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Alerts - 2012 - Europe and Central Asia

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Azerbaijan

Authorities violently disperse peaceful rallies

Police transported several dozen protesters from two protest locations to the outskirts of Baku and released them on the side of the road to find their own way home.

Azerbaijan

Opposition activist released from prison

Elnur Majidli was arrested at a peaceful demonstration in Baku on April 2, 2011, together with hundreds of other demonstrators who had taken to the streets inspired by the uprisings in the Middle East. He had been sentenced to two years in prison.

Greece

TV journalist attacked, injured

"They had me on the ground and were beating me. . . I can say with absolute certainty that they knew I was a journalist," said Konstantinos Bogdanos, who sustained a head injury and broken hand in the attack.

Russia

Putin's new mandate starts inauspiciously for media

At least 15 journalists were arrested and assaulted at a protest against the Russian prime minister's installation for a third term.

Kosovo (Serbia)

Draft criminal code undermines media freedom

President Atifete Jahjaga returned the draft criminal code to the National Assembly for reconsideration on May 8, 2012, after it was sent to her for her final approval. The president’s decision followed widespread criticism of the draft code by journalists.

Moldova

Reporter injured in vicious attack

Vladmir Vivaci, who works for Omega news agency, suffered multiple head and internal injuries and is recovering in hospital after the savage beating.

Montenegro

Journalist sentenced to jail for libel

In July 2011, a few months after Petar Komnenic's original conviction, the government passed a law decriminalizing libel and making it a matter of civil litigation.

Azerbaijan

Journalist says he was tortured in prison

Zaur Guliyev, who was arrested after the Quba riots and has been held in pre-trial detention for more than a month, has accused the government of torture and psychological intimidation.

Armenia

Author facing jail for army criticism in fiction

Hovhannes Ishkhanyan could be sentenced to up to two years in jail for his short stories about hazing rituals and abuse in the army.

Kazakhstan

Journalist seriously injured in assassination attempt

Lukpan Akhmedyarov is known for his criticism of the authorities and prior to the attack had received several warnings from the public prosecutor's office and reported being followed.

Belarus

Journalist and political activist Dimitry Bondarenko released

Bondarenko, along with opposition politician Andrei Sannikov, was freed earlier this week, more than a year ahead of his scheduled release date.

Azerbaijan

International NGOs call on president to investigate brutal attack on prominent journalist

The International Partnership Group for Azerbaijan is calling for an immediate, independent and transparent investigation into a brutal attack that left investigative journalist Idrak Abbasov in critical condition in hospital.

Germany

Journalists threatened by Salafist group

In a YouTube video released last week, journalists critical of a campaign by the radical Muslim group "The True Religion" are told that if they continue to write about the group and its "brothers and sisters" personal information about them held by the group will be disclosed.

Uzbekistan

Activist freed but crackdown widening

In 2006, Alisher Karamatov was arrested, tortured in custody and forced to confess to politically-motivated charges, then sentenced to nine years in jail.

Moldova

Broadcaster's equipment destroyed

On April 8, 2012, unknown perpetrators entered the headquarters of Elita TV in Rezina and deliberately damaged or stole technical equipment.

Belarus

Serious concern over health of political prisoner

Dzmitry Bandarenka was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for taking part in a peaceful gathering on 19 December 2010; he is being held in Penal Colony No. 15 in the city of Mohylev.

Turkey

Publisher Ragip Zarakolu released pending trial

Zarakolu still faces trial on charges that carry a heavy prison sentence, along with scores of other writers and intellectuals who remain imprisoned.

Greece

Riot police deliberately attack journalists covering street demonstrations

Photographer Marios Lolos was hit on the head by riot police and underwent emergency surgery to his skull as a result.

Russia

Prominent journalist attacked

Shortly after midnight on April 5, 2012, two men attacked Elena Milashina, a journalist with the leading Russian independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, and her friend Ella Asoyan, a program officer at Freedom House. The attack took place near Milashina’s home in the Moscow suburb of Balashikha.

