Europe & Central Asia

  

CPJ joins calls for Turkish regulator to reverse ad ban on Evrensel daily

On August 26, 2022, the Committee to Protect Journalists joined the International Press Institute and 17 Turkish and international groups in a joint statement calling for Turkey’s Press Ad Agency, the state regulator of government advertisements in print media, to reverse its cancellation of advertisements carried by the leftist daily Evrensel. In the statement, the…

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Russian authorities in Crimea order journalist Vilen Temeryanov held for 2 months on terror charges

Paris, August 25, 2022—Russian authorities in Crimea must drop all charges against journalist Vilen Temeryanov, release him immediately, and stop prosecuting members of the press in retaliation for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On August 11, officers with the Russian FSB security agency in the village of Vilne, in Russian-occupied Crimea,…

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Russian authorities detain journalists, media workers on extortion, fraud charges

Paris, August 23, 2022—Russian authorities should immediately release journalists and media workers recently arrested on extortion and fraud charges and ensure that the country’s judicial system is not used to silence critical voices, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. Between August 1, and August 16, Russian authorities raided the homes of and detained at…

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Turkish court rejects request to release 15 journalists from pretrial detention

Istanbul, August 22, 2022 – In response to news reports that a Turkish court in the southeastern city of Diyarbakır rejected appeals to release 15 journalists and one media worker from pretrial detention, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement of condemnation: “We are deeply disappointed by the court’s decision to reject a…

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Tajikistan authorities detain Pamiri journalists Ulfatkhonim Mamadshoeva and Khushruz Jumayev for more than 2 months

Stockholm, August 11, 2022 – Tajikistan authorities should release journalists Ulfatkhonim Mamadshoeva and Khushruz Jumayev, drop any charges against them, and stop prosecuting journalists in secret, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On May 18, officers with the State Committee of National Security (SCNS) arrested Mamadshoeva, a freelance journalist and human rights activist, from…

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Kyrgyz authorities block news website Res Publica under controversial false news law

Stockholm, August 8, 2022 – Kyrgyzstan authorities should immediately restore access to independent news website Res Publica and repeal a recently enacted false information law that severely threatens press freedom, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On July 21, Res Publica editor-in-chief Zamira Sydykova announced on the outlet’s website and on her Facebook page…

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Journalist Isabella Yevloyeva faces 3rd criminal case for ‘fake’ reporting about Russian army

Paris, August 8, 2022 — Russian authorities should immediately drop all charges against Isabella Yevloyeva, and stop using laws on “fake” information about the Russian military and government to intimidate journalists and censor any reporting on the war in Ukraine, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On July 27, authorities opened a criminal case…

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Authorities fine, ban Moldovan journalist Val Butnaru from media work

Paris, August 5, 2022 — Moldovan authorities should drop the fine imposed on Val Butnaru, reverse the ban on his work activities, and let him and his colleagues work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On July 26, the Buiucani Court in the capital city of Chisinau found Butnaru, founder of independent broadcaster…

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Journalist Iryna Slaunikava was one of at least eight Belarusian journalists freed from prison on September 11, 2025.

Belarusian journalist Iryna Slaunikava sentenced to 5 years in prison

Paris, August 3, 2022 — In response to a Belarusian court’s sentencing of journalist Iryna Slaunikava to five years in prison on Wednesday, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement of condemnation: “Today’s sentencing of journalist Iryna Slaunikava to five years in prison is another example of the deeply cynical and vindictive nature…

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Protesters hold pictures of murdered Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia as they gather outside the prime minister's office in Valletta, Malta, on November 20, 2019. (AFP/Matthew Mirabelli)

CPJ joins call urging Malta to implement recommendations of public inquiry report on Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder

The Committee to Protect Journalists joined eight other press freedom organizations in a joint statement on Friday, July 29, calling on the Maltese government to implement the recommendations put forward in the public inquiry report on investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder and ensure the effective protection of journalists.  On the one-year anniversary of the…

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