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Aziz Orujov

Azerbaijan sentences Kanal 13 director Aziz Orujov to 2 years in prison

New York, February 28, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns an Azerbaijani court decision on February 26 sentencing Aziz Orujov, director of independent broadcaster Kanal 13, to two years in prison on illegal construction charges. “Amid an unprecedented crackdown that has seen dozens of journalists incarcerated, Azerbaijan authorities’ singling out of Aziz Orujov from among…

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Russia puts journalist under house arrest for ‘fake’ news about Ukraine war

New York, February 27, 2025—CPJ calls on Russian authorities to drop legal proceedings against 64-year-old Russian journalist Ekaterina Barabash, who is under house arrest and could be jailed for up to 10 years for criticizing Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On February 25, Ukrainian-born Barabash, a film critic for the independent outlet Republic, was detained…

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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attends a meeting in Russia in December 2024.

Belarusian journalist Palina Pitkevich’s extremism trial set to open

New York, February 27, 2025— Belarusian authorities should immediately release Belarusian journalist Palina Pitkevich, whose trial on charges of participating in an extremist organization is set to start on March 7, and stop jailing the press for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. “Palina Pitkevich’s detention is yet another grim reminder that…

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Truong Huy San, a well-known political commentator and author, was apprehended by the police on June 1 in the capital Hanoi while traveling to an event where he was scheduled to speak, according to news reports. (Screenshot: YouTube/RFI)

Vietnamese journalist Truong Huy San sentenced to 30 months in prison

Bangkok, February 27, 2025—Hanoi’s People’s Court sentenced Vietnamese journalist Truong Huy San to 30 months in prison on Thursday under a criminal provision that bars “abusing democratic freedoms to infringe on the interests of the State.” San, a well-known political commentator and author also known by his pen names Huy Duc and Osin, was convicted…

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Tetyana Kulyk

Ukrainian journalist Tetyana Kulyk killed by Russian drone in Kyiv region

New York, February 26, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the killing of Ukrainian journalist Tetyana Kulyk, editor-in-chief of the multimedia editorial department of state news agency Ukrinform, in a Russian drone attack on February 26. “The Russian drone strike that killed Ukrainian journalist Tetyana Kulyk just days after the grim three-year milestone of Russia’s…

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Journalist Blessed Mhlanga (left) in the capital's Harare Magistrates Court with his lawyer Chris Mhike (right) on February 25.

Zimbabwean journalist Blessed Mhlanga jailed over interviews with war veteran

Lusaka, February 26, 2025—CPJ calls on Zimbabwean authorities to free broadcast journalist Blessed Mhlanga, who has been in detention since February 24 on charges of incitement in connection to his critical interviews with a war veteran.  “It is absolutely shameful that Blessed Mhlanga has been thrown behind bars simply because he gave voice to a…

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Sai Zaw Thaike (Sai Zaw) of Myanmar Now

Myanmar journalist Sai Zaw Thaike repeatedly beaten, abused in prison

Bangkok, February 26, 2025—Myanmar’s military government must immediately end the physical abuse of imprisoned Myanmar Now photojournalist Sai Zaw Thaike, which appears to be in retaliation for his exposure of the mistreatment of inmates, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. Sai Zaw Thaike, who was sentenced to 20 years for sedition in 2023, has…

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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt takes a question during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C on February 25, 2025. (Photo: Reuters/Brian Snyder)

CPJ, SPJ, journalist groups call on Trump administration to restore AP access to White House  

We, the undersigned coalition of journalism and press freedom organizations, express our deep concern regarding the White House’s decision to bar Associated Press (AP) reporters from access to the Oval Office, Air Force One and other White House pool events. AP provides essential reporting that is published by thousands of outlets across the United States…

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Temirov Live’s director Makhabat Tajibek kyzy (right) and presenter Azamat Ishenbekov.

Kyrgyzstan Supreme Court upholds lengthy prison terms for Temirov Live journalists

New York, February 25, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists is dismayed by the Kyrgyzstan’s Supreme Court’s February 25 decision confirming sentences against three Temirov Live journalists on charges of calling for mass unrest, including a six-year prison term for Makhabat Tajibek kyzy, director of the anti-corruption investigative outlet, a five-year prison term for presenter Azamat…

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U.K. Foreign Minister David Lammy attends the G20 Foreign Minister Meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, on February 20, 2025. CPJ joined 24 organizations in writing a letter to Lammy, urging the U.K. government to lead on a joint statement to address Egypt’s human rights crisis. (Photo: AFP/Emmanuel Crosetafp)

CPJ: UK must lead joint statement on Egypt at UN Human Rights Council

The U.K. government must lead on a joint statement addressing Egypt’s human rights crisis, according to a February 19 letter sent by the Committee to Protect Journalists and 24 other press freedom and human rights organizations to U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy ahead of the 58th session of the U.N. Human Rights Council. The letter…

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