Armenian court orders freeze on assets of journalist Davit Sargsyan and outlet 168 Hours
Stockholm, May 23, 2023— A court in the Armenian capital of Yerevan should unfreeze the assets of journalist Davit Sargsyan and the independent news outlet 168 Hours, and the country’s authorities should ensure that members of the press do not face legal retaliation for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On May…
CPJ deeply disappointed by retrial verdict for murder of Slovak journalist Ján Kuciak
Berlin, May 19, 2023 —The Committee to Protect Journalists has called for Slovak authorities to continue seeking justice for the 2018 murder of Slovak journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina Kušnírová, following Friday’s decision by a criminal court to acquit businessperson Marián Kočner, the suspected mastermind of the killing. The court convicted Alena Zsuzsová,…
CPJ to present 2023 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award to Alberto Ibargüen, president of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
CPJ announced Thursday that it will honor Alberto Ibargüen, president of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, with the 2023 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award. The award is presented by CPJ’s board of directors in recognition of extraordinary and sustained commitment to press freedom. “Alberto Ibargüen has been a visionary leader in journalism,”…
In Marcos Jr.’s Philippines, milder tone belies harsh media reality
At a waterfront courthouse in Tacloban City, a long-time hotbed of communist insurgency in the Philippines’ Eastern Visayas island region, heavily armed guards were escorting jailed journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio to trial. The picturesque setting belied the harsh reality of the April 17 hearing. Cumpio could be put behind bars for life if found guilty…
Lesotho journalist Ralikonelo Joki killed after radio show
Lusaka, May 15, 2023—Lesotho authorities must launch a credible investigation into the killing of journalist Ralikonelo ‘Leqhashasha’ Joki and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. Around 10 p.m. on Sunday, May 14, an unknown number of people shot Joki in the head once and body at least 13 times as…
Colombian journalist Luis Gabriel Pereira shot and killed in town of Ciénaga de Oro
Bogotá, May 12, 2023—Colombian authorities must thoroughly investigate the killing of journalist Luis Gabriel Pereira, determine if he was targeted for his work, and bring those responsible to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On Tuesday, May 9, two gunmen aboard a motorcycle fatally shot Pereira while he was riding his motorcycle in…
Mexican President López Obrador repeatedly criticizes news outlets and press freedom group over spyware coverage
Mexico City, May 11, 2023—Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador must stop making baseless criticisms of local news outlets and the international free expression organization Article 19, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Since March, López Obrador has sharply criticized Article 19, national investigative magazine Proceso, privately owned online news outlets Animal Político and…
Ghanaian journalist Abubakari Sadiq Gariba attacked, threatened by politician and aide
[Editors’ Note: Since the publication of this report, CPJ learned that a Tamale District Court convicted Iddrisu Hardi and Mumuni Osman for “conspiracy to commit crime, assault, unlawful entry and threat of death,” according to Twitter posts by the Ghana Police Service. The pair pleaded guilty to all four charges and paid a fine of 3,600 cedis (US$306).]…
Peruvian outlet IDL-Reporteros targeted by protests, death threats from right-wing group
Bogotá, May 10, 2023 – Peruvian authorities must take seriously the recent threats made to the investigative news website IDL-Reporteros and hold those responsible for harassing the outlet to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On May 5, about 50 protesters with the right-wing political group La Resistencia gathered at IDL-Reporteros’ office in…
AFP journalist Arman Soldin killed while covering war in Ukraine
Paris, May 9, 2023—In response to multiple news reports that journalist Arman Soldin was killed on Tuesday, May 9, near the Ukrainian city of Chasiv Yar, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “The Committee to Protect Journalists is profoundly saddened by the death of journalist Arman Soldin while covering the war in…