Russia detains Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich on espionage charges
Paris, March 30, 2023—Russian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Wall Street Journal reporter and U.S. citizen Evan Gershkovich, drop all charges against him, and allow the media to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Thursday, March 30, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) stated that it had detained Gershkovich, a…
Russian authorities in Crimea deny medical treatment for jailed journalist Iryna Danylovych
Paris, March 28, 2023—Authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea should allow journalist Iryna Danylovych access to swift and thorough medical care, and should release all members of the press held for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. Russian authorities have held Danylovych, a nurse and freelance journalist covering the healthcare system, since April 2022….
Unidentified attackers open fire on office of Albanian broadcaster Top Channel, kill security guard
Berlin, March 28, 2023—Albanian authorities must quickly and thoroughly investigate the recent attack on the privately owned TV station Top Channel and ensure those responsible are brought to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. Shortly after midnight on Monday, March 27, unidentified people fired 20 to 25 bullets from a vehicle as they…
Belarus orders 3 journalists detained for 15 days
Paris, March 27, 2023—Belarusian authorities should drop all charges against journalists Dzmitry Suslau, Syarhei Stankevich, and Aleh Rubchenya, and free them immediately, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On March 17, a court in the central city of Slutsk ordered Stankevich, the chief editor of the local independent newspaper Infa-Kurier, and Rubchenya, the paper’s…
Turkish authorities arrest employee of Yeni Yaşam newspaper in terrorism investigation
Istanbul, March 23, 2023—Turkish authorities should immediately release Hamdullah Bayram and all journalists, media workers, and others detained in retaliation for outlets’ reporting on Kurdish politics and rights issues, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. In February, authorities indicted 10 Kurdish journalists and accused them of membership in the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or…
New Ukrainian army regulations limit reporters’ access to frontlines
Paris, March 23, 2023—Ukrainian authorities should ensure that regulations on wartime reporting do not stifle journalists’ ability to do their jobs, and should work with local press groups to revise recent rules enacted by military authorities, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On March 19, the Ukrainian army’s Operational Command East, one of four…
Belarusian journalist Henadz Mazheyka sentenced to 3 years in prison
Paris, March 23, 2023—In response to multiple news reports that a Belarusian court sentenced journalist Henadz Mazheyka to three years in prison on Thursday, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “The sentencing of Belarusian journalist Henadz Mazheyka, simply for his journalistic work, shows once again how authorities have brazenly pursued trumped-up criminal…
Turkey regulator forces closure of German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle’s office
Istanbul, March 22, 2023 – Turkish authorities should reverse their decision not to extend the operating license of Deutsche Welle’s Turkey office and allow the German public broadcaster to operate freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On March 28, DW plans to close its Turkey office after the country’s Industry and Technology Ministry…
Bosnia and Herzegovina journalists attacked after covering LGBTQ event
Berlin, March 22, 2023—Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities should swiftly and thoroughly investigate a recent attack on journalists covering a gathering of local LGBTQ activists, hold those responsible to account, and ensure that reporters can cover events of public interest safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. In the evening of March 18, a group…