Attacks on the Press: Surveillance poses global challenge for free flow of news

CPJ's annual assessment of press freedom worldwide
 

New York, February 12, 2014-Digital surveillance, the unchecked murder of journalists, and indirect commercial and political pressures on the media are three of the primary threats to press freedom highlighted in the Committee to Protect Journalists annual assessment, Attacks on the Press, released today.

"The primary battlegrounds for press freedom used to be contained within the borders of authoritarian states. While those battles continue, new technologies have made it possible to realize the right to freedom of expression regardless of frontiers," said CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon. "Attacks on the Press describes the threats and explores strategies to safeguard the free flow information."

Anniversaries of Russian journalist murders pile up

Muzaffar Suleymanov/ CPJ Europe and Central Asia Research Associate

Last week, I was preparing to write a column about the anniversary of Paul Klebnikov's murder. The American editor of Forbes-Russia was murdered contract-style nine years ago in Moscow at the age of 41. 

Годовщины убийств российских журналистов следуют одна за другой

Музаффар Сулейманов/Исследователь, программа Европы и Центральной Азии КЗЖ

На прошлой неделе я готовился писать колонку о годовщине убийства Пола Хлебникова. Американский редактор русскоязычной версии журнала «Форбс - Россия» пал жертвой заказного убийства в Москве в возрасте 41 года. Он расследовал связи между российским бизнесом и организованной преступностью, а также напряженную этническую и политическую обстановку в Чечне.

Four convicted in shooting, stabbing of Kazakh journalist

New York, July 11, 2013-A court in western Kazakhstan has sentenced four men to terms ranging from 11 to 15 years for carrying out the brutal attack on Kazakh journalist Lukpan Akhmedyarov in April 2012, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes this conviction, but calls on Kazakh authorities to identify the masterminds behind the attack and bring them to justice.

Karimov should uphold media pledge by freeing journalists

New York, June 27, 2013-Uzbek President Islam Karimov should follow through on his public commitment today to support his country's journalists by releasing the unjustly jailed reporter Salidzhon Abdurakhmanov immediately, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. News accounts have reported that the health of Abdurakhmanov, who has been imprisoned since 2008, has deteriorated in prison.

Danger on Turkey’s streets: Reporting on the civil unrest

By Özgür Öğret/CPJ Istanbul Correspondent It all changed so swiftly. The demand and price of gas masks, protective eyewear, and helmets rocketed in Istanbul. Not only protestors, but journalists, too, contributed to the rush. Hardware store clerks were quick studies, explaining to journalists which masks offer you a better line of sight when taking pictures, or the problem of speaking through a mask when broadcasting live. Of course, the gear only works when it is worn, not after police confiscate the equipment.

Kyrgyz official urged to address Askarov case

By Muzaffar Suleymanov/CPJ Europe and Central Asia Research Associate Kyrgyzstan has endured a turbulent past and continues to face significant challenges, but its leaders are committed to a democratic future, Djoomart Otorbayev, the nation's deputy prime minister, told human rights and press freedom advocates in New York this week. The country still grapples with the repercussions of the brutal June 2010 ethnic conflict that left hundreds dead and thousands displaced. Journalist Azimjon Askarov remains in prison on charges that CPJ and numerous human rights groups have determined to be in retaliation for his work in uncovering official abuses during the unrest.

Access restored, but ban on Fergahana News remains

Muzaffar Suleymanov/CPJ Europe and Central Asia Research Associate On Wednesday, more than a year after being blocked in Kyrgyzstan by government order,Ferghana News was again accessible to the public without the aid of proxy servers. Most local Internet providers, including the state-owned Kyrgyz Telecom, restored access to the website, Daniil Kislov, Ferghana's editor, told CPJ.

Ferghana News seeks to end censorship order in Kyrgyzstan

New York, April 9, 2013-Lawyers for Ferghana News, a website blocked in Kyrgyzstan for more than a year, have filed an appeal urging the courts to overturn the ban that they say violates fundamental civil rights. The Committee to Protect Journalists urges the court to find in favor of the website and order restoration of domestic access immediately. Nurbek Toktakunov, lawyer for the Moscow-based regional site, filed the appeal in the Bishkek City Court on Friday, according to news reports.

Uzbekistan should free editor to receive medical care

New York, April 2, 2013-The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the ongoing imprisonment of independent Uzbek editor Muhammad Bekjanov, whose health has severely deteriorated in jail, and urges authorities to immediately release him so that he may receive medical care. Bekjanov and a colleague, both of whom were jailed in 1999, have been in prison for longer than any other journalists worldwide, according to CPJ research.

