Spain is set to reform ‘gag law,’ but press freedom groups are skeptical
In May, Diego Díaz Alonso, editor of Spanish non-profit news outlet Nortes, was surprised to receive a 601 euro (US$611) fine in the mail. The letter claimed that Díaz Alonso had resisted police and obstructed emergency services as they were treating a homeless person lying unconscious in the street in Gijón, in northern Spain, the previous summer….
Russian authorities search homes of 5 journalists as witnesses in investigation into ‘fake’ information about the army
Paris, September 8, 2022—Russian authorities should stop using investigations into so-called “fake” information about the Russian military to harass journalists, and should let the media work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Thursday, September 8, authorities searched the homes of at least five journalists in cities across Russia over their alleged connection…
Far-right supporters harass French reporter Toufik-de-Planoise
Berlin, September 8, 2022—French authorities should swiftly and thoroughly investigate the recent harassment of reporter Toufik-de-Planoise, bring those responsible to justice, and ensure that journalists covering the far right can work safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On August 22, a group of four men confronted de-Planoise, a reporter for privately owned local…
Greek prosecutors summon journalist Petros Kousoulos in leak probe
Berlin, September 8, 2022—Greek prosecutors should immediately cease harassing journalist Petros Kousoulos, and ensure that leak investigations do not force journalists to disclose their anonymous sources, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On August 30, prosecutors with the Greek Supreme Court issued an arrest warrant for Petros Kousoulos, a reporter and publisher of the…
Russian authorities suspend Novaya Gazeta’s print license
Paris, September 6, 2022—Russian authorities should reverse a recent decision to suspend the printing license of the independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper and cease all efforts to censor the outlet and harass its staff, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On Monday, September 5, a Moscow court granted a request by Russian state media regulator…
CPJ dismayed by 22-year sentence for Russian journalist Ivan Safronov
Paris, September 5, 2022 — In response to a Russian court’s sentencing on Monday of journalist Ivan Safronov to 22 years in prison on trumped-up charges, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement strongly condemning the decision: “The 22-year prison sentence for Ivan Safronov, guilty of no other crime than doing his job…
Russian prosecutor requests 24 years in prison for journalist Ivan Safronov
Paris, August 30, 2022–In response to media reports that a Russian prosecutor on Tuesday asked that journalist Ivan Safronov be sentenced to 24 years in prison, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement of condemnation: “The Russian prosecutor’s request that journalist Ivan Safronov be jailed for 24 years is shocking even by the…
Uzbekistan denies entry to CPJ’s Gulnoza Said, forces her to return to US
Update: On Tuesday evening, after remaining in the airport for about five hours, Said was admitted to Uzbekistan. Authorities did not give a reason for her initial refusal. Paris, August 30, 2022 — On Tuesday morning, Uzbek immigration authorities denied entry to CPJ Europe and Central Asia Program Coordinator Gulnoza Said, stating that the immigration…
Russian authorities in Kazan question, search homes of 7 RFE/RL freelance journalists and contributors
Paris, August 29, 2022—Russian authorities should stop intimidating journalists and contributors to U.S. Congress-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), and let the media work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On August 17, police in Kazan, the capital of Russia’s Tatarstan republic, searched the homes of Nelya Biktimirova, Aysilu Kadyrova, Alsu Kiyamova, and…
Greek journalist Evangelos Areteos denied entry to Turkey
Istanbul, August 29, 2022–Turkish authorities should allow Greek journalist Evangelos Areteos to work freely, and should not let political considerations influence journalists’ admission into the country, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On Thursday, August 25, authorities at the Sabiha Gökçen Airport in Istanbul detained Areteos, a reporter for the Greek newspaper Real and…