We issued the following statement today after authorities in the unrecognized Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic released an alleged confession by independent journalist Ernest Vardanian, who has been imprisoned since April 7 on trumped-up treason charges …
“We are deeply concerned about the well-being of our colleague Ernest Vardanian and call on Transdniester authorities to free him at once,” said CPJ Europe and Central Asia Program Coordinator Nina Ognianova. “The farcical footage aired on the local state television proves nothing else but the pressure to which this journalist has been subjected for over a month now. We call on Moldovan authorities and the international community to step up their efforts towards Vardanian’s release.”