Uzbekistan

Growing concern over targeting of independent journalists

A court in the Tashkent district of Hamza recently convicted independent journalist Viktor Krymzalov in connection with an unbylined article on the Centrasia.ru independent news website which the plaintiff “assumed” he wrote. No evidence was presented to support the assumption.

United Kingdom

Every step you take, every move you make: The British government's new plans for mass surveillance

The Coalition Agreement that formed the current government clearly stated that IMP-style mass surveillance of the British public was unacceptable, but now the old policy seems to have risen from the grave as the innocuously-named Communications Capabilities Development Programme.

Turkmenistan

Damning UN report shows need for urgent action on human rights

The UN Human Rights Committee voiced concern about the fact that the government “systematically does not respect the right to freedom of expression,” “harasses and intimidates journalists and human rights defenders,” and “monitors the use of the internet and blocks access to some websites.”

Turkey

Politician sentenced to 15 years in prison for campaign speeches

Member of Parliament Serafettin Halis says that every time he made a speech to his constituents, the authorities began another investigation against him.

Albania

Journalist charged with slander despite defamation reforms

Journalist Lindita Cela now faces up to two years in prison for criminal slander, despite the recent parliamentary vote to abolish prison sentences for defamation.

Latvia

Investigative journalist badly injured in targeted attack

Leonids Jakobsons was attacked in the stairwell of his apartment building as he returned home after work. After firing shots at him at close range, his two assailants beat him and kicked him.

Serbia

ANEM condemns administrative harassment of radio station in Zajecar

The editor of a radio station who is running for local office says his opponents have bullied the station's employees and shut down its radio signal; caught in the middle is the public's right to information.

Kosovo (Serbia)

Kosovo journalists receive threatening phone calls

IPI is calling for a police investigation after someone called the Pristina-based daily "Express" and threatened to bomb its offices.

Ukraine

Editor reported missing in Lvov region

Vitaly Pavlishin was last seen leaving the offices of Chervonograd-based newspaper Novosti Pribuzhya on 21 March and has not been heard from since.

Azerbaijan

Three journalists detained for 12 hours

The three journalists, who work for Baku Information Agency, were filing the district police as they collected illegal bribes at a radar checkpoint in Salyan.

Azerbaijan

Ensure detained journalists access to lawyer, family, says Human Rights Watch

Since their arrest nearly two weeks ago, Vugar Gonagov and Zaur Guliyev of Xayal TV have been kept in a police holding cell and been denied access to a lawyer, and their families haven't been informed of their whereabouts.

Russia

Apparent arson attempt at activists' office

“Despite the Kremlin’s repeated pledges to ensure normal working conditions for human rights defenders, Russian civil society groups operate in an increasingly hostile environment,” says Human Rights Watch.

Turkey

Human Rights Foundation threatened, its website hacked

The attack is reportedly related to a press release in which the association condemned an attack on Kurdish politician Ahmet Turk during Newroz celebrations in Batman.

Turkey

Academic, publisher formally indicted

Professor Büşra Ersanlı is facing up to 22.5 years in jail, while Ragıp Zarakolu could see as many as 15 years behind bars on charges of "aiding and abetting an illegal organisation".

Turkey

One-month suspension for daily newspaper

In addition to the month-long ban on Ozgur Gundem, the Gun Printing Company was raided by the police and two issues of the newspaper were confiscated.

France

Threat from use of Internet surveillance to combat terrorism

RSF is concerned by a proposal by President Nicolas Sarkozy that would punish “any person who habitually consults websites that advocate terrorism or call for hatred and violence”.

Turkey

Journalist recently released from prison is under investigation again

Ahmet Sik is facing an investigation after he criticised the judges and police officers who handled his case.

Portugal

Police officer allegedly attacks photojournalist covering Lisbon strike

IPI called the attack on AFP photojournalist Patricia Melo "a chilling reminder of the dangers journalists face, even in Western democracy."

