News

February 27, 2025 - Nicaragua -  Nicaragua observed National Journalists’ Day amid a severe press freedom crisis. International organizations, including Reporters Without Borders (RSF), condemned the celebration as a "shameful farce," highlighting the government's systematic dismantling of independent journalism. Over the past year, four journalists were detained, three forcibly disappeared, and approximately 300 have been forced into exile due to escalating repression. The regime of President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo has intensified its crackdown on dissent since 2018, enacting laws such as the Special Law on Cybercrime and the Law to Regulate...

February 27, 2025 - Russia -  Russian journalist and film critic Ekaterina Barabash was placed under house arrest by authorities in Moscow, accused of spreading so-called “fake news” about the war in Ukraine. The charges stemmed from social media posts she made condemning Russia’s invasion and criticizing its conduct during the conflict. Barabash, who is 64 and known for her cultural and political commentary, had posted statements on Facebook describing the war as a humanitarian disaster and calling out the Russian government’s actions. Russian investigators invoked Article 207.3 of the criminal code, a law introduced...

February 27, 2025 - Sudan -  A disturbing series of attacks targeted journalists in Yambio, Western Equatoria State, South Sudan, raising serious concerns about press freedom and journalist safety. The South Sudan Union of Journalists (UJOSS) reported that four journalists faced threats, including arson and intimidation, following the political upheaval marked by the removal of Governor Alfred Futuyo on February 10. Among the victims was Francis John Abui, a former Anisa FM presenter, whose house was burned down; his whereabouts remain unknown. Similarly, Radio Anisa journalist Alex Yaba's home was set ablaze on February 22,...

February 27, 2025 - Canada -  Canadian pro-Palestine journalist and activist Yves Engler was detained in Montreal after publicly criticizing pro-Israel commentator Dahlia Kurtz. Engler’s social media posts accused Kurtz of promoting anti-Palestinian rhetoric, labeling her a “genocide supporter” and “fascist” following her calls for deporting pro-Palestinian activists. Authorities arrested Engler on charges of harassment and indecent communication. He was held for five days in Bordeaux prison before being released on bail. The detention stirred significant controversy, with many seeing it as an infringement on free speech rights. Supporters viewed the charges as politically motivated...

February 27, 2025 - Turkey -  Two prominent Turkish journalists faced harsh legal penalties linked to their coverage of Kurdish political topics. Özlem Gürses received a suspended prison sentence after a Turkish court convicted her of “disseminating terrorist propaganda” for a YouTube interview with a Syrian Kurdish leader. The ruling means Gürses will avoid immediate jail time but remains under probation, with authorities signaling zero tolerance for media giving voice to Kurdish perspectives. Separately, veteran journalist Nevsin Mengu was sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison on similar charges. Mengu, known for critical...

February 27, 2025 - Ghana -  During recent elections in Ghana, numerous journalists were attacked and intimidated by thugs while carrying out their reporting duties. These violent incidents targeted reporters from various media outlets, obstructing their ability to provide accurate and timely election coverage. Journalists faced physical assaults, harassment, and threats, often from politically affiliated groups attempting to suppress independent reporting. The attacks have drawn sharp condemnation from press freedom organizations, including the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Article 19, and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA). These groups have expressed grave concern over...

February 26, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Sadigov was released from extradition custody in Georgia after the Tbilisi City Court granted a prosecutor's request to replace his detention with bail. Sadigov had been held since August 2024, following an extradition request from Azerbaijan, where he faced charges of extortion—a claim he and his supporters assert is politically motivated due to his critical reporting on the Azerbaijani government. The court's decision to release Sadigov came as his nine-month extradition detention period was nearing its legal limit under Georgian law. He was released on bail...

February 26, 2025 - Turkey -  Global press freedom and human rights organizations have issued a strong and urgent call for the Turkish government to immediately release detained journalists, human rights defenders, and political prisoners. This comes amid growing concern over deteriorating prison conditions and the health risks posed by overcrowding, particularly as new COVID-19 cases resurface across the region. Dozens of journalists remain behind bars in Turkey, many of whom were imprisoned for reporting on sensitive political issues or for their affiliation with independent media outlets. Advocacy groups, including the International Federation of Journalists...

