The Moscow Declaration
e, the relatives and colleagues of journalists murdered in Russia, along with Russian and international press freedom advocates, who convened for a conference in Moscow on July 7, 2005, declare the following: The lack of progress in investigating journalist murders undermines freedom and democracy in Russia, and demonstrates the lawlessness and impunity with which Russian…
CPJ urges Putin to end era of impunity’ in journalist murders
Moscow, July 8, 2005—A delegation from the Committee to Protect Journalists today called on President Vladimir Putin to end a deplorable era of impunity for the murder of journalists during his five-year tenure. “We are calling on President Putin to ensure that the Prosecutor-General’s Office makes greater progress in solving these brutal murders,” said CPJ…
Ex-police chief detained in photographer’s murder
New York, July 7, 2005—An ex-police chief in Mexico is being held for alleged involvement in the November 2004 gangland-style slaying of Gregorio Rodríguez Hernández, a photographer with the Mazatlán edition of the newspaper El Debate, in the northwestern state of Sinaloa, according to press reports. Abel Enríquez Zavala was detained on Sunday after investigators…
Two imprisoned journalists released; five remain behind bars
New York, July 6, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release today of two imprisoned Burmese journalists, documentary filmmaker Aung Pwint and freelance journalist Sein Hla Oo. Burma’s military government released more than 240 prisoners today, including several prominent political prisoners, according to a spokesman from the opposition National League for Democracy party (NLD).…
Radio journalist severely beaten by unidentified assailants
New York, July 6, 2005—Unidentified assailants kidnapped and brutally beat a commentator for the independent Radio Kledu yesterday in the Malian capital, Bamako. Hamidou Diarra was found several hours later about 10 miles (15 kilometers) outside of Bamako, Radio Kledu director Abel Koné told CPJ. No suspects were immediately identified. Local journalists said they believe…
Editor hospitalized after beating by two attackers
New York, July 6, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by an attack against Nikolai Kochurov, editor-in-chief of Severodvinsk’s independent newspaper, Severodvinsky Rabochy, who was beaten by two unidentified assailants on June 28. Kochurov remained hospitalized today with head and arm injuries after being struck with a heavy object by assailants who were waiting…
CPJ decries jailing of U.S. reporter
Washington, July 6, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply disturbed that a U.S. judge has sentenced a journalist to prison for refusing to reveal her confidential source to a grand jury investigating the leak of a CIA operative’s identity. Judge Thomas F. Hogan, in a hearing in U.S. District Court, ordered Judith Miller of…
Two journalists jailed in Kabul
New York, July 5, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists is gravely concerned by the arrest of two reporters for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) in Asa’ad Abad, the capital of Konar Province in eastern Afghanistan late last week. The reporters remain in custody in the capital, Kabul, according to Radio Free Afghanistan’s chief editor, Sharifa…
Opposition daily hit by three libel judgments
New York, July 5, 2005—A district court in Minsk has handed down judgments against the opposition daily Narodnaya Volya (The People’s Will) in three separate civil defamation trials and ordered the daily to pay a total of 115 million Belarusian rubles (US$53,500) in damages, according to local and international reports. Narodnaya Volya staff told the…
Al-Iraqiya journalist abducted, killed in Mosul
New York, July 5, 2005—An Iraqi television producer for the state news channel Al-Iraqiya was killed on Friday in Mosul after being kidnapped earlier in the day, according to international press reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists is investigating the circumstances surrounding the slaying of Khaled al-Attar, who produced a program satirizing government officials. Insurgents…