Kazakh journalist Aigul Utepova tried over political coverage
New York, March 31, 2021 – Kazakh authorities should immediately release journalist Aigul Utepova from house arrest, drop all charges against her, and allow her to work safely and freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On March 15, the Saryarkinsky District Court in Nur-Sultan, the capital, commenced Utepova’s trial on charges of participating…
Belarus police detain and fine at least 16 journalists over protest coverage, ties to foreign news outlets
New York, March 30, 2021 –Belarusian authorities should immediately release journalist Andrzej Poczobut, and stop detaining and fining members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Between March 18 and 27, Belarusian authorities detained at least 16 journalists and fined at least three members of the press, according to news reports, and…
Chilean National Television reporter and camera operator shot and wounded
Miami, March 30, 2021 — Chilean authorities must conduct a thorough investigation into the shooting of Chilean National Television (TVN) staffers Iván Núñez and Esteban Sánchez, and bring those responsible to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On March 27 at about 9 p.m., unidentified attackers shot at Núñez, a reporter, and Sánchez,…
Algerian journalist Abdelhakim Setouane sentenced to 6 months in prison
New York, March 30, 2021 – Algerian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Abdelhakim Setouane and let him work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, the Sidi M’Hamed Court in Algiers convicted Setouane, director of the independent news website Essafir Broadcast, on charges of defamation, blackmail, and invasion of privacy, according…
Journalist Adão Ramalho assaulted, escapes abduction attempt in Guinea-Bissau
Lisbon, March 30, 2021 — Authorities in Guinea-Bissau should investigate the assault and attempted abduction of journalist Adão Ramalho, and ensure that those responsible are held to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On March 12, in the capital, Bissau, five armed men in plain clothes attacked and tried to abduct Ramalho, a…
At least 17 journalists injured covering protests in Bangladesh
Washington, D.C., March 29, 2021 – Bangladesh police must ensure that officers do not harm members of the press covering protests, and should investigate attacks on journalists by demonstrators and police officers, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On March 25 and 26, in Dhaka, the capital, members of the Chhatra League, the youth…
Russian journalist Vasiliy Vaysenberg threatened over report on electoral official’s salary
Vilnius, Lithuania, March 29, 2021 — Russian authorities should investigate the threats made to journalist Vasiliy Vaysenberg and ensure that those behind them are held responsible, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On March 25, an unidentified person called Vaysenberg’s wife, Alisa, and threatened the couple’s son, saying, “I don’t want [your son] Misha to…
Family of slain Turkish journalist Hrant Dink vows to appeal trial verdict
Istanbul, March 29, 2021 – Turkish authorities must conduct an impartial and depoliticized investigation into the killing of journalist Hrant Dink, and ensure that all those involved in planning and committing the killing are held to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On March 26, the 14th Istanbul Court of Serious Crimes acquitted…
Myanmar military arrests 3 Kanbawza Tai News staffers in late night raid
Bangkok, March 26, 2021 – Myanmar’s military authorities must immediately release all detained employees of Kanbawza Tai News, drop any charges against them, and stop jailing reporters for their news coverage, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On the night of March 24, police raided the media outlet’s office and two of its employees’…
Russian journalist Mariya Nuykina repeatedly jailed over protest coverage
Vilnius, Lithuania, March 25, 2021 — Russian authorities should not contest the appeal of journalist Mariya Nuykina and should stop prosecuting journalists covering political protests, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On March 19, police in the eastern city of Khabarovsk detained Nuykina, a correspondent with the independent newspaper Arsenyevskiye Vesti, while she was…