Belarus police continue newsroom raids, target journalists’ association
Stockholm, July 15, 2021 – Belarusian authorities must cease their raids on independent news outlets and press freedom groups, and refrain from charging or imprisoning journalists over their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Early yesterday morning, Belarusian law enforcement officers raided the Minsk headquarters of the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), a…
Exiled Turkish journalist attacked near his home in Germany
On the evening of July 7, 2021, Erk Acarer, an exiled Turkish journalist who is a columnist for the Turkish leftist daily BirGün, was attacked outside his home in Berlin by three assailants who used “fists and knives” while one told him, “you will not write,” according to journalist’s video and written accounts on Twitter, and to news reports. Acarer tweeted…
Assailant of Turkish journalist Can Dündar convicted over 2016 attack, but sentence delayed
On July 8, 2021, a Turkish court sentenced Murat Şahin, who attempted to shoot journalist Can Dündar in a 2016 incident in Istanbul that left journalist Yağız Şenkal injured, to a delayed prison term and monetary fine, according to news reports. The 28th Istanbul Court of First Instance found Şahin guilty of several charges, including…
Dutch journalist Peter R. de Vries dies after shooting
New York, July 15, 2021 – In response to reports today that Dutch crime reporter Peter R. de Vries died from injuries sustained in a shooting last week, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “Dutch crime reporter Peter R. de Vries was long threatened for his investigative work, and with today’s tragic…
Police detain camera operator Nazım Fayık while covering protest in Ankara, Turkey
On July 5, 2021, police disrupted a protest near a prison in Ankara, Turkey, and detained at least one journalist, according to news reports and video of the detention shared on social media. Police detained Nazım Fayık, a camera operator with the leftist pro-Kurdish website and TV broadcaster Artı Gerçek, along with five demonstrators at…
Georgian camera operator Aleksandre Lashkarava dies after beating by anti-LGBT demonstrators
Stockholm, July 12, 2021 – In response to the death of TV Pirveli camera operator Aleksandre “Lekso” Lashkarava yesterday in Georgia, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “Georgian authorities must thoroughly investigate whether Lekso Lashkarava died as a result of the assault he suffered while covering a demonstration,” said Robert Mahoney, CPJ’s…
Belarusian authorities raid news outlets, detain journalists amid nationwide crackdown
New York, July 8, 2021 – Belarusian authorities must release all journalists held in custody for their work and drop all investigations into independent news outlets, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Starting this morning, authorities raided at least three news outlets and arrested at least seven journalists nationwide amid a crackdown on the…
Imprisoned Belarusian journalist Andrei Aliaksandrau charged with treason
New York, July 7, 2021 – Belarusian authorities should immediately release journalist Andrei Aliaksandrau, drop all charges against him, and ensure that journalists can work freely and without fear, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On June 30, authorities charged Aliaksandrau, founder and chief editor of the news website Belaruski Zhurnal, with treason, according…
Journalists attacked by anti-LGBT demonstrators in Tbilisi, Georgia
New York, July 6, 2021 – Georgian authorities should swiftly and thoroughly investigate anti-LGBT demonstrators’ recent attacks on dozens of journalists, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, a group of more than 1,000 people demonstrating against a planned LGBT Pride rally in Tbilisi, the capital, attacked dozens…