Prosecutors open probe into 2003 death of Moscow reporter
New York, October 30, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes a decision by an arm of the Russian prosecutor general to open a criminal probe into the mysterious July 2003 death of Yuri Shchekochikhin, deputy editor of the Moscow newspaper Novaya Gazeta. “We welcome this important if overdue step on behalf of Russian prosecutors to…
Editor slammed with hefty sentence
New York, October 30, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists denounces a lengthy prison sentence handed down today by an Azerbaijani court to independent editor Eynulla Fatullayev. Fatullayev is already serving a two-and-a-half-year prison term for allegedly defaming Azerbaijanis in an Internet posting he says he did not write, and has been sentenced to another eight-and-a-half…
Thorough probe sought in Kyrgyzstan slaying
Your Excellency, The Committee to Protect Journalists urges you to use all of the resources of your office to ensure that a thorough, timely, independent, and transparent investigation is undertaken into the slaying of prominent journalist Alisher Saipov, who was shot in southern Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday.
Prominent journalist killed in southern Kyrgyzstan
New York, October 25, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns today’s murder in southern Kyrgyzstan of Alisher Saipov, editor of the independent Uzbek-language weekly Siyosat (Politics)and contributor to several regional news outlets. Saipov was shot three times at a close range at around 7 p.m. in downtown Osh, a city bordering Uzbekistan, by an unknown…
Prominent journalist killed in southern Kyrgyzstan
New York, October 24, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns today’s murder in southern Kyrgyzstan of Alisher Saipov, editor of the independent Uzbek-language weekly Siyosat (Politics)and contributor to several regional news outlets. Saipov was shot three times at a close range at around 7 p.m. in downtown Osh, a city bordering Uzbekistan, by an unknown…
VOA reporter beaten, threatened in Kosovo
New York, October 18, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists denounces the attack on Vesna Bojicis, Kosovo correspondent for the Serbian-language service of Voice of America (VOA) radio. An unidentified assailant stormed into Bojicis’ home Tuesday night, beat her, and threatened to kill her because of her reporting, according to local press reports. The attacker knocked…
Independent journalist attacked in Tashkent
New York, October 12, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the attack on Thursday on Sid Yanyshev, a Tashkent-based correspondent for the London- based Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) and contributor to the popular Central Asia news Web site Ferghana. Two men who identified themselves as National Security agents beat him shortly after…
A year after Politkovskaya slaying, signals are not encouraging
Your Excellency, One year after the assassination of Novaya Gazeta investigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya, the response by your nation’s law enforcement, judicial, and political institutions remains under intense international scrutiny. In Russia and across the world, leaders and citizens expect an investigation that is diligent, transparent, and free of political influence. Thus far, the signals have not been encouraging.
CPJ urges president to halt persecution of reporter, family
September 27, 2007 His Excellency Ilham Aliyev President of Azerbaijan 19 Istiqlaliyyat Street Baku 370066, Azerbaijan Via facsimile: +994-12-920-625 and +994-12-492-0625 Your Excellency, The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply disturbed by the seizure, beating, and imprisonment of Hakimeldostu Mehdiyev, regional correspondent for the opposition newspaper Yeni Musavat, by officials in the Nakhchivan Autonomous…