Egypt bans Mada Masr website for 6 months over report on Israel-Gaza war
New York, October 31, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Egypt’s Supreme Council for Media Regulation (SCMR) to revoke its six-month ban on the independent news website Mada Masr over its reporting on the Israel-Gaza war and to reverse its decision to refer the outlet for prosecution. On Sunday, the SCMR announced that, after…
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,…
Russian authorities charge journalist Roman Ivanov with ‘fake news,’ raid Prufy.ru office
Paris, April 13, 2023 – Russian authorities should immediately release journalist Roman Ivanov and stop harassing and prosecuting members of the press for their reporting, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Wednesday, April 12, a court in the city of Korolyov ordered Roman Ivanov, a reporter with independent news website RusNews who had…
Russian authorities search homes of 5 journalists as witnesses in investigation into ‘fake’ information about the army
Paris, September 8, 2022—Russian authorities should stop using investigations into so-called “fake” information about the Russian military to harass journalists, and should let the media work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Thursday, September 8, authorities searched the homes of at least five journalists in cities across Russia over their alleged connection…
Myanmar sentences journalists Hanthar Nyein and Than Htike Aung to 2 years in prison
Bangkok, March 24, 2022 – Myanmar authorities should immediately and unconditionally release journalists Hanthar Nyein and Than Htike Aung, and stop sentencing members of the press to prison for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Monday, March 21, a military court in Yangon’s Insein Prison convicted Hanthar, co-founder of the local…
Russian journalist Andrey Novashov detained, charged with spreading ‘fake’ information
Berlin, March 22, 2022 — Russian authorities should immediately release journalist Andrey Novashov, drop all charges against him, and refrain from threatening journalists with prison over their work and commentary, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On Monday, March 21, authorities in the Siberian region of Kemerovo detained Novashov, a reporter with the U.S. Congress-funded…
Russian government expands law banning ‘fakes’
New York, March 22, 2022 – In response to the newly proposed legislation penalizing the distribution of “fakes” concerning the Russian government’s activities abroad, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “Russian legislators and President Vladimir Putin should drop new amendments banning so-called ‘fakes’ and allow free reporting about the war in Ukraine,”…
New Greek criminal code amendment threatens journalists with jail for spreading ‘false’ information
Berlin, December 8, 2021 — Greek lawmakers should revoke an amendment to the country’s criminal code that threatens journalists with prison sentences for spreading what the prosecution deems “false” information, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On November 11, 2021, Greek lawmakers approved an amendment to Article 191 of the country´s criminal code that…
Hong Kong FCC survey shows journalists concerned about possible arrest and prosecution
A significant majority of journalists in Hong Kong are concerned about the possibility of arrest or prosecution due to their work, according to a survey recently published by the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents’ Club (FCC). The survey, based on responses from 70 correspondents for foreign media and 29 for local news organizations, about 25% of the…