КЗЖ призывает Кыргызстан пересмотреть дело Азимжона Аскарова

Нью-Йорк, 28 февраля 2013 года--Комитет по защите журналистов обратился к Аиде Саляновой, генеральному прокурору Кыргызстана, с просьбой поручить новое расследование дела осуждённого журналиста Азимжона Аскарова. Основанное на вновь открывшихся обстоятельствах, новое расследование дела продемонстрирует озвученную недавно Президентом Алмазбеком Атамбаевым приверженность кыргызских властей принципу верховенства закона. Читайте полный текст письма онлайн.

### CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide.

CPJ urges Kyrgyzstan to reopen the case of Azimjon Askarov

New York, February 28, 2013-The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Aida Salyanova, Kyrgyzstan's prosecutor general, to commission a new investigation into the case of imprisoned journalist Azimjon Askarov. Based on newly emerged evidence, the probe would demonstrate Kyrgyzstan's commitment to the rule of law and fulfill promises made recently by President Almazbek Atambayev. Read full letter online.

### CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide.

Tajik weekly ordered to pay damages for defamation

New York, February 25, 2013-- The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned by today's defamation ruling against independent Tajik weekly Imruz News in closed court proceedings, the organization said. The Ismoil Somoni District court in Dushanbe, Tajikistan's capital, ordered the weekly to pay 50,000 somoni (US$10,500) in damages in a libel case filed by the son of a high-ranking government official, local and international press reported. The court also ordered the paper to publicly apologize to the plaintiff.

In message from Uzbek jail, journalist hints of abuse

Nataliya Rovenskaya/Europe and Central Asia Consultant News is rare from Uzbek prisons, where authorities are holding at least four independent reporters in retaliation for critical journalism: Muhammad Bekjanov, Yusuf Ruzimuradov, Dilmurod Saiid, and Salidzhon Abdurakhmanov. All four are serving lengthy sentences. Uzbek authorities refuse even to update CPJ or other human rights organizations on the journalists' whereabouts, status, or well-being. When news does come, it's unlikely to be happy, albeit confirmation that one of the journalists is probably alive.

Attacks and censorship erode press freedom worldwide

New York, February 14, 2013-An unprecedented rise in the number of journalists killed and imprisoned in the past year coupled with restrictive legislation and state censorship is jeopardizing independent reporting in many countries, according to Attacks on the Press, a yearly assessment of global press freedom released today by the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Нападения и цензура подрывают свободу прессы во всем мире

Нью-Йорк, 14 февраля 2013 года–Беспрецедентный рост в прошлом году количества убитых и заключённых в тюрьмы журналистов, совместно с законодательными ограничениями и цензурой,  подрывает независимое освещение новостей во многих странах мира, говорится в опубликованном сегодня Комитетом по защите журналистов (КЗЖ) годовом отчёте о состоянии свободы прессы в мире, “Нападения на прессу”. 

Презентация исследования КЗЖ “Нападения на прессу”

Анализ состояния свободы прессы во всем мире

Нью-Йорк, 8 февраля 2013 года-- Hа пресс-конференции 14 февраля в Организации Объединённых Наций, Kомитет по защите журналистов (КЗЖ) презентует годовой отчёт о состоянии свободы прессы в мире, “Нападения на прессу: Журналистика на передовых”.

CPJ to launch Attacks on the Press

Assessing the state of press freedom worldwide New York, February 8, 2013--The Committee to Protect Journalists will release Attacks on the Press: Journalism on the World's Frontlines, a yearly assessment of the state of press freedom worldwide, at a press conference on February 14 at the United Nations. CPJ will present key data detailing the unprecedented rise in the number of attacks, imprisonment and killings, along with expert analysis of trends and potential solutions.

In Russia, brazen murder of Chernovik founder is unsolved

By Elena Milashina/CPJ Moscow correspondent.

Gadzhimurad Kamalov, founder of the independent daily Chernovik, was murdered in Makhachkala, capital of Russia's southern republic of Dagestan, on December 15, 2011. 

Embattled Respublika journalists targeted in Kazakhstan

New York, February 6, 2013-Authorities in Kazakhstan should cease harassing the staff of embattled independent newspaper Respublika, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

The newspaper was one of several publications targeted by Kazakh authorities and shut downin December on politicized anti-state and extremism charges, according to CPJ research and news reports.Respublika, which still operates a website, has changed its title several timesover a period of years to continue publishing despite prosecutions and official harassment.