February 26, 2025 - Ukraine -  Ukrainian journalist Tetiana Kulyk was killed in a Russian drone attack on February 21, 2025, in the Kyiv region. The strike, which also took the life of her husband, a prominent surgeon, occurred when a Shahed drone directly hit their home in the town of Hostomel, northwest of Kyiv. Kulyk’s tragic death adds to the growing toll on journalists in the ongoing war, with press freedom groups demanding accountability and a full investigation. Kulyk, 54, worked for the news outlet Kyivska Pravda and had over two decades of experience...

February 25, 2025 - Colombia -  Colombian journalist and radio host Diomedes Farid Manrique was fatally shot on January 18, 2025, in Maicao, La Guajira, sending shockwaves through the local community and drawing international condemnation. Manrique, a well-known voice on the airwaves of Sistema Cardenal, was ambushed and killed by two unidentified assailants on a motorcycle as he left the radio station premises around 8:30 a.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The attack has raised fresh alarms over the dangers faced by journalists in Colombia, particularly those working in smaller cities and reporting...

February 25, 2025 - Venezuela -  Venezuelan journalist Rory Branker was arrested in Caracas on May 23, 2025, in what press freedom advocates are calling another alarming move in the government’s widening crackdown on independent media. Branker, a reporter known for his critical coverage of state institutions and constitutional reforms, was reportedly detained by security forces without a warrant while covering a protest near the National Assembly. According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Branker was violently apprehended and held incommunicado for several hours before being transferred to a detention center operated by the Bolivarian National...

February 25, 2025 - Kyrgyzstan -  Kyrgyzstan's Supreme Court upheld the convictions of three journalists from the investigative outlet Temirov Live, a significant blow to press freedom in the country. Director Makhabat Tazhibek kyzy received a six-year prison sentence, presenter Azamat Ishenbekov was sentenced to five years, and reporter Aike Beishekeyeva was handed a five-year suspended sentence. These sentences stem from charges of "calling for mass unrest," a claim widely criticized by international human rights organizations as politically motivated and aimed at silencing independent journalism. The convictions are part of a broader crackdown on independent...

February 25, 2025 - Zimbabwe -  Zimbabwean journalist Blessed Mhlanga was arrested and detained for 72 days following interviews with Blessed Geza, a war veteran and former ZANU-PF central committee member who openly criticized President Emmerson Mnangagwa and called for his resignation. Mhlanga, a senior journalist at Heart and Soul Television (HStv), was charged under Section 164 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for allegedly transmitting data messages that incite violence or damage to property. The interviews, conducted in November 2024 and February 2025, were broadcast on HStv and YouTube, where Geza accused...

February 25, 2025 - Philippines -  A car belonging to Filipino photojournalist Michael Varcas was bombed outside his Quezon City home in February 2025, in what media watchdogs view as a direct threat to press freedom. Surveillance footage captured two individuals on a motorcycle throwing a Molotov cocktail at the vehicle before fleeing. Fortunately, Varcas, a senior photojournalist with The Philippine Star, was not inside the car and was unharmed. However, the bombing left the vehicle severely damaged and sparked serious concern among press freedom advocates and fellow journalists. The Photojournalists’ Center of the Philippines...

February 25, 2025 - Zimbabwe -  Zimbabwean journalist Blessed “Dhara” Mhlanga was arrested under the country’s Cyber and Data Protection Act (CDPA), marking a significant moment as the first high-profile case using this law against a journalist. Mhlanga, a senior reporter with Heart and Soul Television (HStv), was charged with broadcasting press conferences featuring a war veteran who publicly criticized President Emmerson Mnangagwa and called for his resignation. The charges accuse Mhlanga of transmitting data messages that incited violence or damage to property. The CDPA, enacted in 2021, consolidates several laws related to cybersecurity and...

February 24, 2025 - India -  Two Tamil journalists, Kandasamy Bharathan and Thambithurai Pratheepan, were subjected to a six-hour police interrogation at Palaly Police Station in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. The questioning centered on a Facebook post that allegedly called for the destruction of the Tissa Raja Maha Vihara, a Buddhist temple located in Thayiddy, a site that has become highly controversial in the region. The Tissa Raja Maha Vihara was reportedly built on privately owned Tamil land, which led to widespread protests from the Tamil community demanding the temple’s removal. The temple is seen by...

