Europe & Central Asia

  
People are seen outside a bank in Istanbul, Turkey, on April 21, 2020. Turkey recently passed a financial regulation that may restrict economic reporting. (AFP/Ozan Kose)

New finance regulation threatens economic reporting in Turkey

Istanbul, May 11, 2020 — Turkish authorities should revise a recently passed financial regulation to ensure that it cannot be used against journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Read More ›

Security guards are seen in Borisov, Belarus, on April 24, 2020. Belarus recently cancelled the accreditations for two journalists covering COVID-19. (Reuters/Vasily Fedosenko)

Belarus cancels 2 journalists’ accreditations after covering COVID-19 deaths

Vilnius, Lithuania, May 8, 2020 – Belarusian authorities should reinstate the accreditations of journalists Aleksey Kruchinin and Sergey Panasyuk and allow them to report freely and safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Read More ›

A National Guard officer is seen in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on March 26, 2020. CPJ recently spoke with several people close to imprisoned journalists in Europe and Central Asia about the challenges of observing Ramadan behind bars. (AFP/Vyacheslav Oseledko)

COVID-19 lockdowns pose challenges for imprisoned journalists observing Ramadan

This year, the Islamic month of Ramadan, which started on April 24 and will continue through May 23, is particularly challenging for Muslim journalists in jail to observe safely, their family members and friends told CPJ.

Read More ›

A police car is seen in Milan, Italy, on May 4, 2020. Unidentified attackers recently shot at Italian journalist Mario De Michele’s home. (AFP/Miguel Medina)

Unidentified attackers open fire on Italian journalist Mario De Michele’s home

Berlin, May 7, 2020 — Italian authorities must conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the shooting attack at the home of journalist Mario De Michele and ensure his safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Read More ›

Law enforcement officers are seen in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on March 26, 2020. CPJ recently joined a letter expressing concern over media restrictions in the country. (Reuters/Vladimir Pirogov)

CPJ joins letter expressing concern about Kyrgyzstan media restrictions during pandemic

CPJ and 23 other members of IFEX, a global network of free expression organizations, sent a letter yesterday expressing concern over the press freedom implications of Kyrgyzstan’s COVID-19 state of emergency, which has been in place since March 22.

Read More ›

CPJ, 192 partner organizations urge UN Secretary General to take action to secure release of jailed journalists amid COVID-19

The #FreeThePress campaign, made up of 193 press freedom and human rights organizations and the more than 11,337 concerned citizens who signed the petition, urges the UN secretary general to take immediate action to secure the release of journalists jailed around the world whose lives are risk due to the spread of COVID-19.

Read More ›

CPJ leads call to Maltese Attorney General asking for Europol support for murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia

CPJ leads a joint call to Peter Grech, the Maltese Attorney General, asking for increased Europol support in the legal proceedings of murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Read More ›

A courthouse is seen in Istanbul, Turkey, on December 11, 2019. An Istanbul court recently filed charges against journalist Fatih Portakal. (AFP/Ozan Kose)

Turkish journalist Fatih Portakal charged for tweet about president’s speech

Istanbul, April 30, 2020 – Turkish authorities should drop the charges against journalist Fatih Portakal and allow him to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Read More ›

Russian journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva spoke with CPJ about facing terrorism charges for her reporting. (Artiom Avanesov)

Russian journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva says charges against her are ‘an act of intimidation’

In February 2019, police in Pskov, in northwestern Russia, raided the home of journalist Svetlana Prokopyeva.

Read More ›

A picture taken on May 5, 2019, shows flags during the open day marking the 70th Anniversary of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France. (AFP/Frederick Florin)

Council of Europe report finds attacks on journalists becoming a ‘new normal’

The Council of Europe Platform for the Protection of Journalism and the Safety of Journalists today published its annual report, “Hands off Press Freedom.”

Read More ›