Europe & Central Asia

  
After a violent assault by masked protesters, journalist José Ismael Martínez reaches riot police for protection during clashes in Pamplona on October 30, 2025.

Masked protesters attack Spanish journalist during clashes with police

Berlin, November 3, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists urges Spanish authorities to swiftly identify and prosecute those responsible for the attack on reporter José Ismael Martínez while he was covering clashes between police and far-left protesters in Pamplona on October 30 2025. A group of five or six hooded individuals surrounded Martínez as he was…

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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attends a meeting in Russia in December 2024.

Belarusian court sentences journalist Siarhei Chabotska to 3 ½ years in prison

New York, October 31, 2025—Belarusian authorities should immediately release journalist Siarhei Chabotska, and stop jailing journalists for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. A Belarusian court convicted Chabotska on charges of creating or participating in an “extremist” group and defaming the president of Belarus, and sentenced him to three years and six months imprisonment on October…

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Reporter Ibrahim Naber was part of a WELT crew hit by a drone on October 13, 2025. All three men suffered minor injuries.

Russian drone attacks German TV crew reporting in Ukraine

New York, October 29, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for a thorough investigation into a recent Russian attack in Ukraine, which wounded Ivan Zakharenko, a local producer with German media group WELT.  “The Russian attack on WELT journalists, which injured Ukrainian producer Ivan Zakharenko, is yet another illustration of the extraordinary risks journalists face while…

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Kyrgystan has labeled CPJ’s 2025 International Press Freedom Award winner Bolot Temirov as “extremist” in an attempt to stifle anticorruption reporting into the top echelons of Kyrgyzstan’s government.

Kyrgyzstan declares investigative outlets Kloop and Temirov Live ‘extremist’

New York, October 28, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for the reversal of an October 27 court decision in Kyrgyzstan declaring the publications of investigative outlets Temirov Live and Kloop “extremist.” The same decision has designated the activity of CPJ’s 2025 International Press Freedom Award winner and Temirov Live founder Bolot Temirov, and Kloop founder Rinat Tuhvatshin, as “extremist.”…

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An Istanbul court arrested TELE1 Merdan Yanardağ as part of a political “espionage” investigation in which the imprisoned Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, seen here, is also a suspect.

Turkey seizes control of critical broadcaster TELE1, arrests editor-in-chief 

Istanbul, October 27, 2025—Turkish authorities should release TELE1 editor-in-chief Merdan Yanardağ and withdraw the order to assign a trustee to seize control of the outlet, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. Istanbul police detained Yanardağ on October 24, and on October 27, a court arrested him pending trial as part of a political “espionage” investigation in which the imprisoned Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu is…

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Öznur Değer, news director for the pro-Kurdish news website JİN News, was found guilty of repeatedly publishing “propaganda” for the outlawed group the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

2 journalists found guilty for reporting in Turkey

Istanbul, October 23, 2025—Authorities in Turkey shouldn’t fight the appeals of journalists Öznur Değer and Asuman Aranca, who were both sentenced for their work in separate trials, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on October 23, 2025. On October 21, a court in the southeastern province of Mardin found Değer, news director for the pro-Kurdish…

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A Russian drone strike killed Ukrainian journalists Olena Hramova, 43, and Yevhen Karmazin, 33, while they were reporting on a previous attack.

Russian drone attack kills 2 Ukrainian journalists

New York, October 23, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for a thorough investigation into the killing of Ukrainian journalists Olena Hramova, 43, and Yevhen Karmazin, 33, in a Russian drone attack on October 23, 2025.  “CPJ is deeply saddened and outraged by the killing of Ukrainian journalists Olena Hramova and Yevhen Karmazin in a Russian drone strike,” said…

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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attends an expanded format meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Minsk, Belarus June 27, 2025. Sputnik/Sergey Bobylev/Pool via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY.

Belarusian journalist facing up to 15 years in prison on treason charges

New York, October 21, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Belarusian authorities to drop all charges against journalist Pavel Dabravolski, who was detained January 22, and faces up to 15 years in prison on “treason” charges, according to a October 18 report by the independent news outlet Pozirk. Dabravolski’s detention was first made public August 26 by Belarus-based human…

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Şule Aydın, left, a host for Onlar TV, said in a broadcast that another host had received a warning about plans of a physical attack on herself and her fellow host Murat Ağırel, second from right.

3 journalists in Turkey receive death threats 

Istanbul, October 21, 2025—The authorities in Turkey should ensure the security of journalists Rabia Önver, Şule Aydın, and Murat Ağırel, each of whom have received threats recently due to their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday.  “The threats targeting journalists Rabia Önver, Şule Aydın, and Murat Ağırel are worrying, especially at a time when physical…

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Investigative journalist Sigfrido Ranucci waves to supporters from broadcaster RAI’s balcony in Rome the day after his car was bombed.

Italian investigative journalist Sigfrido Ranucci targeted in car bombing

Berlin, October 20, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists urges the Italian authorities to swiftly identify and prosecute those responsible for a car bomb that targeted investigative journalist Sigfrido Ranucci on October 17, 2025. The explosive device detonated outside Ranucci’s home in Pomezia, south of Rome, destroying his car and damaging another family vehicle and the property’s gate, as seen here in a video. No…

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