Europe & Central Asia

  

Violence against Netherlands’ journalists dims a beacon of press freedom

On a small street off Amsterdam’s bustling museum district, there is no indication of the 2021 event seared into the memories of the Dutch press corps – at least not yet. Authorities have plans to build a memorial near the site where crime reporter Peter R. de Vries was shot on July 6 after leaving…

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CPJ joins letter of concern about Kosovo’s banning of Serbian reporter Svetlana Vukmirovic

The Committee to Protect Journalists and 10 civil society organizations wrote to Kosovo authorities on Tuesday, August 1, to request an explanation as to why reporter Svetlana Vukmirovic working for public broadcaster Radio Television of Serbia is not allowed to enter Kosovo to do her work. Vukmirovic has been prevented from entering Kosovo on multiple…

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Ukrainian journalist Volodymyr Sedov assaulted after investigating crime

New York, August 4, 2023—Ukrainian authorities should swiftly investigate the latest attack on anti-corruption journalist Volodymyr Sedov and hold the perpetrators to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. Sedov, editor-in-chief of the newspaper Visti Ananivshchyna, told CPJ that unidentified people attacked him from behind in a park near his home in the southern…

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Covering Ukraine: When a Russian missile brought death to a popular pizza restaurant

It is around 7:30 p.m. on June 27 in the Ria Lounge, one of the few restaurants still open in Kramatorsk, a frontline city in eastern Ukraine. Known by regulars as “Ria Pizza” for its signature dish, the restaurant is packed on this summer Tuesday. Locals, aid workers, off-duty soldiers, and journalists have flocked here…

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Russia’s Supreme Court upholds 22-year prison sentence for journalist Ivan Safronov

New York, August 2, 2023 — In response to the Russian Supreme Court decision on Wednesday to uphold the 22-year prison sentence of journalist Ivan Safronov, who was convicted of treason last year, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement of condemnation: “The Russian Supreme Court’s refusal to overturn Ivan Safronov’s 22-year prison…

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Azerbaijani journalist Vugar Mammadov sentenced to 30 days in jail over interview

Stockholm, July 28, 2023 – Azerbaijani authorities should release journalist Vugar Mammadov and stop retaliating against journalists for reporting on issues in the public interest, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On Monday, July 24, the Narimanov District Court in the capital, Baku, sentenced Mammadov, chief editor of independent news outlet Hurriyyet, to 30…

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Officers with Russia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs in the city of Dzhankoi, in northern Crimea, came to journalist Lutfiye Zudiyeva's home to question her on two occasions. (Photo: Anton Naumlyuk)

Russian authorities in Crimea detain 2 journalists; Kulamet Ibraimov remains in custody

New York, July 27, 2023—Authorities in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea must drop all charges against journalists Lutfiye Zudiyeva and Kulamet Ibraimov, release Ibraimov immediately, and stop prosecuting members of the press for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Thursday, July 27, police in the Crimean capital of Simferopol detained…

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Fırat Can Arslan

Turkish authorities detain 5 journalists over tweet, 1 remains in custody

Istanbul, July 26, 2023—Turkish authorities should immediately release reporter Fırat Can Arslan and stop treating journalists like criminals, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On Tuesday, July 25, Turkish police detained Arslan, a reporter for the pro-Kurdish Mezopotamya News Agency, at his house in the capital city of Ankara, in relation to an investigation…

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journalist Abraham Jiménez Enoa

Exiled Cuban journalist Abraham Jiménez Enoa threatened in Spain

São Paulo, July 26, 2023—Spanish authorities must investigate threats made to exiled Cuban journalist Abraham Jiménez Enoa and ensure his and his family’s safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday.   On Tuesday, July 25, two unidentified men with Cuban accents threatened Jiménez as he was walking home with his two-year-old son in Barcelona, according…

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Russia bans exiled outlet Dozhd TV as ‘undesirable’

New York, July 26, 2023—Russian authorities should stop attempting to silence the exiled broadcaster Dozhd TV (TV Rain) and cease using the country’s “undesirable organization” law to intimidate independent media and their audiences, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On Tuesday, July 25, the Russian general prosecutor’s office outlawed SIA TV Rain and TVR…

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