CPJ concerned about harassment of journalists in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic
New York, June 18, 2004—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is concerned that authorities in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR)—a mountainous enclave in southwest Azerbaijan—have harassed two journalists writing about politics, economics, and social issues, including local government corruption. Melakhet Nasibova, a correspondent for the Azerbaijani news agency Turan and the Azerbaijani Service of the…
CPJ calls for review of case of imprisoned journalist
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a New York-based independent organization dedicated to defending press freedom worldwide, is concerned that Uzbek authorities have failed to meet their commitment to review the case of Ruslan Sharipov, an independent journalist and human rights activist. He is currently serving a four-year prison sentence for sodomy and having sexual relations with minors.
Court acquits suspects in journalist’s murder for a second time
New York, June 11, 2004—Yesterday the Moscow Military District Court again acquitted the six suspects in the October 1994 murder of Dmitry Kholodov, a popular journalist for the Moscow-based independent newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets. The trial is the second one in the case. On June 26, 2002, the same court fully acquitted the defendants—former intelligence officers…
CPJ sends letter to prime minister about intimidation of local media
Dear Mr. Prime Minister: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is alarmed by the Grenadian government’s recent attempts to intimidate the local media, including legal actions against the press for reporting alleged wrongdoing by you.
Federal Security Services refuse to issue international passport to journalist Pasko
New York, June 4, 2004—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is concerned that the Russian Federal Security Services (FSB) has failed to approve an application for a foreign passport for journalist Grigory Pasko. It is standard procedure in Russia that the FSB clear applications for foreign passports before they are processed.
LEADING TV NEWS SHOW CANCELED, ANCHOR FIRED
New York, June 2, 2004—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is concerned by reports that the popular news program “Namedni” (Recently) on the television channel NTV was canceled under government pressure. Leonid Parfyonov, anchor of the show, was also fired, according to local and international reports. On Sunday, May 30, Parfyonov was scheduled to air…
CPJ calls on Azerbaijan to allow journalist to return to country
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply concerned that Azerbaijani journalist Irada Huseynova, who lives and works in Moscow, cannot attend an international meeting of freedom of expression groups in Azerbaijan in mid-June because she faces arrest on criminal defamation charges should she return to the capital, Baku. Huseynova was invited by the Toronto-based International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), which will hold its meeting in Baku beginning June 14.
Opposition newspaper editor shot dead
New York, May 28, 2004 – Dusko Jovanovic, the controversial publisher and editor-in-chief of the opposition daily Dan, was killed in a drive-by shooting early Friday morning as he was leaving his office in the Montenegrin capital of Podgorica, according to local and international news reports. Unidentified assailants used an automatic rifle to shoot Jovanovic…