Azerbaijani journalist Rufat Muradli sentenced to 30 days in jail
Stockholm, December 4, 2023—Azerbaijani authorities must release journalist Rufat Muradli and end their crackdown on the independent press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On Saturday, police in Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, arrested Muradli, a presenter for the popular online broadcaster Kanal 13, on charges of minor hooliganism and disobeying police orders. Later the same…
Russia extends detention of US journalist Evan Gershkovich by 2 months
New York, November 28, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns a Russian court’s decision on Tuesday to extend the pretrial detention of U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich until January 30, 2024. “While the latest extension of the detention of U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich—who has been wrongly detained in Russia for the past eight months—was expected, it…
Apple warns Latvia-based journalists about possible hacker attacks
New York, September 15, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists on Friday issued an urgent call for authorities to investigate allegations that journalists working in Latvia were targeted by state-sponsored hackers. CPJ’s call follows reports on Thursday—a day after the disclosure that the phone of exiled Russian journalist Galina Timchenko had been infected by Pegasus spyware—that…
Belarus detains journalist Ihar Karnei on undisclosed charges, bans Polish journalist Justyna Prus
New York, July 20, 2023—Belarusian authorities should immediately disclose the reason for the recent detention of journalist Ihar Karnei, reverse their decision to ban Polish journalist Justyna Prus, and let the media work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Monday, July 17, authorities in Minsk searched the home of Karnei, a former…
CPJ calls on Kyrgyzstan authorities to allow RFE/RL’s Radio Azattyk to work freely after shutdown reversal
Stockholm, July 12, 2023— The Committee to Protect Journalists says it is relieved by Wednesday’s decision by a Kyrgyzstan appeals court to annul a lower court ruling ordering the closure of Radio Azattyk, the local service of U.S. Congress-funded broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. “We are relieved by the reversal of Kyrgyz authorities’ decision to…
At least 5 members of the press covering Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict targeted by Pegasus spyware: report
Stockholm, May 25, 2023—In response to a report released Thursday by a group of rights organizations alleging that Pegasus spyware was used to surveil at least five Armenian members of the press who covered the country’s military conflict with Azerbaijan, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “Today’s report is yet another deeply…
Russia orders arrest of Bellingcat journalist Christo Grozev
Paris, April 27, 2023—Russian authorities should immediately drop all charges against journalist Christo Grozev and stop seeking to arrest independent journalists in retaliation for their reporting, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On April 21, during a closed-door hearing, a court in Moscow ordered Grozev’s arrest for allegedly crossing the Russian border illegally, according…
CPJ: Shuttering of RFE/RL Kyrgyz service sends ‘chilling message’
Stockholm, April 27, 2023—In response to news reports that a court in Kyrgyzstan on Thursday ordered the closure of 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 ruling: “The shuttering of Radio Azattyk, one of Kyrgyzstan’s most popular…
Documentary filmmaker Shahida Tulaganova denied entry to Uzbekistan
Stockholm, April 6, 2023—Uzbek authorities should explain their decision to deny entry to documentary filmmaker Shahida Tulaganova or let her travel into the country freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Wednesday, April 5, immigration authorities at the Islam Karimov International Airport in the Uzbekistan capital of Tashkent denied Tulaganova entry to the…
RFE/RL Russian branch declared bankrupt by Moscow court
Paris, March 13, 2023 – In response to news reports that a Russian court declared Monday that the local branch of the U.S. Congress-funded broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was bankrupt, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement of condemnation: “The bankruptcy of RFE/RL in Russia demonstrates how the country’s legislation on so-called…