Q & A: Dzhavlon Mirzakhodzhayev on Kyrgyz ‘justice’
On October 28, a regional court in Jalal-Abad, southern Kyrgyzstan, announced its verdict in the trial of six men–all ethnic Uzbeks–charged in connection with violent ethnic conflict in June 2010. Among the defendants were owners of what was once the region’s most influential media–Khalil Khudaiberdiyev of Osh TV and Dzhavlon Mirzakhodzhayev of Mezon TV. The…
Kyrgyzstan no ‘island of democracy’ as it censors the press
Kyrgyzstan is an “island of democracy” where authorities guarantee freedom of speech and reporting on protest rallies is not a crime, Kyrgyz government officials told an audience. They were speaking at a May 26 round-table discussion at the Open Society Institute in New York. CPJ vehemently disagreed. We had reported on the ongoing prosecution of…
Attacks on the Press 2010: Kyrgyzstan
Top Developments • Bakiyev censors news media in a failed attempt to hold power. • Amid ethnic clashes, Uzbek journalists and outlets targeted for reprisals. Key Statistic 2: Ethnic Uzbek journalists imprisoned as of December 1. In a year of political revolt and deadly ethnic turmoil, successive presidential administrations cracked down on the press, using…
Mae Azango Award Acceptance Speech
Mae Azango, LiberiaFrontPage Africa and New Narratives Acceptance SpeechCPJ International Press Freedom Award 2012November 20, 2012Waldorf-Astoria, 301 Park Avenue, New York City Ladies and Gentlemen This is my shortest speech ever, because I can talk non-stop for hours without knowing it, but I will try my best to keep it short and simple, (KISS) as…
Alan Rusbridger Award Acceptance Speech
Alan Rusbridger, U.KThe GuardianAcceptance SpeechCPJ Burton Benjamin Memorial Award 2012November 20, 2012Waldorf-Astoria, 301 Park Avenue, New York CityI feel rather unworthy to be on stage tonight – to be honoured on the same night as four extraordinary journalists who have risked literally everything – their freedom, their health and even their lives – in the…
Video: Free the Press
2012 CPJ International Press Freedom Awards (Courtesy of CNN) CPJ’s Free the Press video premiered at the 2012 International Press Freedom Awards ceremony. The video, which features the growing plight of imprisoned journalists worldwide, will become the centerpiece of the forthcoming Free the Press, a campaign dedicated to winning the release of imprisoned journalists. More…
Mauri König, Brazil
2012 CPJ International Press Freedom Awardee (Courtesy of CNN) To watch Mauri König’s acceptance speech, click here. Mauri König’s 22-year career as a journalist has led him to become one of Brazil’s premier investigative reporters. His extensive investigations, in which he has exposed human rights abuses and corruption, have brought him worldwide acclaim and numerous…
Dhondup Wangchen, China
2012 CPJ International Press Freedom Awardee (Courtesy of CNN) Dhondup Wangchen is a self-taught Tibetan documentary filmmaker who conceived and shot the film “Leaving Fear Behind“ to portray life in Tibet in advance of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Shortly after his footage was smuggled overseas, Wangchen disappeared into Chinese detention. His colleagues in Switzerland…