Kazakhstan

Human Rights Watch urges authorities to allow peaceful protests to proceed

Civil society activists have planned a series of rallies to mark 100 days after police opened fire on unarmed protesters in the city of Zhanaozen, andauthorities have already started to arrest and fine participants.

Turkey / Netherlands

Newspaper's Rotterdam offices attacked

This is the second time that "Zaman" newspaper's offices have been targeted, and editorial staff suspects it was more than ordinary vandalism.

Azerbaijan

Investigate musicians' alleged ill-treatment by police, says Human Rights Watch

Two months ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest, members of the popular band Bulistan report they were arrested and abused while in police custody.

Kazakhstan

Editor Igor Vinyavsky released

The editor of the independent weekly newspaper "Vzglyad" was granted a pardon and released after nearly two months in a pre-trial detention centre in Almaty.

Azerbaijan

ARTICLE 19 calls on authorities to ensure safety and security of detained activists

Despite repeated requests, their lawyer has not been allowed to see his clients since their arrest. No information has been released about the current health condition of the detainees and there is mounting concern that they may have been tortured and are at further risk.

Turkey

Two investigative journalists threatened on Twitter

Ahmet Sik told RSF he is taking the threat seriously and believes it to be the work of “the circles responsible for the conspiracy” that led to his being detained for a year on a terrorism charge.

Russia

New wave of detentions at peaceful protests

On March 17 and 18, 2012, police detained over 130 peaceful protesters at three separate gatherings in Moscow. Earlier that week, over 10 pro-democracy activists were sentenced to administrative arrest in Nizny Novgorod for having participated in a peaceful protest rally.

Azerbaijan

Four journalists arrested over Quba riots

The four journalists were arrested in Quba, then taken to the Baku, where they are being held in custody. According to RSF's information, they have yet to be charged.

Russia

Russian authorities ramp up political prosecutions

Two members of punk feminist group Pussy Riot will remain in pre-trial detention until 24 April, when they face trial on charges of hooliganism and could be sentenced to up to seven years in prison for performing a protest song in Moscow’s Christ the Saviour cathedral.

Azerbaijan

As smear campaign escalates, IRFS believes journalists' lives are now at risk

A new video targeting Khadija Ismayilova has surfaced, prompting IRFS to condemn the deteriorating freedom of expression situation in the country and express concern that any journalist who reports on the authorities could now be in danger.

Russia

Journalists prevented from covering presidential elections, says GDF

Journalists covering the elections reported a variety of disturbing violations and irregularities in the voting, and say that both the police and elections officials were responsible.

Kazakhstan

Labour rights lawyer Natalia Sokolova released, but with restrictions

Human Rights Watch says the authorities violated Sokolova's right to freedom of expression because she was prosecuted for speaking out on issues such as wage disparity and oil workers' rights.

Serbia

IPI observes increasing pressure on local journalists

The alleged incidents represent only a fraction of the pressures on reporters, SEEMO said, as many reporters do not report what they must go through on a daily basis.

Austria

IPI alarmed at Justice Ministry attempt to undermine confidentiality of sources

A law proposed by the Ministry would grant powers to the police and state prosecutors to force journalists to hand over material used in investigative stories, and identify sources, if the journalists are themselves subjects of a criminal investigation.

Turkey

Nedim Şener and three others released from prison

Four journalists, Nedim Sener and Ahmet Sik, and OdaTV writers Çoskun Musluk and Sail Çakir were last night released pending trial in the high-profile OdaTV case; six journalists are still in prison relating to the case.

Tajikistan

Facebook and four news websites blocked on government's orders

The state telecom chief blamed the problem on technical problems, but the local press obtained a copy of a government order to block access to the websites.

Azerbaijan

Online journalist sentenced to 18 months in prison

RSF suspects that Ramin Bayramov is "just the latest victim of a crackdown on pro-Iranian religious sectors" in the country.

