Why authoritarian governments force journalists like Belarus’s Raman Pratasevich into public confessions
Forced confessions—sometimes tied to public humiliation—have a long and inglorious history, and were a fundamental component of ancient judicial systems in the East and West. Obtaining a confession, by any means, for centuries was often a key part of achieving a conviction and meting out punishment. At the Salem witch trials, the accused could escape…
Slovak Supreme Court cancels acquittal of primary suspects in journalist Ján Kuciak’s murder
New York, June 15, 2021 – In response to the Slovak Supreme Court’s ruling today to cancel the acquittals of two defendants in the 2018 murder of investigative reporter Ján Kuciak, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “We welcome the Slovak Supreme Court’s decision to cancel the acquittals of Marián Kočner and…
Uzbek reporting team assaulted while reporting at Andijan mayor’s office
Stockholm, June 14, 2021 – Uzbek authorities should conduct an impartial and thorough investigation into the recent attack on three employees of the independent news website Effect.uz, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On the afternoon of June 7, a group of people shoved, hit, and chased Rahmatullo…
Turkish journalist Sinan Aygül sentenced to jail over sexual assault reporting
Istanbul, June 14, 2021 – Turkish authorities should not imprison journalist Sinan Aygül, and the country’s Constitutional Court should accept his case, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On April 29, the First Penal Chamber of the Van Regional Court of Justice, an appeals court in eastern Turkey, upheld Aygül’s 2019 conviction on charges…
Unidentified men attack Russian RFE/RL correspondent Andrey Afanasyev
New York, June 10, 2021 – Russian authorities should thoroughly and swiftly investigate the recent attack on journalist Andrey Afanasyev, hold the perpetrators to account, and ensure that members of the press can work safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. At about 10 p.m. yesterday, three unidentified men attacked Afanasyev, a contributor to…
Turkish journalist Ahmet Atmaca beaten in Gaziantep
Istanbul, June 10, 2021 – Turkish authorities should conduct a swift and through investigation into the attack on journalist Ahmet Atmaca and hold the perpetrators to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. This morning, a group of people in the southeastern city of Gaziantep attacked Atmaca, a reporter for the pro-government Demirören News…
Turkish presidency reintroduces press card controls that court found restrictive
On April 1 this year, press freedom groups in Turkey chalked up a small win when the nation’s top administrative court, the Council of State, suspended 2018 rules that made it easier for the authorities to cancel or refuse press cards. The changes had transferred authority over press cards to the presidency and barred them…
Greek police detain and question Dutch TV crew covering refugees
Berlin, June 8, 2021 — Greek authorities should allow journalists to cover refugee movements and other events of public interest without police interference, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On May 29, police in Dikaia, a Greek town near the borders of Bulgaria and Turkey, stopped a reporting team from the Dutch public broadcaster…
CPJ to brief media on press freedom in Belarus
New York, June 7, 2021–The crackdown on press freedom in Belarus has dominated headlines in recent weeks following the shocking detention of Belarusian journalist Raman Pratasevich. But stepped-up repression and censorship of local media intended to eliminate critical and independent reporting—including arrests, legal restrictions, and internet disruptions—has been ongoing for nearly a year. Ahead of…
Landmine kills 2 Azerbaijani journalists near Nagorno-Karabakh
New York, June 4, 2021 — In response to news reports that Azerbaijani journalists Maharram Ibrahimov and Siraj Abishev were killed by a landmine in Azerbaijan today, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “The killing of journalists Maharram Ibrahimov and Siraj Abishev in the Kalbajar district of Azerbaijan today was a needless…