Tajik journalist Abdusattor Pirmuhammadzoda sentenced to 7 years in prison
Stockholm, December 28, 2022 – In response to news reports that Tajikistan authorities recently sentenced journalist Abdusattor Pirmuhammadzoda to seven years in prison, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued a statement on Wednesday condemning the ruling: “The trial of Abdusattor Pirmuhammadzoda, like the trials of five other journalists recently sentenced to lengthy prison terms on…
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense cancels accreditation of Danish journalist Matilde Kimer
Paris, December 22, 2022—Ukrainian authorities should reverse their decision to cancel the accreditation of Danish journalist Matilde Kimer and let her work freely in Ukraine, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Monday, December 19, Danish public broadcaster, DR, reported that its reporter Matilde Kimer was stripped of her accreditation with Ukraine’s Ministry of…
At least 3 TV crews attacked while covering protests in northern Kosovo
Berlin, December 22, 2022 – Authorities in Kosovo must conduct a swift and thorough investigation into recent attacks on three TV crews and ensure that journalists can cover protests safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Since the beginning of December, at least three TV crews covering demonstrations in northern Kosovo have been targeted…
Italian journalist Claudio Locatelli injured while covering war in Ukraine
Paris, December 21, 2022 – Russian and Ukrainian authorities should swiftly investigate the attack on Italian journalists Claudio Locatelli and Niccolò Celesti and ensure that members of the press are not targeted while reporting on the war in Ukraine, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On Monday, December 19, a car transporting Locatelli, an…
Belarusian journalist Syarhei Chihrin detained for 7 days on extremism charges
Paris, December 20, 2022 — Belarusian authorities should immediately release journalist Syarhei Chihrin and stop using the country’s extremism legislation against members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On December 16, security forces in the southwestern city of Slonim detained Chihrin and a local court ordered him to be held for…
Bulgarian authorities question reporter and editor about sources
Berlin, December 20, 2022—Bulgarian authorities must stop harassing journalists Alexei Lazarov and Desislava Nikolova, and cease attempting to investigate their sources, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. Prosecutors summoned Lazarov and Nikolova for questioning on December 12 regarding allegations of drug markups in state-owned hospitals that were published in the weekly newspaper Capital, according…
Kazakh financial police arrest investigative journalist Mikhail Kozachkov
New York, December 19, 2022—Kazakh authorities should release investigative journalist Mikhail Kozachkov immediately and ensure that members of the press are not prosecuted in retaliation for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On Sunday, December 18, officers from Kazakhstan’s Financial Monitoring Agency (FMA) in the southern city of Almaty arrested Kozachkov, who…
Forensic tools open new front for using phone data to prosecute journalists
On April 13, police in Russia’s Khakassiya republic arrested Mikhail Afanasyev and seized his digital devices. Afanasyev, chief editor of the online magazine Novy Fokus, was detained based on an article about riot police in southern Siberia refusing to serve in Ukraine. He faces a possible 10-year prison sentence for spreading “false” information. It’s not surprising for…
Turkish journalist Sinan Aygül arrested under new ‘disinformation’ law
Istanbul, December 15, 2022 – Turkish authorities should immediately release journalist Sinan Aygül and reform the country’s new anti-disinformation law to ensure that it is not used to harass and imprison members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Wednesday, December 14, authorities in the eastern province of Bitlis arrested Aygül,…
Belarusian authorities revoke registration of Belarusy y Rynok newspaper
Paris, December 14, 2022— Belarusian authorities should reverse a recent decision to cancel the registration of the independent business newspaper Belarusy y Rynok and cease all efforts to censor the outlet, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On December 1, the Belarusian Ministry of Information ordered Belarusy y Rynok’s registration to be annulled, according…