Azerbaijan

Anti-corruption journalist receives threats, explicit images

On the eve of International Women's Day, reporter Khadija Ismayilova, who has exposed corruption among high-ranking Azerbaijani officials and their families, received explicit photos and a note threatening her to stop "behaving improperly".

Montenegro

IPI condemns physical attack on journalist Olivera Lakic

This was not the first time that Lakic had been threatened. In February 2011, she reported on illegal labelling of tobacco products. Both she and her family received threats. Two men are currently on trial for threatening her.

Russia

Journalists detained at post-election rally

Pavel Nikulin, Maria Klimova, Andrei Stenin, and Arkady Babchenko were covering an opposition protest when they were rounded up by police.

Belarus

Writer loses appeal, sentenced to 4 years in labour camp

Ales Byalyatski was sentenced on charges of tax evasion, which are widely believed to be politically motivated charges aimed to stop him from continuing his human rights work.

Russia

Putin must carry out promised reforms, end impunity for journalists' murders

Since the parliamentary elections in December, the authorities have used a range of tactics to harass and discredit their critics, even as they have allowed public protests.

Azerbaijan

Reporters injured while covering clashes in Quba

The journalists were covering a violent demonstration in which protesters set fire to government buildings and the governor's house.

Albania

IPI welcomes defamation reform, presses for full decriminalisation

The penal code amendments include the abolishment of imprisonment as well as the involvement of the public prosecutor in defamation cases.

Russia

Human Rights Watch calls for an end to intimidation of activists, media as election nears

In the lead-up to the March 4, 2012 presidential vote, authorities have harassed a major election-monitoring nongovernmental organization, directly and indirectly interfered with the operation of independent news outlets critical of the government, and harassed and threatened civic activists.

Russia

Draft electoral law provision threatens freedom of expression

If passed, the draft law would mean that media outlets would be under constant threat of closure for any of their publications that is labelled as "pre-election agitation".

France

Genocide-denial law declared unconstitutional

ARTICLE 19 says the law's severe criminal sanctions would have interfered disproportionately with an individual's right to engage in historical debate.

Macedonia

Draconian media bill would restrict access for foreign correspondents

Among the more disputed articles of the proposed bill, article 18 bans foreign correspondents from “gathering personal opinions and data from citizens by means of investigation.”

Turkey

Journalist, in poor health, is released pending trial

Oda TV defendant Dogan Yurdakul, who shared a cell with Nedim Sener and Ahmet Sik in the Silivri Prison, is suffering from heart disease and kidney failure.

Kyrgyzstan

Government blocks access to prominent site Ferghana News

The country's telecom provider says the order to block the independent news site comes from the prime minister himself.

Serbia

ANEM condemns attack on Studio B television crew

Charges were laid against the individual who verbally attacked a Studio B crew and struck an assistant cameraman in the head and stomach.

Azerbaijan / Iran

Journalist for Iranian TV station imprisoned on drug charges

IRFS suspects that Anar Bayramli, an Azerbaijani citizen, is a casualty of recent tensions between Tehran and Baku.

Russia

TV anchors threatened by outlawed extremist group

In an online screed posted to a radical Islamist website, several individuals threatened to "cut out" the smiles of journalists Aznor Attayev and Arina Zhilyasova for reporting on special law-enforcement operations.

Turkey / France / Germany

Turkish newspaper's Europe offices attacked

"Zaman" is blaming Kurdish militants for violence in Paris and Cologne, including an arson attack on its offices in the latter city. The newspaper also accused PKK supporters of carrying out prior attacks on its offices in London, Vienna and Zurich.

Hungary

Media freedom under threat, says Human Rights Watch

After a recent visit to Budapest, the rights organisation warns the restrictions on media freedom pose a "clear danger to the EU's values".

