Ethiopian journalist Abebe Bayu detained 1 day after colleague Yayesew Shimelis arrested
Nairobi, July 6, 2022 – Ethiopian authorities should unconditionally release journalist Abebe Bayu and all other members of the press held for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. At about 10 p.m. on June 29, men in civilian clothes who identified themselves as security personnel arrested Abebe at his home in Addis…
In Uzbekistan, Karakalpak journalist Lolagul Kallykhanova disappears after covering protests
Stockholm, July 5, 2022 – In response to news reports that journalist Lolagul Kallykhanova has gone missing after covering protests in Uzbekistan’s western semi-autonomous Karakalpakstan Republic, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement calling for authorities to provide any information on her whereabouts: “The disappearance of journalist Lolagul Kallykhanova is deeply concerning; Uzbek…
CPJ calls for US to pursue accountability in Shireen Abu Akleh killing
New York, July 5, 2022 – The U.S. government should ensure that those responsible for the killing of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akhleh are held to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On Monday, July 4, State Department spokesperson Ned Price released a statement saying that a U.S. forensic investigation concluded that…
DRC journalist Chilassy Bofumbo acquitted; two other reporters remain behind bars
Kinshasa, July 5, 2022 — A judge at the High Court in Mbandaka, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s western Équateur province, on Tuesday acquitted and released journalist Chilassy Bofumbo, who had been jailed since he covered a November 2021 protest, according to the journalist, who spoke to CPJ by messaging app…
Imprisoned Belarus journalist Katsiaryna Andreyeva begins new trial on treason charges
New York, July 5, 2022 – Belarus authorities should immediately and unconditionally release journalist Katsiaryna Andreyeva and stop prosecuting members of the press over their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On July 4, Andreyeva’s trial on treason charges started behind closed doors in the southeastern city of Homel, according to a Facebook post by…
Radio reporter Federico Gempesaw shot and killed in the Philippines
Bangkok, July 5, 2022 – Philippine authorities must launch a swift and comprehensive investigation into the killing of radio journalist Federico “Ding” Gempesaw and swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On the morning of June 29, two masked assailants shot Gempesaw at close range in front of his…
CPJ joins statement welcoming Dutch government’s proposed policy changes on journalist safety
On July 1, 2022, the Committee to Protect Journalists joined seven other press freedom organizations in a joint statement welcoming a letter by the Dutch government to Parliament proposing a new policy approach on media freedom and journalist safety. That June 29 letter took into consideration reports and recommendations by domestic and international press and…
Frontline diary: A day in the life of a Ukraine war correspondent
Ruslan Smieshchuk, a reporter for privately owned Ukrainian TV channel Inter, had long dreamed of being a war correspondent when he covered his first conflict, the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, for local Odessa TV channel ATV. Now he hopes that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war will be his last battlefield assignment. “War is a lot of pain and grief,” he told CPJ. The 38-year-old…
CPJ Insider: July 2022 edition
CPJ opens the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Press Freedom Center in New York In early June, CPJ held its grand opening of The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Press Freedom Center, the site of our global headquarters in New York. The new space will serve as a convening hub for…
Somalia journalists injured in explosion while covering military campaign against Al-Shabaab
Lusaka, July 1, 2022 – Somali authorities should immediately and thoroughly investigate the explosion that killed three people and injured journalists Abdikarin Mohamed Siyad and Khalid Mohamud Osman, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On Monday, June 27, a vehicle carrying the journalists along with government and military…