February 24, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  Azerbaijani journalist Nurlan Libre was arrested in connection with the ongoing “Meydan TV case,” marking another development in a harsh crackdown on independent media in Azerbaijan. Libre, the founder of Portagal Media and known for his critical reporting, was detained in Baku and charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code, accused of smuggling committed by a group acting together. His home in Sumgayit was searched, and authorities confiscated his phones and computers. Shortly after, a Baku court ordered his pretrial detention for over a month, with reports...

February 24, 2025 - Russia/Ukraine -  As the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine marks its third anniversary, reports reveal a relentless assault on press freedom and media workers in the conflict zone. Since February 2022, Russia has been responsible for at least 823 documented crimes against journalists and media outlets in Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Institute of Mass Information (IMI). These offenses range from physical attacks, arbitrary detentions, kidnappings, threats, and targeted killings, highlighting the extreme risks faced by those covering the war. International press freedom organizations have condemned the systematic violence aimed at...

February 24, 2025 - Russia -  Russian prosecutors have requested a new, longer prison sentence for Maria Ponomarenko, a journalist and former columnist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), highlighting ongoing repression of independent media in Russia. Ponomarenko was originally sentenced in 2024 to several years in prison on charges widely condemned by international organizations as politically motivated and lacking credible evidence. The new criminal case against Ponomarenko, announced in early 2025, escalates the pressure on her by accusing her of “spreading false information” related to Russia’s military actions and other sensitive topics. The prosecution...

February 23, 2025 -Afghanistan -  Afghanistan’s only women-led radio station, Radio Shama, has resumed operations after the Taliban lifted a temporary suspension imposed earlier this year. The station, which focuses on women’s rights, social issues, and culture, had been forced off the air in January 2025 following pressure from Taliban authorities, who cited unspecified “violations” as reasons for the shutdown. Radio Shama holds a unique place in Afghanistan’s media landscape as a rare platform run entirely by women, aimed at amplifying female voices in a country where women’s freedoms have been severely curtailed since the...

February 23, 2025 - Turkey -  Several prominent press freedom organizations, including the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), have strongly condemned the recent arrest and mistreatment of Azerbaijani journalists Ulviyya Ali and Ahmad Mammadli. These condemnations highlight the increasing repression of independent media and the dangerous environment for journalists in Azerbaijan. Ulviyya Ali and Ahmad Mammadli, known for their critical reporting and commitment to free journalism, were detained by Azerbaijani authorities amid a broader crackdown on independent voices in the country. Reports indicate that both journalists faced abusive...

February 23, 2025 - Russia/Ukraine -  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly denied allegations that he ordered the killing of Chilean-American journalist Gonzalo Lira, whose death in a Ukrainian prison earlier this year has sparked international concern and controversy. The claims, circulated by Lira’s family and amplified by public figures such as Elon Musk, allege that Lira’s critical stance toward the Ukrainian government and military led to targeted persecution and ultimately to his death. Gonzalo Lira, a dual national, had been openly critical of Ukraine’s leadership and its handling of the ongoing war with Russia....

February 22, 2025 - USA -  The Associated Press (AP) filed a lawsuit against three Trump administration officials—White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich, and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt—alleging violations of First Amendment rights. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., contends that the administration unlawfully restricted AP journalists' access to presidential events, including press briefings and travel on Air Force One, in retaliation for the AP's refusal to adopt the term "Gulf of America" instead of "Gulf of Mexico" as directed by President Trump....

February 22, 2025 - Slovakia -  Thousands of Slovaks took to the streets on February 21, 2025, to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the assassination of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová, whose murders in 2018 sent shockwaves through Slovakia and sparked the largest anti-government protests since the fall of communism. The recent demonstrations, held in Bratislava and across more than 20 cities, not only honored the slain couple but also voiced growing alarm over Prime Minister Robert Fico’s policies, which critics argue are undermining press freedom and democratic institutions. Kuciak, a...

February 21, 2025 - Tunisia -  A Tunisian court ordered the release of prominent journalist Mohamed Boughalleb, who had been detained since March 2024 under charges related to a presidential decree aimed at combating "false news." Boughalleb, 61, was arrested following a complaint from a civil servant and was prosecuted under Decree 54, enacted in 2022, which mandates prison terms for disseminating information deemed false via communications networks. Despite his release, Boughalleb remains barred from leaving Tunisia, with his next court hearing scheduled for April 21. His detention had drawn criticism from rights groups and...