Kazakhstan publishes ‘foreign agent’ register with names of journalists and media outlets
New York, September 21, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed concern over Kazakhstan’s publishing of the names of journalists, media outlets, press freedom organizations, and information agencies as part of a new registry of individuals and entities that receive foreign funding. “Kazakhstan’s inclusion of journalists, media, and human rights organizations in a published list of…
Proposed Russian legislation expands ‘foreign agent’ regulations
Paris, June 28, 2022 — Russian legislators should not pass a new bill to expand the country’s regulations concerning so-called “foreign agents,” and should let the press operate freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. The country’s current foreign agent legislation requires the Ministry of Justice to prove that a person or organization has…
Russia-Ukraine watch
How the war is affecting press freedom in the region Updated June 16, 2022 Russia’s February 24 full-scale invasion of Ukraine marked a sharp escalation in threats to press freedom in the region and beyond. Journalists in Ukraine have been killed covering the war, while many of their Russian counterparts have fled or faced persecution….
Poland charges Spanish freelance reporter with spying for Russia
Berlin, March 4, 2022 – In response to multiple reports that Polish authorities charged Spanish freelance reporter Pablo González with spying for Russia on Tuesday, March 1, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement expressing concern: “We are concerned by Poland’s indictment of Spanish freelance reporter Pablo González on charges of spying for…
Russian Nobel Prize winner Dmitry Muratov fined under foreign agent law
Vilnius, Lithuania, November 19, 2021 — Russian authorities should stop harassing journalist Dmitry Muratov and cease labelling news outlets and members of the press as “foreign agents,” the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Muratov and Philippine journalist Maria Ressa were jointly awarded the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize in October. On November 11, the Basmanny…
Russian authorities add Dozhd, IStories to ‘foreign agents’ register
Stockholm, August 25, 2021 – Russian authorities should cease labeling news outlets as “foreign agents,” and should let all independent media companies work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On August 20, the Justice Ministry added Dozhd, the country’s biggest independent TV channel, and IStories fonds, the Latvia-based publisher of independent investigative news…
Russia designates independent outlets Meduza and PASMI as ‘foreign agents’
New York, April 26, 2021 – Russian authorities should reverse their decision to designate independent media outlets Meduza and PASMI as foreign agents, and should repeal or reform the country’s foreign agent law, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On April 23, Russia’s Justice Ministry added the independent Latvia-based news website Meduza to its…
Russian regulator announces fines for RFE/RL outlets under expanded ‘foreign agent’ law
New York, January 14, 2021 – Russian authorities should repeal the country’s foreign agents law to ensure that local and foreign news outlets can work freely, and in the meantime refrain from fining media organizations over alleged violations of the law, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On January 12, Roskomnadzor, the country’s media…
Several foreign news outlets required to register as foreign agents in US
Since 2017, U.S. legislators and the Department of Justice have required multiple foreign-funded news organizations to register under the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA), a law designed to compel transparency from agents of foreign entities operating inside the United States, according to news reports, public records, and letters from the Department of Justice.
Russia votes on bill to require journalists to register as foreign agents
Kiev, January 16, 2018–Russia’s State Duma should drop a bill that would require some bloggers and journalists to register as foreign agents, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The Duma on January 12 voted overwhelmingly to approve the bill, the state news agency RIA Novosti reported.