Russia blocks two more Central Asian news outlets over Ukraine war coverage
Stockholm, September 18, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Russian authorities to lift blocks on independent Kyrgyz news website 24.kg and exiled Tajik outlet Payom and to stop censoring foreign media for covering Russia’s war in Ukraine. “Having already banned domestic media from reporting anything but state-sanctioned information, Russia’s censorship of international media outlets…
Investigation finds Russian journalist Galina Timchenko targeted by Pegasus spyware
New York, September 13, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists said that it is deeply disturbed by the findings of an investigation released Wednesday by rights organizations that the phone of Galina Timchenko, head of the independent Russian news website Meduza, was infected by Pegasus surveillance spyware while she was in Germany earlier this year. “CPJ…
Russian journalist Abdulmumin Gadzhiev sentenced to 17 years on terrorism charges
New York, September 12, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the Tuesday 17-year sentence issued to Russian journalist Abdulmumin Gadzhiev, the religion editor of independent outlet Chernovik. “CPJ is appalled by the 17-year prison sentence for Russian journalist Abdulmumin Gadzhiev, who has already spent four years in jail on trumped-up charges in retaliation for his…
Russia labels 3 more journalists – including Nobel laureate Dmitry Muratov – as ‘foreign agents’
New York, September 8, 2023—Russian authorities should stop intimidating outlets and journalists by labeling them as “foreign agents” and let them work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On September 1, the Russian Ministry of Justice added three journalists—including Nobel laureate Dmitry Muratov—to its list of so-called “foreign agents,” accusing them of helping…
Russian court sentences journalist Mikhail Afanasyev to 5.5 years in prison for ‘fake news’ about army
New York, September 7, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns a Russian court’s sentencing of Mikhail Afanasyev, founder and publisher of online magazine Novy Fokus, to 5.5 years imprisonment for allegedly using his position to spread false information about the Russian army. The Abakan court on Thursday also banned Afanasyev from working as a journalist,…
Two exiled Russian journalists sentenced to 11 years for disseminating ‘fake’ news on Ukraine war
New York, August 31, 2023—Russian authorities should not contest the appeals of exiled journalists Ruslan Leviev and Michael Nacke and drop all charges against them, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Tuesday, August 29, the Basmanny Court in Moscow sentenced Leviev, founder of the Russian independent investigative project Conflict Intelligence Team, and Nacke,…
CPJ condemns Russian court’s 3-month extension of detention of US journalist Evan Gershkovich
New York, August 24, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns a Russian court’s decision on Thursday to extend the pretrial detention of U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich until November 30. “Every new extension of Evan Gershkovich’s detention is a blow to the freedom of the press in Russia and an attack on the work of foreign…
Russia fails to renew Dutch and Finnish journalists’ visas and accreditation
New York, August 18, 2023—Russian authorities should renew the visas and media accreditation of Dutch journalist Eva Hartog and Finnish journalist Anna-Lena Laurén and let them work freely in the country, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On Wednesday, August 16, Politico Europe and Dutch weekly De Groene Amsterdammer reported that Russian authorities refused…
CPJ calls for investigation into alleged poisoning of exiled Russian journalists Elena Kostyuchenko and Irina Babloyan
New York, August 16, 2023 — German and Georgian authorities should thoroughly and transparently investigate allegations that exiled Russian journalists Elena Kostyuchenko and Irina Babloyan were poisoned in 2022, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On Tuesday, an investigation by the independent news website The Insider stated that both journalists had experienced unexplained health…
Russia’s Supreme Court upholds 22-year prison sentence for journalist Ivan Safronov
New York, August 2, 2023 — In response to the Russian Supreme Court decision on Wednesday to uphold the 22-year prison sentence of journalist Ivan Safronov, who was convicted of treason last year, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement of condemnation: “The Russian Supreme Court’s refusal to overturn Ivan Safronov’s 22-year prison…