Statements

  
Tanzanian investigative journalist Erick Kabendera is seen in Dar es Salaam on August 19, 2019. Kabendera has experienced health problems while in detention, his lawyer said. (Reuters/Emmanuel Herman)

Detained Tanzanian journalist Erick Kabendera in need of medical attention

Nairobi, August 30, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today expressed concern about reports that detained Tanzanian journalist Erick Kabendera’s health is failing and called for Tanzanian authorities to release him immediately.

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Kirill Vyshinsky, director of the Ukrainian office of the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, talks to the media after a court ordered his release on bail, in Kyiv, Ukraine August 28, 2019. (Reuters/Serhii Nuzhnenko)

Ukraine authorities should drop charges against Russian journalist Kirill Vyshynsky

Washington, D.C., August 28, 2019 — A Kyiv court today ruled to release Russian journalist Kirill Vyshynsky on bail while he awaits trial, according to news reports. Vyshynsky, the Kyiv bureau chief for Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, had been detained since May 2018 on treason charges, according to those reports.

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Tehran, Iran, is seen on August 19, 2019. Reporter Marzieh Amiri was recently sentenced to 10.5 years in jail by a Tehran court. (AP/Vahid Salemi)

Iran sentences journalist Marzieh Amiri to 10.5 years in prison, 148 lashes

Washington D.C., August 26, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today strongly condemned the Tehran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps Branch 28 Court’s sentencing of Shargh Daily economics reporter Marzieh Amiri to 10 and a half years in prison and 148 lashes.

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A visitor walks past company exhibition stands at the Cybertech 2019 conference in Tel Aviv, Israel, on January 29, 2019. Reuters reported on August 22, 2019, that Israel has eased export controls on surveillance technologies. (Reuters/Amir Cohen)

Israel eased export controls on surveillance technologies amid criticism

New York, August 22, 2019–Israeli officials confirmed that, under a rule change by the Defense Ministry, Israeli surveillance companies are able to obtain exemptions on marketing license for the sale of some products to certain countries, Reuters reported today. It is not clear which companies, and which products, were impacted; however, Reuters reported that the…

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A man reads a Cuban newspaper in Havana on May 19, 2018. Cuba sentences journalist Roberto Quiñones to one-year prison term on August 7, 2019. (AFP/Yamil Lage)

Cuba sentences journalist Roberto Quiñones to one-year prison term

Miami, August 8, 2019–A municipal court of the Cuban city of Guantánamo yesterday sentenced Roberto Jesús Quiñones, a contributor to the news website CubaNet, to one year in prison on charges of “resistance” and “disobedience,” according to advocacy group Cuban Institute for Freedom of Expression and of the Press and media reports.

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Journalists hold placards on January 10, 2016, during a march in Istanbul as they protest against the imprisonment of journalists. On July 16, 2019, a Turkish court ordered service providers to block access to several news sites. (AFP/Ozan Kose)

Turkish court orders service providers to block access to news sites

Istanbul, August 6, 2019–An Ankara court on July 16 ordered Turkish internet service providers to block access in Turkey to 136 web addresses, independent news website Bianet reported today. The blocked addresses include the websites of news outlets Bianet, ETHA news agency, Halkın Sesi TV, Özgür Gelecek, osp.org, geziyisavunuyoruz.org, Gazete Fersude, Yeni Demokratik Gençlik, Umut…

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Freelance journalist Erick Kabendera, who is detained in Tanzania. (Jamii Forums)

Tanzania switches track, charges Kabendera with economic crimes

Nairobi, August 05, 2019—Prosecutors in Tanzania today charged freelance journalist Erick Kabendera with money laundering, tax evasion, and assisting an organized crime racket, according to a copy of the charge sheet. When he was detained on July 29, the Dar es Salaam police chief said at a press conference that police were investigating Kabendera’s citizenship…

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Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz (right) casts his ballot on June 22, 2019, at a polling station in Nouakchott during the presidential election. Mauritania freed blogger Mohamed Cheikh Ould Mohamed, who had been imprisoned since 2014, on July 29, 2019. (AFP/Sia Kambou)

Mauritania finally frees blogger Mohamed Cheikh Ould Mohamed

Washington D.C., July 30, 2019–The Committee to Protect Journalists today expressed relief that Mauritanian blogger Mohamed Cheikh Ould Mohamed is free and safely out of the country. Mohamed was released yesterday and left Mauritania, according to news reports, citing his lawyer and official government news sources.

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Journalist Azimjon Askarov is seen in a courtroom in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on October 11, 2016. A court today upheld his life sentence in prison. (AP/Vladimir Voronin, file)

Kyrgyz court upholds life sentence for Azimjon Askarov

Washington, D.C., July 30, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed deep disappointment and concern over today’s court decision in Kyrgyzstan to uphold the life sentence of journalist and human rights defender Azimjon Askarov.

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A local market in Dar es Salaam, pictured in May 31. A group of armed men forcefully took an investigative journalist from his home outside the city on July 29. (AFP/Said Khalfan)

Unidentified men take Erick Kabendera from Tanzanian home

Nairobi, July 29, 2019– The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned for the safety of investigative reporter Erick Kabendera who was forcefully removed from his home today, and called on Tanzanian police to disclose whether they have him in custody.

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