Spanish official threatens and doxxes journalists at 2 news outlets after corruption exposé
Berlin, March 21, 2024—Spanish authorities must conduct a swift, thorough, and transparent investigation into threats against and harassment of elDiario.es news website and El País newspaper and their journalists by an aide to Madrid’s regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso, after elDiario.es published allegations of corruption involving the conservative leader’s partner, the Committee to Protect Journalists…
Russia jails journalist over plane crash coverage, detains another during election
New York, March 19, 2024—Russian authorities must drop all charges against journalist Sergey Kustov, release him, and stop prosecuting the press to stifle their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On Monday, a court sentenced Kustov, chief editor of local broadcaster Bars, to 10 days imprisonment on charges of disobeying a police officer,…
Istanbul police harass reporters at Kurdish Newroz celebration
Istanbul, March 19, 2024 – The Committee to Protect Journalists urges Turkish authorities to investigate reports of police harassment of three reporters during Kurdish spring Newroz celebrations in Istanbul on Sunday. On Sunday, March 17, Police officers in Istanbul harassed at least three reporters in two separate incidents while they were covering a mass arrest…
Azerbaijan extends pretrial detention of 2 journalists on currency smuggling charges
Stockholm, March 19, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for the release of Kanal 13 director Aziz Orujov and reporter Shamo Eminov, whose pretrial detention was extended on Tuesday, along with eight others being held on similar charges. “As Azerbaijani courts have once again rubber-stamped the detention of yet more journalists on allegations of illegally…
Poland detains 4 Ukrainian journalists reporting at the border
New York, March 18, 2024—Polish authorities should refrain from detaining members of the press reporting on topics of public interest, as two separate groups of Ukrainian reporters were blocked from reporting on Poland’s borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On February 27, Polish police detained reporter Mykhailo Tkach and cameraman Yaroslav Bondarenko, from…
CPJ, others call on Slovakia to withdraw repressive media bill
The Committee to Protect Journalists and seven other international press freedom organizations have called on Slovakian authorities to immediately withdraw a draft law which would effectively end the public broadcaster’s independence. The Slovak Television and Radio bill would dissolve the state-owned Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS) and replace it with a new, politically controlled…
Kyrgyzstan parliament approves ‘foreign agents’ law
Stockholm, March 15, 2024—Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov should reject Russian-inspired legislation that would designate externally funded media rights groups and nonprofits that run news outlets as “foreign representatives,” the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On Thursday, Kyrgyzstan’s parliament approved in a third and final reading, without debate, a bill requiring nonprofits that receive foreign…
Azerbaijan courts extend pre-trial detention of 6 Abzas Media journalists
Stockholm, March 15, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists on Friday condemned a series of court decisions in Azerbaijan extending the pre-trial detention of six journalists with the anti-corruption investigative news outlet Abzas Media. “As Azerbaijan sweeps up and detains critical journalists across the country, this latest decision to extend the incarceration of Abzas Media staff…
CPJ joins call for Russia to keep the internet on during presidential elections
The Committee to Protect Journalists joined #KeepItOn Coalition partners on Thursday in calling on Russian authorities and telecommunications providers to maintain free, open, and secure internet access before, during, and after presidential elections scheduled for March 15 to 17. The letter highlights Russia’s history of internet shutdowns, including the blocking of tech companies that refused…
CPJ welcomes Kyrgyzstan’s withdrawal of restrictive media bill
Stockholm, March 13, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes Wednesday’s decision by Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov to withdraw from parliament a draft law that could have been weaponized against the independent press. “Alongside Kyrgyzstan’s ongoing media crackdown, jailing of journalists, and Russian-inspired ‘foreign agents’ bill, the vague and repressive mass media bill could have been…