Attacks on the Press 2001: Russia
A decade after the demise of the Soviet Union, Russia still struggled to define the limits of free expression. Nowhere was the struggle more intense than in the media. President Vladimir Putin’s administration was either directly involved in or held responsible for a broad range of abuses, including the selective use of tax audits, prosecutions,…
Attacks on the Press 2001: United States
Since its founding in 1981, CPJ has, as a matter of strategy and policy, concentrated on press freedom violations and attacks against journalists outside the United States. Within the country, a vital press freedom community marshals its resources and expertise to defend journalists’ rights. CPJ aims to focus its efforts on those nations where journalists…
Attacks on the Press 2001: Journalists in Prison
There were 118 journalists in prison around the world at the end of 2001 who were jailed for practicing their profession. The number is up significantly from the previous year, when 81 journalists were in jail, and represents a return to the level of 1998, when 118 were also imprisoned.
Lawsuits, assassination attempt threaten survival of independent newspaper
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is extremely concerned that crippling damage awards in two recent libel suits threaten the survival of the independent, twice-weekly newspaper Novaya Gazeta. We also condemn a recent attempt to assassinate one of the paper’s reporters.
CPJ condemns murder of journalist in Rostov region
New York, March 13, 2002—Natalya Skryl, a business reporter working for the Nashe Vremya newspaper in the city of Rostov-on-Don in southwestern Russia, died on March 9 from head injuries sustained during an attack the night before, according to local press reports. Skryl, 29, reported on local business issues for a newspaper owned by Rostov…
CPJ Delegation in Moscow Calls for the Release of Grigory Pasko
Moscow, March 7, 2002—Three representatives of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) today completed a four-day mission to Russia with an urgent call for the release of jailed Russian journalist Grigory Pasko. “We are here to support our Russian colleagues in attempting to free Grigory Pasko, and to halt what seems to be an increasingly…
Terry Anderson’s Statement
Vladivostok, March 4, 2002 —Three representatives from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called for the release of jailed Russian journalist Grigory Pasko at a press conference in Vladivostok today. A CPJ request to meet with Pasko in prison was turned down by a local military official, who said the request would be given a…
SUPREME COURT ANNULS SECOND DECREE USED TO JAIL PASKO
New York, February 13, 2002—CPJ commends today’s decision by the Military Collegium of the Russian Supreme Court to nullify a clause in a 1990 Defense Ministry decree used to convict military journalist Grigory Pasko. Pasko was convicted of treason in December 2001, based on the charge that he intended to leak classified information to Japanese…
SUPREME COURT ANNULS DECREE USED TO JAIL PASKO
New York, February 12, 2002—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) welcomes today’s decision by the Military Collegium of the Russian Supreme Court to nullify a controversial Ministry of Defense decree used to convict and jail Russian journalist Grigory Pasko. Pasko was convicted of treason in December 2001 for allegedly leaking information to Japanese news outlets…
COURT CLOSES LAST INDEPENDENT RUSSIAN TV STATION
New York, January 11, 2002—CPJ is gravely concerned over today’s ruling by the Presidium of the Highest Arbitration Court upholding the liquidation of the Moscow Independent Broadcasting Company (MNVK), parent company of Russia’s only independent, nationwide television channel, TV-6. The suit was originally lodged in September by the pension fund of LUKoil-Garant, a minority shareholder…