Taliban detain and release at least 7 journalists and media workers; ban broadcasts from BBC, VOA, DW
New York, March 28, 2022 — The Taliban must cease detaining journalists for their work and lift all bans on news outlets’ operations, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. Since Saturday, March 26, Taliban forces have detained and then released at least seven journalists and media workers, and have ordered local outlets to stop…
British journalist Martin Banks detained and questioned by UK border police, equipment confiscated
Berlin, March 28, 2022 — British authorities must immediately explain the reason for their detention and questioning of journalist Martin Banks, and guarantee the protection of his journalistic sources, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On February 26, U.K. border police at the Eurotunnel train terminal in Calais, France, detained Banks for about six…
Russian authorities harass, detain journalists with independent news outlet Sota.Vision
Paris, March 25, 2022 – Russian authorities should stop harassing journalists from the independent news website Sota.Vision, and allow all members of the press to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. Since March 7, authorities have detained at least seven journalists with Sota.Vision, including two who were sentenced to multiple days in…
Formula TV, Mtavari Arkhi crews attacked in Georgia
New York, March 25, 2022 – Georgian authorities should thoroughly investigate two recent attacks on camera crews working for independent and pro-opposition television stations Mtavari Arkhi and Formula TV and ensure that all perpetrators are held to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. At around 7 p.m. on March 17, Formula TV reporter…
Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchina released after 10 days; at least 4 other journalists briefly detained
Paris, March 22, 2022 – Russian forces in Ukraine must immediately cease detaining journalists and should ensure that members of the press can cover the war in Ukraine freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On Tuesday, March 22, the independent Ukrainian television station Hromadske announced that Viktoria Roshchina, a reporter with the station…
Opinion: Putin tolerated some critical voices in his 22-year assault on Russian media. His war in Ukraine ends even that.
On the morning after Boris Yeltsin stunned the world by resigning and turning over the Russian presidency to Vladimir Putin, The New York Times published a “man in the news” column that struggled to define the new leader. Putin was a man who “would never deceive you,” promised his political mentor and former St. Petersburg…
Supporters of Peruvian President Pedro Castillo assault 5 journalists covering protests
Bogotá, March 16, 2022 – Peruvian authorities must investigate the recent attacks on five journalists by supporters of President Pedro Castillo outside Peru’s Congress building and guarantee that the press can cover political demonstrations safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. During a March 8 vote by Peru’s legislature to approve Castillo’s new cabinet,…
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….
Sierra Leone journalist Alusine Antha beaten while covering land dispute
Abuja, March 11, 2022 — Sierra Leone authorities should swiftly identify and hold to account those responsible for the recent attack on journalist Alusine Antha, the Committee to Protect Journalist said Friday. On February 17, in the western city of Waterloo, a group of about 30 people attacked Antha while he covered a meeting over…
Opinion: How the West can help the media victims of Putin’s war
Russia’s independent journalists are fleeing. That’s not only a tragedy for Russians but also for the rest of us who need to know what the increasingly isolated leader of a nuclear superpower is doing. Since sending tanks into Ukraine on February 24, President Vladimir Putin has threatened to jail anyone who dares question the invasion…