Kyrgyzstan authorities seek to shutter local branch of RFE/RL
Stockholm, January 23, 2023 – In response to news reports that authorities in Kyrgyzstan have applied to a court to shut down Radio Azattyk, the local service of the U.S. Congress-funded broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement condemning the move: “Radio Azattyk is one of Kyrgyzstan’s most…
Armenian draft legislation would give government sweeping wartime censorship powers
Stockholm, January 19, 2023 – Armenian authorities should not use military conflicts as an excuse to curtail press freedom and should rework clauses in a draft bill that would threaten press freedom, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On January 6, the public comment period closed for a bill drafted by the Ministry of…
German police search office of independent broadcaster and 2 journalists’ homes, seize equipment and documents
Berlin, January 19, 2023 – German authorities must immediately stop harassing journalists affiliated with the independent nonprofit radio station Radio Dreyeckland, return all equipment and documents seized in raids on its editors’ homes, and ensure that members of the press are not threatened with criminal charges over their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said…
Belarusian journalist Yulia Mudreuskaya sentenced to 1.5 years in prison colony
New York, January 18, 2023 – In response to reports that Belarusian authorities sentenced journalist Yulia Mudreuskaya to 1.5 years in a prison colony for her alleged participation in protests, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement of condemnation: “Belarusian journalist Yuliya Mudreuskaya should never have been detained by authorities in the first…
Turkish journalist Sezgin Kartal arrested for alleged PKK membership
Istanbul, January 18, 2023 – Turkish authorities should immediately release journalist Sezgin Kartal and stop filing terrorism charges against members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On January 10, police raided Kartal’s Istanbul home and took him into custody; on January 13, a local court ordered him to be held in…
Belarus court sentences 2 journalists to years of house arrest
Paris, January 13, 2023 — In response to a Belarusian court’s sentencing of journalists Snezhana Inanets and Aliaksandr Lychauka to years of house arrest Friday, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement condemning the restrictions on the journalists’ freedom: “While it is a relief that Belarusian journalists Snezhana Inanets and Aliaksandr Lychauka will…
Belarus orders Russian journalist Yekaterina Yanshina detained for 15 days
Paris, January 10, 2023 — Belarusian authorities should immediately release Russian journalist Yekaterina Yanshina and let all members of the press work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On January 5, authorities at a court in Minsk, the capital, detained Yanshina, a journalist and human rights activist with the Russian human rights center…
Turkey convicts 10 people connected to murder of journalist Güngör Arslan, including gunman
Istanbul, January 9, 2023 – In response to news reports that a Turkish court in the western province of Kocaeli on Monday convicted 10 people for their involvement in the 2022 killing of Güngör Arslan, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement welcoming the progress in his case: “Turkish authorities should be applauded…
At least 3 journalists injured by Russian shelling in Ukraine
Paris, January 4, 2023 – Russian and Ukrainian authorities should swiftly investigate the recent shelling attacks that injured at least three journalists, and ensure that members of the press are protected while covering the war in Ukraine, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On December 31, Russian forces shelled Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, injuring…
Turkey adds journalist Can Dündar to list of wanted terrorists; at least 14 other journalists also listed
New York, January 3, 2023 – Turkish authorities should ensure that journalists are not included on the country’s lists of wanted terrorists, and should stop harassing members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On December 30, exiled Turkish journalist Can Dündar revealed that he had been added to the so-called terrorist…