Russia

Ekho Moskvy board shuffled ahead of election

Long-standing directors Aleksandr Makovsky and Evgeny Yasin were forced to leave, raising suspicions that the authorities are trying to hush criticism of Vladimir Putin and the ruling United Russia party.

Azerbaijan

IRFS is target of government smear campaign

IRFS believes the ongoing harassment by the authorities is the result of its Sing for Democracy campaign, which was launched to support human rights ahead of the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest, which will be held in Baku.

Russia

French journalist expelled for interviewing opposition members

According to local press reports, authorities interrogated Anne Nivat for four hours on 10 February and informed her that she had violated the status of her business visa by meeting with the opposition. Authorities cancelled her visa and gave her three days to leave the country.

Greece

IPI hopes court of appeal will reconsider excessive fines against two weekly Turkish papers

The fines against "Gundum" and "Millet" are so high that if convicted, the papers will be forced to close and the journalists might end up in prison.

Turkey

Musician detained; band members pledge to hold solidarity concerts

Seckin Aydogan, of the band Grup Yorum, was arrested after he attended a protest calling for the release of the "Yuruyus" magazine employees.

Turkey

Proposed bill promises to loosen restrictions on the press

RSF applauds the move to address major failings in the judicial system and hopes that imprisoned journalists will be released.

Ukraine

Court decision threatens future of country's largest newspaper

After the court issued a ruling invalidating "Express" newspaper's statutory documents, a government representative allegedly contacted the newspaper and offered to overturn the verdict if "Express" softened its criticism of the government.

Russia

Journalist detained for questioning after publishing open letter to Putin

Mikhail Lobanov believes he is being pressured to protect one of his attackers in an earlier beating - the son of a regional inspector - from criminal liability.

Russia

Government shuts HIV-prevention group's website

The website by the Andrey Rylkov Foundation advocates health-based drug policies and has been a vocal critic of the country's ban on methadone.

Azerbaijan

Justice ministry harassment targets IRFS activities, says group's director

Emin Huseynov says he believes a warning letter received by the ministry stems from IRFS’s activities, namely its role in the "Sing for Democracy" campaign, intended to draw international attention to the media freedom and freedom of expression situation in Azerbaijan.

France

Documentary filmmaking threatened by court ruling

A court in the northern city of Lille has ordered documentary filmmaker Sophie Robert to remove interviews with three psychoanalysts from her film about the treatment of autism and to pay them a large sum in damages for “misrepresenting” their views.

Kazakhstan / Germany

Make rights key to good relations, says Human Rights Watch

The rights organisation is concerned about the violent crackdown on protesters and online censorship that occurred following a strike in the oil-rich town of Zhanaozen.

Russia

Authorities "at war" with bloggers in Chelyabinsk region

Blogs of government critics in Chelyabinsk region have been under cyber attack in recent weeks in an apparent bid to stem the spread of negative information on the Internet about authorities' performance.

Kazakhstan

Security service interrogates editor, raids newsroom

For two consecutive days, KNB agents interrogated Oksana Makushina in connection with a press conference held on 30 January at which she spoke in defense of Igor Vinyavsky, imprisoned editor of the independent weekly "Vzglyad."

Turkey

Police use social media to monitor activists

Lawyer Efkan Bolac said that individuals could be prosecuted over messages that are posted to Facebook and Twitter.

Russia

Independent newspaper suspends publication in response to pressure

According to the general director of "Moi Gorod-Kostroma", the paper was subjected to various inspections while its staff was repeatedly detained by the police.

Kazakhstan

Independent editor imprisoned

Igor Vinyavsky has been indicted on criminal charges of "making public calls to violently overthrow Kazakhstan's constitutional regime".

Uzbekistan

Editor sentenced to additional five-year jail term while still in prison

CPJ is outraged by the politically-motivated new sentence handed to Muhammad Bekjanov, who has been in prison since 1999 on trumped-up charges.

Kazakhstan

Independent editor detained, newsrooms raided

Igor Vinyavsky was detained in an ongoing crackdown by the security service on critical media and opposition activists, which also involved a raid on an independent broadcaster.

