Europe & Central Asia

Journalists will be central targets of the extensive surveillance program introduced by Russian authorities in Sochi in connection with the 2014 Winter Olympic Games that begin February 7.

CPJ report looks at restrictions on news coverage in run-up to Winter Games New York, January 28, 2014–Obstruction by Russian authorities and journalists’ self-censorship in a repressive climate have restricted news coverage of sensitive issues related to the Sochi Winter Olympics, the Committee to Protect Journalists found in a report released today.

New York, January 22, 2014–Dozens of journalists were attacked, and their equipment damaged, while reporting on anti-government protests that began over the weekend in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, according to local and international news reports. The protests come as the government has approved new legislation imposing restrictions on the media.

Upcoming report looks at restrictions on news coverage in run-up to Winter Games New York, January 16, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists will release a special report on press freedom conditions leading up to the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

New York, January 14, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned by reports that veteran U.S. journalist David Satter has been banned from Russia for five years. Satter, adviser to the U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and former Moscow correspondent for the Financial Times, told CPJ that the Russian foreign ministry told him to leave…

An explosive device detonated outside the office of Mihailo Jovović, chief editor of Vijesti (News), in the capital, Podgorica, regional and international press reported. No one was injured in the attack, but the explosion shattered the newsroom windows and damaged the building.

New York, January 8, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the news that three abducted journalists in Syria have been freed this week. The Swedish Foreign Ministry confirmed today that freelance Swedish journalists Magnus Falkehed and Niclas Hammarstrom, both of whom were abducted in November, were released. On Sunday, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said Turkish…

End-of-year Impact As 2013 draws to a close, CPJ looks back on the highlights of the year, when we stepped in and advocated for journalists and news outlets at risk around the world. Thank you for all you have done to support us, and please continue to join us in our important work.

The conflict in Syria, a spike in Iraqi bloodshed, and political violence in Egypt accounted for the high number of journalists killed on the job in 2013. A CPJ special report by Elana Beiser