CPJ joins statement welcoming Dutch government’s proposed policy changes on journalist safety
On July 1, 2022, the Committee to Protect Journalists joined seven other press freedom organizations in a joint statement welcoming a letter by the Dutch government to Parliament proposing a new policy approach on media freedom and journalist safety. That June 29 letter took into consideration reports and recommendations by domestic and international press and…
Frontline diary: A day in the life of a Ukraine war correspondent
Ruslan Smieshchuk, a reporter for privately owned Ukrainian TV channel Inter, had long dreamed of being a war correspondent when he covered his first conflict, the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, for local Odessa TV channel ATV. Now he hopes that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war will be his last battlefield assignment. “War is a lot of pain and grief,” he told CPJ. The 38-year-old…
Turkey blocks websites of Voice of America and Deutsche Welle
Istanbul, July 1, 2022 – In response to news reports that Turkish authorities blocked the websites of the U.S. Congress-funded broadcaster Voice of America and German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle on Thursday, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement of condemnation: “Turkish authorities’ censorship of the international broadcasters Voice of America and Deutsche…
Ukrainian journalists Sevgil Musaieva and Sonia Lukashova receive death threats
New York, June 30, 2022 – Ukrainian authorities should swiftly and thoroughly investigate threats recently received by journalists Sevgil Musaieva and Sonia Lukashova, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Musaieva, chief editor of the independent Ukrainian news website Ukrainska Pravda, and Lukashova, a correspondent for the outlet, have received threatening phone calls and online…
Turkish photojournalist Abdurrahman Gök found guilty on terrorism charge
Istanbul, June 30, 2022 – In response to news reports that a Turkish court in the southeastern city of Diyarbakır on Thursday found photojournalist Abdurrahman Gök guilty of making terrorist propaganda, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement of condemnation: “Turkish authorities must not fight the appeal of photojournalist Abdurrahman Gök, and should…
Tajikistan authorities detain, question relatives of exiled journalist Anora Sarkorova
Stockholm, June 29, 2022 – Tajikistan authorities must stop harassing relatives of exiled independent journalist Anora Sarkorova, and should allow members of the press to cover sensitive issues freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On the morning of Monday, June 27, officers from the Tajik Interior Ministry’s Department for Combatting Organized Crime detained…
CPJ joins letter calling on Romanian authorities to hasten investigation into harassment of journalist Emilia Șercan
In a joint letter addressed to Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă and other government officials on Tuesday, June 28, the Committee to Protect Journalists and seven international press freedom organizations expressed their deep concerns over delays in the investigation into harassment of investigative journalist Emilia Șercan. Since January, Șercan has received threatening emails and social media messages, and…
Proposed Russian legislation expands ‘foreign agent’ regulations
Paris, June 28, 2022 — Russian legislators should not pass a new bill to expand the country’s regulations concerning so-called “foreign agents,” and should let the press operate freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. The country’s current foreign agent legislation requires the Ministry of Justice to prove that a person or organization has…
Tajikistan authorities arrest 2 journalists over critical reporting
Stockholm, June 23, 2022 – Tajik authorities should release journalists Daler Imomali and Avazmad Ghurbatov immediately, drop any charges filed against them, and refrain from prosecuting journalists in retaliation for their reporting, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On June 15, police arrested Imomali in Tajikistan’s northern Ayni district, and arrested Ghurbatov in Dushanbe,…
Russian draft legislation threatens to further silence independent media
Paris, June 23, 2022 – Russian legislators should not enact newly proposed legislation that threatens to further restrict the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On June 14, the State Duma, the lower house of Russia’s legislature, passed a bill amending the country’s criminal code to impose prison terms for vague actions against…