Turkey

Books of slain Kurdish poet under investigation

The Istanbul Chief Prosecutor is investigating books published by Aram Publishing Company, including several books by slain Kurdish poet Musa Anter, on charges of "propaganda for an illegal organisation".

Turkey

Three journalists released pending trial, 11 others still imprisoned

The journalists had their first court hearing recently after 13 months in pre-trial detention.

Azerbaijan

Newspapers fined for "damaging honour" of businessman

The newspapers were each fined 2000 manats (approx. US$2,545) by the decision of the Yasamal District Court judge Elchin Gurbanov.

Croatia

IPI calls for professionalisation of public broadcaster

As has been the case in most post-communist countries, the process of transforming state television channels into public broadcasters has been slow and difficult in the country.

Western Europe / Turkey

TV satellite operator usurps court's prerogative to silence Kurdish TV station

A Danish court had earlier found Roj TV guilty of supporting the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), an armed separatist group regarded by Turkey as a terrorist organization.

France

Senate must reject Armenian Genocide law, says ARTICLE 19

The adoption of a law criminalising any denial of the 1915 Armenian genocide would be in conflict with France’s obligation to respect the right to freedom of expression under international law.

Romania

Journalists assaulted while covering anti-government protests

Protesters and policemen allegedly assaulted the reporters as the peaceful protests degenerated into violence.

Turkey

Journalists set to appear in court after year-long detention

The six journalists were arrested and detained following a raid on the magazine "Yuruyus" in December 2010.

Turkey

Life sentence and acquittals handed down in Hrant Dink murder trial

Five years after the journalist's death, all the defendants were acquitted of charges of membership in a criminal organisation.

Hungary

Journalist faces threats of criminal prosecution for publishing leaked document

Access Info Europe, n-ost and SEENPM expressed their concerns about the threats of criminal charges against Attila Mong and the chilling effect that such threats are likely to have on freedom of expression in Hungary.

Kosovo (Serbia)

Police allegedly assault reporter

Vedat Xhymshiti was covering clashes between demonstrators and Kosovo police near the Merdare border crossing between Serbia and Kosovo, when he was allegedly struck by policemen and lost consciousness.

Europe and Central Asia

Ireland to prioritise Internet freedom during OSCE chairmanship

The Irish Deputy Prime Minister said that incidences of censorship, attempted censorship and invasion of privacy were on the rise across the OSCE.

Russia / Tajikistan

Tajik opposition journalist stabbed in Moscow

Dodojon Atovulloev is well-known for his critical views towards the Tajik authorities and the serious threats to which he has been subjected have led Germany to give him political refugee status.

Turkey / Denmark

Kurdish Roj TV fined but remains on air

A Copenhagen court fined Roj TV for violating the Danish anti-terror law but deemed that the television channel should not be shuttered for having allegedly spread propaganda for the PKK.

Belarus

Independent reporter imprisoned

Aleksandr Borozenko was sentenced to 11 days in jail for having reported on a one-person vigil for the Poland-based satellite broadcaster Belsat.

Hungary

Human Rights Watch calls for government to reverse interference with courts, media

The country’s new constitution, which came into force on January 1, 2012, and other laws adopted over the last year give the ruling Fidesz party the ability to interfere arbitrarily with the judicial system and media, in violation of human rights law.

Belarus

Authorities tighten grip on the Internet

The new law affirms that anyone going online in an Internet cafe or using a shared connection will have to identify themselves, while a record of everyone’s browsing history will be kept for one year.

Germany

President pressures "Bild" to kill story

IPI criticised the president following revelations that he had pressured the country's leading tabloid to kill a critical story about an unusual personal loan he received.

Belarus

Pro-opposition news website attacked, shut down

Anonymous individuals logged on to Chapter 97's administrative section, deleted archives, and created a false news story about opposition presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov.