Tajikistan RFE/RL correspondents assaulted while covering rising gas prices
New York, March 8, 2021 – Tajikistan authorities should conduct a thorough investigation into the attack on journalists Shahlo Abdulloeva and Mullorajab Yusufzoda, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On March 4, an unidentified security guard at a gas station in Dushanbe, the capital, assaulted Abdulloeva (known as…
Russian journalist Ilya Azar sentenced to 15 days for allegedly organizing protests
On March 3, 2021, the Tverskoy District Court in Moscow sentenced Ilya Azar, a correspondent for the liberal Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, to 15 days of detention and a fine of 150,000 rubles (US$2,014) for allegedly organizing illegal protests on Facebook, according to news reports and a statement from his employer. On March 5, the…
Police in Kazakhstan attack, harass 2 journalists covering fire
New York, March 8, 2021 – Kazakh authorities should investigate police officers’ assault and harassment of journalists Bakhrambek Talibzhanov and Bakhrom Abdullaev, and ensure that members of the press can work freely and safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. In the early hours of March 2, in the southern city of Shymkent, police…
Women ‘have finally started talking’: Three female journalists on covering sexual violence in Russia
Reporting on gender-based violence in Russia has become more challenging in recent years. In 2017 the government controversially decriminalized some forms of domestic violence, leading to a sharp drop in reported incidents, which journalists told CPJ does not reflect the true scope of the problem. And last year, Russia passed a new libel law to punish false accusers of sexual assault, leaving journalists…
Georgian journalist Vakhtang Sanaia receives concussion from assault by 3 attackers
New York, March 3, 2021 – Georgian authorities should thoroughly investigate the attack on journalist Vakhtang Sanaia, and ensure that the perpetrators are held to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. In the early hours of February 25 in Tbilisi, the capital, three unidentified men attacked Vakhtang Sanaia, an anchor at the local…
Russian journalist Natalia Zubkova in hiding following attack, death threats
New York, March 3, 2021 – Russian authorities should immediately investigate the attack on journalist Natalia Zubkova, and ensure that the perpetrator is held accountable and the journalist can work safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. In the evening of February 25, an unidentified hooded man in dark clothes attacked and threatened Zubkova,…
Investigative journalist Visar Duriqi assaulted in Kosovo
Berlin, March 3, 2021 — Kosovo authorities should conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the assault of journalist Visar Duriqi and ensure his safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Shortly after midnight on February 25, three unidentified masked men attacked Duriqi, an investigative reporter for the local news website Insajderi, outside his…
CPJ condemns sentencing of Belarus journalist Katsiaryna Barysevich to 6 months in jail
Vilnius, Lithuania, March 2, 2021 — In response to today’s sentencing of Belarusian journalist Katsiaryna Barysevich to six months in jail and a fine over her coverage of protests in the country, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “Today’s sentencing of journalist Katsiaryna Barysevich is yet another example of how the Belarusian authorities will…
Northern Ireland police investigating graffiti threats to reporter Patricia Devlin
On February 12, 2021, graffiti painted by unidentified people appeared at three locations in Belfast, Northern Ireland, featuring a gun crosshair and the name of Patricia Devlin, a reporter for the Irish newspaper Sunday World, according to a report by her employer and Devlin, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app. Police have opened an…
Demonstrators attack 2 RFE/RL journalists at political protest in Armenia
New York, February 25, 2021 – Armenian authorities should swiftly and thoroughly investigate the attack on journalists Artak Khulyan and Karen Chilingaryan, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On February 23, in Yerevan, the capital, a group of about 20 protesters harassed and assaulted Khulyan, a reporter with…