Europe & Central Asia

  

Slovenian reporter Eugenija Carl receives threatening letter with white powder

Berlin, June 8, 2020 — Slovenian authorities should conduct a quick and thorough investigation into the threats against journalist Eugenija Carl and ensure her safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On June 1, Carl, a reporter for public broadcaster RTV Slovenia, received an envelope mailed to her work address in the city of…

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Journalists in protective gear

Amid COVID-19, the prognosis for press freedom is dim. Here are 10 symptoms to track

By Katherine Jacobsen The COVID-19 pandemic has sent public health officials scrambling, the global economy into shock, and governments everywhere into crisis. It has also reshaped the way journalists work, not least because many authorities in many countries have cited the contagion as a reason to crack down on the news media. Certain dangers will…

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Map: Attacks on press freedom during the COVID-19 pandemic

Updated June 22, 2021 CPJ has documented numerous press freedom violations since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, from legislation threatening to censor free speech to arrests of journalists providing the public with vital news about the virus. This map plots violations, verified by CPJ staff, across nearly every region of the world from early…

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UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres speaks to the press in Biarritz, France, on August 26, 2019, during the annual G7 Summit. (AFP/Ludovic Marin)

UN Secretary General responds to #FreeThePress campaign call to action

In a letter this week to the partners of the 2020 #FreeThePress campaign, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres emphasized that freedom of the press and the safety of journalists remains a key priority for him, stressing that, “No democracy can function without press freedom, which is the cornerstone of trust between people and their institutions,…

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Police officers are seen in Sofia, Bulgaria, April 17, 2020. Police recently journalist Dimiter Petzov for alleged drug posession after searching his car. (Reuters/Stoyan Nenov)

Bulgarian investigative journalist arrested for drug possession days after filing information request

Berlin, May 21, 2020 — Bulgarian authorities should immediately drop all charges against journalist Dimiter Petzov and let him work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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A police car is seen in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on March 26, 2020. CPJ recently joined a statement calling on the region's police and politicians to thoroughly investigate threats made against journalists. (Reuters/Jason Cairnduff)

CPJ joins call condemning threats against journalists in Northern Ireland

The Committee to Protect Journalists today joined 20 free expression groups, activist organizations, and journalists in a joint statement condemning recent threats against journalists working for the Sunday Life and Sunday World newspapers in Northern Ireland.

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The European Commission headquarters is seen in Brussels, Belgium, on April 23, 2020. CPJ recently joined a joint letter to the EU calling for reform of the group's defamation law. (Reuters/Johanna Geron)

CPJ joins call for reform of EU defamation law

The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 25 other press freedom organizations today in sending a joint letter to the European Commission calling for reforms to European Union law on defamation.

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Soldiers are seen in Minsk, Belarus, on April 9, 2020. Security forces recently arrested five journalists for their coverage of an opposition candidate. (Reuters/Vasily Fedosenko)

Belarus jails 5 journalists over coverage of opposition candidate

Vilnius, Lithuania, May 15, 2020 — Belarusian authorities should immediately release the journalists detained over their coverage of the country’s political opposition, and let the press work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Police officers are seen in Diyarbakir, Turkey, on April 9, 2020. Authorities recently charged seven journalists over their coverage of an intelligence officer's death. (Reuters/Sertac Kayar)

Turkey charges 7 journalists over coverage of intelligence agent’s death

Istanbul, May 13, 2020 – Turkish authorities must release journalists detained for their coverage of an intelligence officer and drop all charges against them, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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The Kyrgyzstan Supreme Court today upheld journalist and human rights defender Azimjon Askarov’s life sentence in prison. (Photo: Askarov family)

CPJ condemns Kyrgyz supreme court decision upholding Azimjon Askarov’s life sentence

New York, May 13, 2020 – In response to today’s decision by Kyrgyzstan’s Supreme Court to uphold journalist and human rights defender Azimjon Askarov’s life sentence and deny his final appeal, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement:

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