Kyrgyzstan TV director Taalaibek Duishenbiev convicted of incitement
New York, September 21, 2022 – On Wednesday, a court in Kyrgyzstan convicted Next TV director Taalaibek Duishenbiev of inciting interethnic hatred over posts on the broadcaster’s social media accounts covering Russia’s war in Ukraine, according to news reports. Duishenbiev, who was detained for seven months pending trial, was originally handed a five-year prison sentence, his lawyer,…
Russia to block, fine news outlets for ‘false’ reports on military call-up
Paris, September 21, 2022 — In response to Wednesday’s announcement by Russian state media regulator Roskomnadzor that media outlets could be fined or blocked for spreading “false information” on President Vladimir Putin’s partial mobilization of military reservists, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “Access to reliable and transparent information at this critical time is crucial,…
Bangladesh authorities arrest siblings of UK-based journalists
New York, September 20, 2022 – Bangladesh authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Nur Alam Chowdhury Pervez and Abdul Muktadir Manu and cease harassing family members of journalists who report from abroad, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On September 13, officers with the detective branch of the Bangladesh police, in the Noakhali town…
Turkish journalist Hatice Şahin sentenced to more than 6 years in prison on terrorism charge
Istanbul, September 20, 2022—Turkish authorities should not fight the appeal of journalist Hatice Şahin and stop persecuting journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On Monday, September 19, Şahin, a freelance journalist who was a former reporter for the pro-Kurdish privately owned daily newspaper Yeni Yaşam, was sentenced to six years and three months…
Turkey’s legal year begins with new terrorism charges, convictions for journalists
In the first week of the legal year when courts open, Turkish courts convicted two journalists on terrorism charges, brought new terrorism charges against two others, and rejected an appeal for the release of 15 journalists and one media worker, who have been in pretrial detention for nearly three months. On Wednesday, September 7, 2022,…
Russian authorities revoke Novaya Gazeta’s online media license
Paris, September 15, 2022 — In response to news reports that the Russian Supreme Court revoked the online license of the independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper only 10 days after a Moscow court revoked the outlet’s print license, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “By revoking Novaya Gazeta’s online license only days after…
Attendees attack, insult 2 German reporters covering public political discussion about energy prices
Berlin, September 15, 2022 — German authorities must conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the attack on two journalists covering a political meeting and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On the evening of September 2, Moritz Gathmann, a reporter for monthly print magazine Cicero, and his female…
Russian Journalists’ and Media Workers’ Union shuttered by Moscow court order
Paris, September 14, 2022 — In response to news reports that the Moscow city court on Wednesday closed the independent Russian Journalists’ and Media Workers’ Union trade group at the request of Moscow’s prosecutor office, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement calling for authorities to reverse their decision and to let the union work freely:…
CPJ condemns 13-year sentence for Belarusian journalist Dzianis Ivashyn
Paris, September 14, 2022 – In response to multiple news reports that a court in Belarus on Wednesday convicted and sentenced Dzianis Ivashyn to 13 years and one month in prison for treason and interfering with law enforcement, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement condemning the court ruling: “CPJ is deeply shocked…