Europe & Central Asia

Istanbul, January 18, 2023 – Turkish authorities should immediately release journalist Sezgin Kartal and stop filing terrorism charges against members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On January 10, police raided Kartal’s Istanbul home and took him into custody; on January 13, a local court ordered him to be held in…

Paris, January 13, 2023 — In response to a Belarusian court’s sentencing of journalists Snezhana Inanets and Aliaksandr Lychauka to years of house arrest Friday, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement condemning the restrictions on the journalists’ freedom: “While it is a relief that Belarusian journalists Snezhana Inanets and Aliaksandr Lychauka will…

Paris, January 10, 2023 — Belarusian authorities should immediately release Russian journalist Yekaterina Yanshina and let all members of the press work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On January 5, authorities at a court in Minsk, the capital, detained Yanshina, a journalist and human rights activist with the Russian human rights center…

Istanbul, January 9, 2023 – In response to news reports that a Turkish court in the western province of Kocaeli on Monday convicted 10 people for their involvement in the 2022 killing of Güngör Arslan, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement welcoming the progress in his case: “Turkish authorities should be applauded…

Paris, January 4, 2023 – Russian and Ukrainian authorities should swiftly investigate the recent shelling attacks that injured at least three journalists, and ensure that members of the press are protected while covering the war in Ukraine, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On December 31, Russian forces shelled Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, injuring…

New York, January 3, 2023 – Turkish authorities should ensure that journalists are not included on the country’s lists of wanted terrorists, and should stop harassing members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On December 30, exiled Turkish journalist Can Dündar revealed that he had been added to the so-called terrorist…

Stockholm, December 28, 2022 – In response to news reports that Tajikistan authorities recently sentenced journalist Abdusattor Pirmuhammadzoda to seven years in prison, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued a statement on Wednesday condemning the ruling: “The trial of Abdusattor Pirmuhammadzoda, like the trials of five other journalists recently sentenced to lengthy prison terms on…

Paris, December 22, 2022—Ukrainian authorities should reverse their decision to cancel the accreditation of Danish journalist Matilde Kimer and let her work freely in Ukraine, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Monday, December 19, Danish public broadcaster, DR, reported that its reporter Matilde Kimer was stripped of her accreditation with Ukraine’s Ministry of…

Berlin, December 22, 2022 – Authorities in Kosovo must conduct a swift and thorough investigation into recent attacks on three TV crews and ensure that journalists can cover protests safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Since the beginning of December, at least three TV crews covering demonstrations in northern Kosovo have been targeted…

Paris, December 21, 2022 – Russian and Ukrainian authorities should swiftly investigate the attack on Italian journalists Claudio Locatelli and Niccolò Celesti and ensure that members of the press are not targeted while reporting on the war in Ukraine, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On Monday, December 19, a car transporting Locatelli, an…