Europe & Central Asia

  
Participants gather attend the Digital Almaty 2024 forum in Kazakhstan on February 2, 2024. Cyberattacks by unidentified perpetrators have targeted at least nine independent media outlets and multiple journalists in Kazakhstan since November 2023. (Reuters/Pavel Mikheyev)

CPJ urges Kazakh authorities to investigate cyberattacks on media

Stockholm, February 2, 2024 – Kazakh authorities should fully investigate a recent wave of cyberattacks on independent media outlets and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. Cyberattacks by unidentified perpetrators have targeted at least nine independent media outlets and multiple journalists in Kazakhstan since November 2023, according to data…

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CPJ calls on Kazakh authorities to accredit 36 RFE/RL journalists

Stockholm, February 2, 2024 – The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned a recent decision by Kazakh authorities to block accreditation to dozens of journalists working for Radio Azattyq, the local U.S. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty service, and called on authorities to allow the outlet to work freely. “RFE/RL’s Kazakh service is well known for its…

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CPJ condemns acquittal of those involved in the 1999 murder of journalist Slavko Ćuruvija

New York, February 2, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned a Serbian court of appeals decision announced on Friday to acquit those involved in the 1999 murder of journalist Slavko Ćuruvija and called on Serbian authorities to continue taking steps to bring the killers to justice.  “The acquittal of the former members of the Serbian…

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Turkish journalist Mahmut Altıntaş says that police beat him in detention

Turkish journalist Mahmut Altıntaş detained, says police beat him

Istanbul, February 1, 2024 – Turkish authorities must stop the country’s security forces from harassing the press and investigate accusations by Mahmut Altıntaş, a reporter for the pro-Kurdish Mezopotamya News Agency, that police beat him in detention, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Police in the eastern province of Adıyaman took Altıntaş into custody…

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Russia extends detention of U.S.-Russia journalist Alsu Kurmasheva; CPJ calls for release

New York, February 1, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned a Russian court’s decision on Thursday to extend the pretrial detention of U.S.-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva until April 5, and called for her immediate release. “By extending the pretrial detention of journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who has been held for over 100 days on ludicrous criminal…

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CPJ presents joint report on declining press freedom in Greece

The Committee to Protect Journalists joined seven other international press freedom organizations on Tuesday in a joint report after a mission to Athens in September 2023. The report concluded that Greece is the only EU country to currently have two open cases of impunity for the murder of journalists, and almost no other country in…

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Belarusian court sentences photojournalist Aliaksandr Ziankou to 3 years on extremism charges

New York, January 30, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Belarusian authorities to stop using extremism laws against journalists following a Belarusian court’s Tuesday sentencing of Aliaksandr Ziankou to three years in prison for allegedly participating in an extremist group. “The sentencing of veteran journalist Aliaksandr Ziankou to three years in prison is yet…

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CPJ condemns Russia’s detention extension for US journalist Evan Gershkovich

New York, January 26, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists again calls on Russia to release U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich following a court decision on Friday to extend his pretrial detention until March 30, 2024. “This umpteenth extension of Evan Gershkovich’s detention will bring to one year the time he will have spent behind bars simply…

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Investigative journalist Jarosław Ziętara was murdered in 1992. CPJ recently condemned a January 19, 2024, Polish court ruling that acquitted former member of the Polish Senate and entrepreneur Aleksander Gawronik, who has been accused of being the initiator of Ziętara's murder. (Photo credit: Krzysztof M. Kazmierczak)

CPJ condemns acquittal of suspected organizer of 1992 murder of Polish journalist Jarosław Ziętara

Berlin, January 26, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns a recent Polish court ruling that, in a final, non-appealable verdict, acquitted former member of the Polish Senate and entrepreneur Aleksander Gawronik, who has been accused of being the initiator of the 1992 murder of investigative journalist Jarosław Ziętara. “We are deeply disappointed that the long…

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Sinan Aygül

Turkish journalist Sinan Aygül convicted for ‘insulting’ men who beat him; attackers get suspended sentences

Istanbul, January 25, 2024 – The Committee to Protect Journalists on Thursday called on Turkish authorities to ensure justice in the case of journalist Sinan Aygül, who was hospitalized by an assault last year. The 1st Tatvan Court of First Instance in the eastern province of Bitlis found Aygül, chief editor of the privately owned…

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