Belarusian authorities start trial of Aliaksandr Ziankou, bring charges against Ales Sabaleuski, detain Yauhen Hlushkou
New York, January 18, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Belarusian authorities to drop all charges against journalist Aliaksandr Ziankou and to disclose the charges against journalist Ales Sabaleuski and the reason for the recent detention of journalist Yauhen Hlushkou. On January 12, Minsk City Court began the trial of Ziankou, a freelance photojournalist,…
CPJ calls for release of all jailed Iranian journalists after bail granted to Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi
Washington, D.C., January 17, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes Iran’s decision to grant bail to journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi while they await the outcome of appeals against their lengthy jail sentences, but calls on Iranian authorities to drop all charges and release all journalists still being held in connection with their work….
Kyrgyzstan authorities raid news outlets 24.kg and Temirov Live, arrest journalists
Stockholm, January 16, 2024 — Kyrgyz authorities should drop criminal investigations into privately owned news website 24.kg and investigative outlet Temirov Live, release all detained current and former members of Temirov Live, and end their crackdown on the independent press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On Monday, officers from Kyrgyzstan’s State Committee for…
Tunisian journalist Zied el-Heni arrested after criticizing commerce minister
New York, January 2, 2024—Tunisian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Zied el-Heni and drop all charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On December 28, police arrested el-Heni, a prominent columnist and political commentator for the daily “Émission Impossible” show on the independent radio station IFM, after he responded to…
Hungary’s Russian-style national sovereignty bill threatens independent media
Berlin, December 15, 2023—Hungary’s president should decline to approve a law creating a Sovereignty Protection Authority, which local media outlets have warned could be used to stifle independent journalism supported by overseas donors, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On Tuesday, December 12, Hungary’s parliament passed a bill to establish a government authority with…
CPJ calls for Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai’s release ahead of national security trial
New York, December 15, 2023 – The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Hong Kong authorities to release publisher Jimmy Lai ahead of the scheduled start of his national security trial on December 18. The 76-year-old Lai could be jailed for life if convicted. Lai, a British citizen and founder of the now-shuttered pro-democracy newspaper…
Russia brings new charges against jailed journalists Alsu Kurmasheva and Maria Ponomarenko, targets exiled journalist Masha Gessen
Paris, December 14, 2023—Russian authorities must immediately release journalists Alsu Kurmasheva and Maria Ponomarenko, drop all charges against them, and stop harassing exiled members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Tuesday, the Telegram channel Baza and state news agency Tatar-Inform reported that Kurmasheva, a dual U.S.-Russian national and an editor…
Belarusian authorities detain at least two Ranak journalists
New York, December 8, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the detention of Belarusian journalists Liudmila Andenka and Yulia Dovletova, and calls on Belarusian authorities to release them immediately. “Belarusian authorities continue using their shameful ‘extremism’ legislation by imprisoning journalists who have worked for media that they have arbitrarily banned from operating in the country,”…
Azerbaijani journalist Nargiz Absalamova detained for 3 months amid crackdown on Abzas Media
Stockholm, December 1, 2023 – The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns an Azerbaijani court decision on Friday to detain journalist Nargiz Absalamova for three months and calls on Azerbaijani authorities to release her and her jailed Abzas Media colleagues. “The continued arrests of Abzas Media journalists are unacceptable and only show how Azerbaijani authorities are…