartoon of the Turkey’s president that she shared on Twitter, social media post…
Russian video blogger Vadim Kharchenko attacked, injured in Krasnodar
New York, June 4, 2019–Russian authorities should conduct a swift and credible investigation into the brutal attack on video blogger Vadim Kharchenko in the southwestern city of Krasnodar and bring the perpetrators to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Polish court bans reporter Anna Wilk from journalism for 3 years in criminal libel suit
Berlin, June 4, 2019–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the conviction and sentence of journalist Anna Wilk in a criminal libel lawsuit in which she was sentenced on first instance for a fine and a three-year ban on practicing journalism.
Bulgarian reporter Hristo Geshov says he was briefly abducted; news outlets attack him
The Bulgarian freelance investigative journalist Hristo Geshov said he received threats and at least two news outlets published articles attacking him and shared explicit videos and photos of him after he reported on an allegedly illegal water supply and sewage system at the Chiflika resort complex in Troyan, central Bulgaria. He also said that unknown…