Journalists attacked, harassed while covering anti-lockdown protests in Serbia
Berlin, July 9, 2020 – Serbian authorities should quickly and thoroughly investigate attacks on journalists covering anti-government protests in the country, and bring those responsible to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On July 7 and 8, demonstrators and police attacked at least 10 journalists who were documenting protests in Belgrade, the capital,…
Russian journalist Ivan Safronov charged with treason; journalists arrested at protests for his release
New York, July 8, 2020 – Russian authorities should release journalist Ivan Safronov immediately, drop the charges against him, and allow the press to cover his case freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, Russian Federal Security Service officers detained Safronov near his Moscow apartment and charged him with high treason for allegedly…
Kazakhstan decriminalizes defamation, but maintains detentions, criminal penalties for speech offenses
New York, July 8, 2020 — Kazakhstan authorities should deepen their reforms on laws affecting the press and ensure that journalists are never jailed for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On June 27, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed into law amendments to the country’s criminal and administrative codes that decriminalized defamation, according…
US intelligence community should explain document denial in Khashoggi case, CPJ lawsuit argues
The U.S. intelligence community should confirm or deny the existence of documents that may provide information on its awareness of threats to the life of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, the Committee to Protect Journalists argued in a brief submitted yesterday to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Khashoggi, a Saudi…
Bulgarian investigative journalist Nikolay Staykov receives threatening calls
Berlin, July 7, 2020—Bulgarian authorities should swiftly and thoroughly investigate the threatening phone calls made to journalist Nikolay Staykov, hold those responsible to account, and ensure his safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Since mid-June, Staykov, an independent journalist and co-founder of the Anti-Corruption Fund in Bulgaria, a local advocacy group, has received…
Russian court convicts, fines journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva in terrorism trial
Vilnius, Lithuania, July 6, 2020–In response to today’s conviction of Russian journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva on charges of “justifying terrorism,” over comments she made on liberal radio station Ekho Moskvy in November 2018, when she discussed a suicide bombing attack, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “We are relieved that Svetlana Prokopyeva will…
Turkish regulator censors Halk TV and TELE1 broadcasters for 5 days
Istanbul, July 1, 2020 – In response to an announcement today that Turkey’s broadcast regulator, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), would suspend the Halk TV and TELE1 pro-opposition television stations for five days, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “The Radio and Television Supreme Council should not function as a…
Russian journalists attacked, harassed while covering vote for Putin to remain in power
Vilnius, Lithuania, July 1, 2020 – Russian authorities should ensure that journalists are able to cover the country’s ongoing vote freely, and should refrain from harassing and detaining members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Since June 21, authorities have attacked, arrested, or harassed at least five journalists in the lead-up…
Belarusian authorities detain at least 6 bloggers since June 15
Vilnius, Lithuania, July 1, 2020 – Belarusian authorities should immediately release all journalists held for their work, and allow the press to cover the country’s upcoming elections without fear of prosecution, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Since June 15, authorities throughout the country have arrested at least six bloggers, according to news reports. Speaking…
Tajikistan parliament approves amendments imposing fines, detentions for ‘false news’ amid COVID-19 pandemic
New York, June 30, 2020 – Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon should not ratify proposed legal amendments that would threaten free expression in the country, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On June 26, the country’s National Assembly, its upper house of parliament, unanimously approved amendments to the country’s administrative code making it illegal to…