Belarusian journalist Yury Hantsarevich sentenced to 2.5 years on extremism charges
Stockholm, July 14, 2022 – In response to a Belarus court’s sentencing of journalist Yury Hantsarevich to two years and six months in prison on an extremism charge Thursday, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement calling for authorities not to contest his appeal. “Sentenced today for taking photographs, Yury Hantsarevich is merely…
CPJ calls on EU to hold India to account for media clampdown
Brussels, July 13, 2022 – The Committee to Protect Journalists on Wednesday called on the European External Action Service to hold Indian authorities accountable for widespread and severe press freedom violations when they meet for the annual India-EU Human Rights Dialogue on Friday, July 15. “The dialogue should be an opportunity for the EU to…
Belarusian journalist Katsiaryna Andreyeva convicted of treason, sentenced to additional 8 years imprisonment
Paris, July 13, 2022 — In response to a Belarusian court’s conviction Wednesday of journalist Katsiaryna Andreyeva on treason charges, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement condemning the decision. “By convicting journalist Katsiaryna Andreyeva on ludicrous treason charges only a few months before the end of her first prison term, Belarusian authorities…
Russian authorities move to shutter journalist union JMWU over Ukraine war content
Paris, July 11, 2022 — In response to news reports that the Moscow prosecutor’s office has requested the closure of the independent Russian Journalists’ and Media Workers’ Union (JMWU) trade group, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement calling for authorities to cease harassing the union and to let it work freely: “Russian…
In Uzbekistan, Karakalpak journalist Lolagul Kallykhanova disappears after covering protests
Stockholm, July 5, 2022 – In response to news reports that journalist Lolagul Kallykhanova has gone missing after covering protests in Uzbekistan’s western semi-autonomous Karakalpakstan Republic, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement calling for authorities to provide any information on her whereabouts: “The disappearance of journalist Lolagul Kallykhanova is deeply concerning; Uzbek…
CPJ calls for US to pursue accountability in Shireen Abu Akleh killing
New York, July 5, 2022 – The U.S. government should ensure that those responsible for the killing of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akhleh are held to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On Monday, July 4, State Department spokesperson Ned Price released a statement saying that a U.S. forensic investigation concluded that…
DRC journalist Chilassy Bofumbo acquitted; two other reporters remain behind bars
Kinshasa, July 5, 2022 — A judge at the High Court in Mbandaka, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s western Équateur province, on Tuesday acquitted and released journalist Chilassy Bofumbo, who had been jailed since he covered a November 2021 protest, according to the journalist, who spoke to CPJ by messaging app…
Imprisoned Belarus journalist Katsiaryna Andreyeva begins new trial on treason charges
New York, July 5, 2022 – Belarus authorities should immediately and unconditionally release journalist Katsiaryna Andreyeva and stop prosecuting members of the press over their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On July 4, Andreyeva’s trial on treason charges started behind closed doors in the southeastern city of Homel, according to a Facebook post by…
Turkey blocks websites of Voice of America and Deutsche Welle
Istanbul, July 1, 2022 – In response to news reports that Turkish authorities blocked the websites of the U.S. Congress-funded broadcaster Voice of America and German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle on Thursday, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement of condemnation: “Turkish authorities’ censorship of the international broadcasters Voice of America and Deutsche…
Cuban journalist Lázaro Yuri Valle Roca faces 6-year prison sentence for ‘sharing enemy propaganda’
New York, June 30, 2022 — The Committee to Protect Journalists on Thursday called on Cuban authorities to refrain from sentencing freelance journalist Lázaro Yuri Valle Roca to prison, to drop all charges against him, and to release the journalist, who has been held for more than a year in pretrial detention. In a closed-door hearing…