CPJ calls on Kyrgyzstan authorities to allow RFE/RL’s Radio Azattyk to work freely after shutdown reversal
Stockholm, July 12, 2023— The Committee to Protect Journalists says it is relieved by Wednesday’s decision by a Kyrgyzstan appeals court to annul a lower court ruling ordering the closure of Radio Azattyk, the local service of U.S. Congress-funded broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. “We are relieved by the reversal of Kyrgyz authorities’ decision to…
Terrorism trial of 17 Kurdish journalists, media worker begins in Turkey
Diyarbakır, July 11, 2023—In response to Tuesday’s opening of the trial of 17 Kurdish journalists and a media worker on terrorism charges in a court in Diyarbakır, Turkey, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “Turkish authorities must immediately release the defendants and drop the terrorism charges, which are solely based on their…
Kazakh journalist Amangeldy Batyrbekov sentenced to 20 days’ detention for defamation
Stockholm, July 10, 2023—Kazakhstan authorities should release journalist Amangeldy Batyrbekov and reform the country’s laws to remove prison sentences for defamation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On July 3, the Saryagash District Specialized Administrative Court in Kazakhstan’s southern Turkestan region sentenced Batyrbekov, chief editor of local independent newspaper S-Inform, to 20 days’ administrative…
Belarusian journalist Andrey Famin sentenced to 7 years in prison
New York, July 7, 2023—In response to a Belarusian court sentencing journalist Andrey Famin to seven years in prison, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement of condemnation: “The seven-year prison sentence handed down to Belarusian journalist Andrey Famin for his alleged involvement in a low-profile network of regional newspapers is proof that…
New Belarusian media law allows for bans on foreign media
New York, July 6, 2023—In response to Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko signing into law of a bill strengthening control on the media on Saturday, July 1, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “Belarus’ new media law translates long-standing arbitrary practices of silencing dissent and independent reporting into the legal sphere,” said Carlos…
Journalist Elena Milashina severely beaten in Chechnya
New York, July 4, 2023—In response to Tuesday’s attack on journalist Elena Milashina and lawyer Aleksandr Nemov in the Russian republic of Chechnya, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “The brutal and shocking assault of Russian journalist Elena Milashina and lawyer Aleksandr Nemov in Chechnya serves as yet another reminder of the…
Belarusian journalist Pavel Padabed sentenced to 4 years in prison
New York, June 30, 2023—In response to a Belarusian court sentencing journalist Pavel Padabed to four years in prison on Friday, June 30, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “The sentencing of Belarusian journalist Pavel Padabed to four years’ imprisonment after a hasty two-day trial is a travesty of justice,” said Gulnoza…
CPJ Safety Advisory: Covering anti-police protests in France
Violent protests have spread across France and Belgium following the fatal shooting of a 17-old teenager by police during a traffic stop in the Paris suburb of Nanterre on Tuesday, June 27. Skirmishes between police and protestors have been reported in cities including Lille, Toulouse, Marseille, Lyon, Pau, Montpellier, and the Belgian capital of Brussels….
Azerbaijan police detain, beat journalists covering environmental protest
Stockholm, June 30, 2023—Azerbaijan authorities must ensure journalists can cover protests without obstruction and should investigate reports of police violence against members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. Since June 22, Azerbaijani police have detained, beaten, threatened, or otherwise obstructed the work of at least six journalists reporting on environmental protests…
Protesters throw stones at 5 TV crews covering protests in northern Kosovo
On June 16, 2023, a group of between 15 and 20 protesters threw stones at and chased five ethnic Albanian news crews in the northern Kosovo town of Leposavic, forcing them to flee and abandon their reporting. The news crews worked for Kosovo public broadcaster RTK and private TV stations Tëvë1, RTV Dukagjini, Klan Kosova,…