Europe & Central Asia

  

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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CPJ, others call for lawsuits against Greek journalists and outlets to be dropped

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) joined eight other international press freedom organizations in support of journalists and media outlets in Greece ahead of a series of abusive lawsuits filed by Grigoris Dimitriadis, former general secretary and the nephew of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Dimitriadis filed two lawsuits against newspaper EFSYN and online investigative portal…

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Unidentified people came to the apartment of Yuriy Nikolov, a co-founder and editor of Nashi Groshi, banged on his door, and shouted that he needed to join the army on January 14, 2023. Nikolov’s door was covered with papers with inscriptions calling him a “provocateur,” a “traitor,” and a (military service) “evader.”

Ukrainian investigative journalist Yuriy Nikolov threatened, journalists with Bihus.Info under alleged surveillance

New York, January 18, 2024—Ukrainian authorities must conduct a swift and thorough investigation into threats made against journalist Yuriy Nikolov and alleged surveillance of journalists with investigative outlet Bihus.Info, and hold the perpetrators to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On January 14, a group of unidentified people came to the apartment of…

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Belarus police

Belarusian authorities start trial of Aliaksandr Ziankou, bring charges against Ales Sabaleuski, detain Yauhen Hlushkou

New York, January 18, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Belarusian authorities to drop all charges against journalist Aliaksandr Ziankou and to disclose the charges against journalist Ales Sabaleuski and the reason for the recent detention of journalist Yauhen Hlushkou. On January 12, Minsk City Court began the trial of Ziankou, a freelance photojournalist,…

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Makhabat Tajibek kyzy and 24.kg office

Kyrgyzstan authorities raid news outlets 24.kg and Temirov Live, arrest journalists

Stockholm, January 16, 2024 — Kyrgyz authorities should drop criminal investigations into privately owned news website 24.kg and investigative outlet Temirov Live, release all detained current and former members of Temirov Live, and end their crackdown on the independent press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On Monday, officers from Kyrgyzstan’s State Committee for…

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Targeting suspected in Ukraine hotel shelling that injured at least 2 journalists

New York, January 12, 2024 —The Committee to Protect Journalists on Friday called on Russia to stop targeting civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, after a missile strike on a hotel injured at least two journalists reporting on the war. On Wednesday evening, Russian forces shelled Park Hotel in Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine, injuring Violetta-Anastasia Pedorich, a Ukrainian freelance…

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announces a mayoral candidate as his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) choice on January 7, 2024.

CPJ welcomes Turkish court’s annulment of law that allowed takedown of online news

Istanbul, January 11, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the decision by Turkey’s Constitutional Court to annul a legal clause that allowed local courts to remove online news. “We are pleased that Turkey’s highest court found unconstitutional the legal article that had been used to take down online news with public value under the guise…

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Ukrainian journalist Oleh Baturyn receives threats online after report on politician

New York, January 9, 2024—Ukrainian authorities must conduct a swift and thorough investigation into violent threats made against journalist Oleh Baturyn, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On December 31, 2023, the Center of Journalistic Investigations, a Ukrainian independent investigative outlet, published a report, which said that Valery Saltykov, a member of Kherson Regional…

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