Turkish journalist Mahmut Altıntaş detained, says police beat him
Istanbul, February 1, 2024 – Turkish authorities must stop the country’s security forces from harassing the press and investigate accusations by Mahmut Altıntaş, a reporter for the pro-Kurdish Mezopotamya News Agency, that police beat him in detention, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Police in the eastern province of Adıyaman took Altıntaş into custody…
Russia extends detention of U.S.-Russia journalist Alsu Kurmasheva; CPJ calls for release
New York, February 1, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned a Russian court’s decision on Thursday to extend the pretrial detention of U.S.-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva until April 5, and called for her immediate release. “By extending the pretrial detention of journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who has been held for over 100 days on ludicrous criminal…
CPJ presents joint report on declining press freedom in Greece
The Committee to Protect Journalists joined seven other international press freedom organizations on Tuesday in a joint report after a mission to Athens in September 2023. The report concluded that Greece is the only EU country to currently have two open cases of impunity for the murder of journalists, and almost no other country in…
Belarusian court sentences photojournalist Aliaksandr Ziankou to 3 years on extremism charges
New York, January 30, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Belarusian authorities to stop using extremism laws against journalists following a Belarusian court’s Tuesday sentencing of Aliaksandr Ziankou to three years in prison for allegedly participating in an extremist group. “The sentencing of veteran journalist Aliaksandr Ziankou to three years in prison is yet…
CPJ condemns Russia’s detention extension for US journalist Evan Gershkovich
New York, January 26, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists again calls on Russia to release U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich following a court decision on Friday to extend his pretrial detention until March 30, 2024. “This umpteenth extension of Evan Gershkovich’s detention will bring to one year the time he will have spent behind bars simply…
CPJ condemns acquittal of suspected organizer of 1992 murder of Polish journalist Jarosław Ziętara
Berlin, January 26, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns a recent Polish court ruling that, in a final, non-appealable verdict, acquitted former member of the Polish Senate and entrepreneur Aleksander Gawronik, who has been accused of being the initiator of the 1992 murder of investigative journalist Jarosław Ziętara. “We are deeply disappointed that the long…
Turkish journalist Sinan Aygül convicted for ‘insulting’ men who beat him; attackers get suspended sentences
Istanbul, January 25, 2024 – The Committee to Protect Journalists on Thursday called on Turkish authorities to ensure justice in the case of journalist Sinan Aygül, who was hospitalized by an assault last year. The 1st Tatvan Court of First Instance in the eastern province of Bitlis found Aygül, chief editor of the privately owned…
CPJ, others call for lawsuits against Greek journalists and outlets to be dropped
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) joined eight other international press freedom organizations in support of journalists and media outlets in Greece ahead of a series of abusive lawsuits filed by Grigoris Dimitriadis, former general secretary and the nephew of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Dimitriadis filed two lawsuits against newspaper EFSYN and online investigative portal…
Ukrainian investigative journalist Yuriy Nikolov threatened, journalists with Bihus.Info under alleged surveillance
New York, January 18, 2024—Ukrainian authorities must conduct a swift and thorough investigation into threats made against journalist Yuriy Nikolov and alleged surveillance of journalists with investigative outlet Bihus.Info, and hold the perpetrators to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On January 14, a group of unidentified people came to the apartment of…
Belarusian authorities start trial of Aliaksandr Ziankou, bring charges against Ales Sabaleuski, detain Yauhen Hlushkou
New York, January 18, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Belarusian authorities to drop all charges against journalist Aliaksandr Ziankou and to disclose the charges against journalist Ales Sabaleuski and the reason for the recent detention of journalist Yauhen Hlushkou. On January 12, Minsk City Court began the trial of Ziankou, a freelance photojournalist,…