Belarus jails blogger Aliaksandr Ignatsiuk for 6 years on defamation, extortion charges
New York, April 19, 2023—Belarusian authorities must immediately release journalist Aliaksandr Ignatsiuk, who was sentenced to six years imprisonment, and ensure that no members of the press are jailed for their work. On April 5, a court in the southern city of Stolin convicted Ignatsiuk of extortion, organizing or participating in gross violations of public…
Tunisian journalist Mohamed Boughalleb sentenced to 6 months in prison for defamation
New York, April 18, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Tunisian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release journalist Mohamed Boughalleb after he was convicted by a Tunis court of defamation and sentenced to six months in prison on Wednesday. “The sentencing of journalist Mohamed Boughalleb to six months in prison over social media posts…
CPJ condemns Russian journalist Igor Kuznetsov’s 6-year prison sentence
New York, April 5, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the conviction and six-year prison sentence issued to Russian journalist Igor Kuznetsov on Friday and called on authorities to drop all charges, and release him immediately. A Moscow court convicted Kuznetsov, a reporter with the independent news website RusNews, on charges of inciting mass disturbances…
Belarusian court sentences camera operator Andrei Tolchyn to 2½ years
New York, March 21, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for journalist Andrei Tolchyn’s immediate release after a Belarusian court on Thursday sentenced him to 2½ years in prison for facilitating extremism and defaming President Aleksandr Lukashenko. “The 2½ year prison sentence handed to journalist Andrei Tolchyn on unfounded charges is yet another demonstration of…
Journalist Md Shofiuzzaman Rana arrested, 5 correspondents confined in Bangladesh government office
New York, March 20, 2024—Bangladesh authorities must immediately drop all charges against journalist Md Shofiuzzaman Rana and investigate the harassment of five journalists in northern Lalmonirhat district, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. Rana was held in jail for a week after police arrested the journalist on March 5. Rana, who works for the…
Iranian journalist starts serving 6-month sentence; others face raids, legal threats
Washington, D.C., January 31, 2024—Iranian authorities must immediately release Iranian Kurdish journalist Arsalan Rasouli Amarlooi and end its campaign of harassment and legal threats against journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On January 24, security forces arrested Rasouli and took him to a prison work camp in the northern city of Kelardasht to…
Belarusian court sentences photojournalist Aliaksandr Ziankou to 3 years on extremism charges
New York, January 30, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Belarusian authorities to stop using extremism laws against journalists following a Belarusian court’s Tuesday sentencing of Aliaksandr Ziankou to three years in prison for allegedly participating in an extremist group. “The sentencing of veteran journalist Aliaksandr Ziankou to three years in prison is yet…
Algerian prosecutor requests one-year sentence for journalist Mustapha Bendjama
New York, December 13, 2023 – Algerian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Mustapha Bendjama and drop all charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Wednesday. During an appeal hearing held in the northeastern city of Annaba on Tuesday, December 12, the state prosecutor requested an additional one-year prison sentence for…
Afghan journalist Sultan Ali Jawadi sentenced to 1 year in prison
New York, December 13, 2023—Taliban authorities must immediately release Afghan journalist Sultan Ali Jawadi, drop all charges against him, and stop imprisoning members of the press for their work in Afghanistan, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On Sunday, December 10, a Taliban court in the city of Nili, in central Daikundi Province, sentenced…
Russian journalists Aleksandr Dorogov and Yan Katelevskiy sentenced to lengthy prison terms
New York, November 17, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the 10.5- and 9.5-year prison sentences issued to journalists Aleksandr Dorogov and Yan Katelevskiy, respectively, on Friday, and called on Russian authorities to release them immediately and not oppose their appeal. “CPJ strongly condemns the lengthy sentences imposed on Russian journalists Yan Katelevskiy and Aleksandr…