Togolese journalists Ferdinand Ayité and Isidore Kouwonou sentenced to 3 years in prison
New York, March 17, 2023 — In response to news reports that a Togolese court on Wednesday sentenced journalists Ferdinand Ayité and Isidore Kouwonou to three years in prison for insulting authorities, the Committee to Protect Journalists released the following statement of condemnation: “Togolese authorities should not contest the appeals of L’Alternative publisher Ferdinand Ayité…
Authorities detain journalists throughout Belarus, 5 remain in custody
Paris, March 16, 2023 — Belarusian authorities should release all journalists held for their work and stop harassing and intimidating members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Since March 10, authorities have detained at least seven journalists throughout the country, five of whom remain in custody, and raided the office of…
CPJ calls on Uzbek authorities to ensure Karakalpak journalists are not imprisoned for their work
Stockholm, March 16, 2023 – Uzbekistan authorities should ensure that members of the press are not prosecuted for their work and should refrain from attempts to intimidate journalists and their families during trials, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Friday, March 17, a court in the southern city of Bukhara is scheduled to…
French journalist Cemil Şanlı receives death threat, accosted outside home
Berlin, March 16, 2023 — French authorities should thoroughly investigate threats and insults received by journalist Cemil Şanlı and take immediate steps to ensure his safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On the morning of March 2, Şanlı, a broadcast journalist for the privately owned independent news outlet Le Média TV, received a…
Maldives parliament considers amendment restricting journalists’ coverage of elections
New York, March 15, 2023—Maldives legislators should reject or revise a recently proposed legislative amendment restricting journalists’ ability to cover elections, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On Monday, March 13, the Maldives parliament opened debate regarding an amendment to the country’s General Elections Act proposed in mid-February by a lawmaker with the ruling…
CPJ reiterates call for Rwanda to investigate John Williams Ntwali’s death
Nairobi, March 15, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists today joined 85 other organizations in reiterating calls for the Rwandan government to allow an independent, impartial investigation into the death of investigative journalist John Williams Ntwali. Authorities said that Ntwali died on January 18 in a road accident in the Rwandan capital Kigali, but CPJ and other…
DRC defense minister files, withdraws false news complaint against reporter Stanis Bujakera
On March 9, 2023, Congolese Minister of Defense Gilbert Kabanda filed a criminal complaint accusing journalist Stanis Bujakera Tshiamala of publishing false rumors, according to news reports and a copy of that complaint, which CPJ reviewed. The complaint stemmed from a March 5 tweet by Bujakera, a correspondent for the France-based Jeune Afrique news website,…
Zambian police briefly detain 2 Millennium TV journalists covering protest
Lusaka, March 14, 2023—Zambian authorities should refrain from detaining members of the press and should ensure journalists can cover protests without fear of arrest, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On March 10, authorities detained Namo Phiri and Abel Musonda, journalists at the privately owned broadcaster Millennium TV, while they covered a protest by…
China should improve overseas media accreditation, access following restrictive political meetings
Taipei, March 14, 2023 – Chinese authorities should allow international media to cover events and political gatherings without restrictions, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday, after several accredited journalists reported being denied access or having access restricted to the first major political meetings since China relaxed its zero-COVID policy. The state-run China Daily…
Georgian authorities deny entry to Russian journalist Aleksandra Shvedchenko
Paris, March 14, 2023 – Georgian authorities should allow Russian journalists to enter the country and work safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On Tuesday, March 14, border guards at the airport in Tbilisi, the capital, held Aleksandra Shvedchenko, a reporter with independent broadcaster Dozhd TV, for about 30 minutes before denying her…