Attacks on the Press in 2012: Europe & Central Asia

12 years ago

Analyses and data track press freedom conditions. Elisabeth Witchel recounts a mother’s anguished pursuit of justice in Russia. Nina Ognianova and Kristin Jones examine the implications of repressive nations hosting the Olympics. And Jean-Paul Marthoz reveals the censorship imposed by religious extremists.

Europe & Central Asia

Video: CPJ Risk List

From Russia, where repressive laws are taking effect, to Turkey, where dozens of journalists are jailed, here are the 10 countries where press freedom suffered the most in 2012.

Analysis

Tarnishing the Olympic Image
By Kristin Jones and Nina Ognianova

Countries hosting the Olympics assume global obligations. What if they renege?

Analysis

A Mother Seeks Justice in Russia
By Elisabeth Witchel

Her son’s murder unsolved, Rimma Maksimova pursues a landmark case.

Analysis

Extremists Censor Story of Religion
By Jean-Paul Marthoz

Editors think twice, reporters do not dig deeply, columnists choose words carefully.

Analysis

Beyond Article 19
By Joel Simon

The right to news and opinion is enshrined in international law. It’s not enough.

Europe & Central Asia

Jailings by Charge in 2012 *

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	48	Anti-state charges
	12	Retaliatory charges
	2	Censorship violations
	1	Defamation
	1	No charges disclosed

* Based on Dec. 1, 2012, census

Regional Data

1

Journalist Killed in 2012

19

Journalists in Exile, 2007-12

153

Journalists Killed Since 1992

64

Imprisoned on December 1, 2012

74

Unsolved Journalist Murders Since 1992

11

Missing as of December 31, 2012

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Azerbaijan

9 Imprisoned on December 1, a sharp rise from the previous year. State cracks down as it hosts Eurovision song contest.

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Belarus

10th Most censored country, CPJ finds. Politicized prosecutions, raids, and travel bans are used against critics.

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France

5 Major legal attacks against news outlets are waged in 2012, from lawsuits to subpoenas.

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Hungary

315 European Parliament votes condemning repressive media law.

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Kazakhstan

5 Serious assaults. One victim was stabbed after criticizing the government’s violent response to the Zhanaozen labor dispute.

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Kyrgyzstan

7 Human rights defenders and groups seeking the release of jailed reporter Azimjon Askarov.

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Russia

9th Impunity Index ranking, reflecting a poor record in combating anti-press violence.

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Tajikistan

16 News websites blocked, including prominent domestic and international sites.

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Turkey

49 Imprisoned on December 1, making Turkey the world’s worst jailer of the press.

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Ukraine

60 Anti-press abuses reported in September alone as tensions rose with the approaching parliamentary election.

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United Kingdom

1,987 Pages in the Leveson report, which called for a press regulator backed by statute.

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Uzbekistan

6th Most censored nation, CPJ finds. No independent news media operate domestically.

Country reports in this chapter were researched and written by Nina Ognianova, CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia program coordinator, along with CPJ Research Associate Muzaffar Suleymanov, CPJ’s Brussels-based senior adviser, Jean-Paul Marthoz, and CPJ’s U.K.-based consultant, Elisabeth Witchel.