Russia / Europe & Central Asia

  
Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich stands in a glass cage in Russia's Moscow City Court on March 26, 2024.

After fifth detention extension, CPJ renews call for Russia to release US journalist Evan Gershkovich

New York, March 26, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Russia to immediately release U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich following Tuesday’s court decision to extend his pretrial detention until June 30, 2024. “CPJ strongly condemns the three-month extension of Evan Gershkovich’s detention, just days before the one-year anniversary of his arrest on fabricated charges. Today’s…

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Russian journalist Igor Kuznetsov was recently detained for allegedly organizing protests.

Russian journalist Igor Kuznetsov given 3-year suspended sentence, remains behind bars

New York, March 22, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists on Friday condemned the three-year suspended sentence issued to Russian journalist Igor Kuznetsov for participating in an extremist group and called on authorities to release him immediately and drop all charges against him. On Wednesday, a court in the Russian capital, Moscow, gave Kuznetsov, a reporter…

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Spanish journalist Xavier Colás denied visa renewal, expelled from Russia

New York, March 22, 2024—Russian authorities must reconsider their decision to not renew the visa of Spanish journalist Xavier Colás and allow him to work freely in the country, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Wednesday, Spanish daily newspaper El Mundo reported that Russian authorities refused to renew Colás’ visa, the outlet’s longtime correspondent in…

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Russia jails journalist over plane crash coverage, detains another during election

New York, March 19, 2024—Russian authorities must drop all charges against journalist Sergey Kustov, release him, and stop prosecuting the press to stifle their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On Monday, a court sentenced Kustov, chief editor of local broadcaster Bars, to 10 days imprisonment on charges of disobeying a police officer,…

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Russian President Vladimir Putin makes a video address in Moscow ahead of the upcoming presidential election, in a picture released on March 14, 2024.

CPJ joins call for Russia to keep the internet on during presidential elections

The Committee to Protect Journalists joined #KeepItOn Coalition partners on Thursday in calling on Russian authorities and telecommunications providers to maintain free, open, and secure internet access before, during, and after presidential elections scheduled for March 15 to 17. The letter highlights Russia’s history of internet shutdowns, including the blocking of tech companies that refused…

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Crimean journalists Rustem Osmanov (left) and Aziz Azizov of Crimean Solidarity

Russia holding Crimean journalists Rustem Osmanov and Aziz Azizov for 2 months on terror charges

New York, March 8, 2024—Russian authorities in Ukraine’s Crimea must drop all charges against journalists Rustem Osmanov and Aziz Azizov, release them immediately, and stop prosecuting the press in retaliation for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. At around 4 a.m. on Tuesday, in the southern Crimea town of Bakhchysarai, officers with…

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RusNews reporter Roman Ivanov walks into a court in Korolyov, Russia on April 12, 2023. The court ordered he be detained until June 10 on three charges of spreading fake information about the Russian army.

Russian journalist Roman Ivanov sentenced to 7 years for ‘fake news’ about army

New York, March 7, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists on Thursday condemned the seven-year sentence issued to journalist Roman Ivanov over his social media posts about the Russian army and called on authorities to release him immediately and drop all charges against him. On Wednesday, a court in the city of Korolyov, some 30 kilometers…

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People lay flowers for late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny at the Solovetsky Stone, a monument to political repression, near the headquarters of Russia's Federal Security Services, in Moscow on February 20, 2024. (AFP/Natalia Kolesnikova)

At least 4 journalists briefly detained in Russia over memorials to Navalny 

New York, February 21, 2024—Russian authorities should refrain from detaining journalists who cover gatherings in memory of opposition leader Alexey Navalny and let members of the press report freely on events of public interest, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. At least four journalists were briefly detained last Friday and Saturday while reporting on gatherings to…

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Russia bans Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty as ‘undesirable’

New York, February 21, 2024—Russian authorities must stop harassing U.S. Congress-funded broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and cease obstructing the work of media outlets by labeling them as “undesirable,” the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On Tuesday, the Russian Ministry of Justice added RFE/RL to its register of “undesirable” organizations after the Russian general…

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Russia bans freedom of expression group Article 19 as ‘undesirable’

New York, February 16, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists urges Russian authorities to reconsider designating international freedom of expression group Article 19 as “undesirable” and cease using the country’s “undesirable” law to intimidate organizations that report on press freedom violations in the country. On January 23, the Russian general prosecutor’s office outlawed Article 19 by…

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