Court in Moscow set to fine Karen Shainyan on “foreign agent” status On 30 August 2023, a court in Moscow received a case against journalist Karen Shainyan, who was accused of violating Russian legislation on “foreign agents”, a status he was handed in April 2022. An initial trial in Shainyan’s case was scheduled for September 25. According to Russian media, the journalist is accused of not marking […] Read more »
Kyrgyzstan: IPI condemns attempt to shutter Kloop Media August 28, 2023 The IPI global network firmly condemns the Bishkek city prosecutor’s attempt to force the closure of Kloop, a major Kyrgyz independent media outlet and IPI member. In a request made to a local court, the Bishkek prosecutor claimed that Kloop’s reporting is “negative in character, aimed at discrediting representatives of state and local authorities”. The […] Read more »
IPI publishes new toolkit on press freedom frameworks in Zimbabwe August 24, 2023 Press freedom in Zimbabwe continues to face numerous challenges. IPI’s monitoring of press freedom in the country has shown that journalists experience unlawful arrests and detention, online threats and harassment, and restrictions to access information. Recorded incidents have been reported in IPI’s monthly monitoring factsheets (see, for example, the November 2022 factsheet, the December 2022 […] Read more » TaggedAfrica press freedom zimbabwe
Resource Toolkit: Press Freedom in Zimbabwe – National, Regional and Global Frameworks Press freedom in Zimbabwe continues to face numerous challenges. IPI’s monitoring of press freedom in the country has shown that journalists experience unlawful arrests and detention, online threats and harassment, and restrictions to access information. Recorded incidents have been reported in IPI’s monthly monitoring factsheets (see, for example, the November 2022 factsheet, the December 2022 […] Read more »
IPI launches resource toolkit ‘Foundations of Press Freedom in Africa’ August 24, 2023 The IPI global network has published the new resource toolkit “The Foundations of Press Freedom in Africa”. The toolkit is a compilation of key international, regional, and subregional frameworks for the protection of media freedom, the right to access information and the safety of journalists in Africa. This toolkit complements IPI’s press freedom monitoring and […] Read more » TaggedAfrica press freedom
Resource Toolkit: Foundations of Press Freedom in Africa The IPI global network has published the new resource toolkit “The Foundations of Press Freedom in Africa”. The toolkit is a compilation of key international, regional, and subregional frameworks for the protection of media freedom, the right to access information and the safety of journalists in Africa. This toolkit complements IPI’s press freedom monitoring and […] Read more »
Bangladesh: IPI welcomes repeal and replacement of Digital Security Act August 18, 2023 IPI Press Freedom Legal Researcher Lena Dal Santo The IPI global network welcomes the recent decision by the Bangladeshi government to repeal and replace the Digital Security Act, which has been repeatedly abused for years to harass and intimidate journalists. However, authorities must now consult with local civil society and human rights experts to ensure the proposed replacement, the Cyber Security Act, is […] Read more »
IPI Monitoring: Press freedom threats in DRC, Kenya, and Uganda August 10, 2023 In July 2023, the IPI global network’s monitoring of press freedom violations in sub-Saharan Africa recorded 80 incidents in 17 countries. During the month under review, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) recorded the highest number of incidents, followed by Kenya, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, which recorded 8 incidents each, and Gabon, with five incidents. […] Read more » TaggedAfrica monitoring
Niger: Authorities must respect press freedom August 9, 2023 Following last month’s military coup, the IPI global network today calls on the authorities in Niger to respect press freedom and the public’s right to access independent sources of news and information. IPI has been closely following developments in Niger following the military coup d’état on July 26, 2023. The coup has already had a […] Read more »
Turkey: International groups condemn fifth imprisonment order against journalist Barış Pehlivan August 9, 2023 The undersigned media freedom, freedom of expression, human rights, and journalists’ organisations strongly condemn the latest incident of judicial harassment against journalist Barış Pehlivan and reiterate calls to the Turkish authorities to respect media freedom. On August 2, journalist Barış Pehlivan was informed via an SMS from the Ministry of Justice that he was expected […] Read more »
Afghanistan: Hamisha Bahar network closed by Taliban for including women in journalism training August 8, 2023 IPI Contributor Katherine Dailey The IPI global network strongly condemns the closure of independent broadcaster Hamisha Bahar by the Taliban after authorities raided the outlet during a journalism training that included women journalists. The outlet was shuttered the following day for violating the Taliban’s higher education ban for women. On July 31, a group of Taliban officers raided the […] Read more »
IPI joins global civil society coalition condemning internet shutdowns in Senegal August 3, 2023 The IPI global network today joined 57 organizations across the globe as part of the #KeepItOn coalition in calling on the Senegalese government to end its use of internet shutdowns and blocking as a tool to censor and control information. This joint statement comes in reaction to the government’s shutdown of mobile internet on July […] Read more »
IPI Monitoring: Journalists in Uganda, Sudan, DRC, and Senegal face attacks, arrests, violence August 2, 2023 IPI Africa’s monitoring of press freedom threats and violations in June recorded at least 40 incidents in 15 countries across the continent, with the highest number of incidents in Uganda, Sudan, Senegal, and DRC. These attacks have been perpetrated by security and law enforcement officers, representatives and supporters of political parties, and members of the […] Read more »
IJ4EU Interview: ‘Migration management is a massive euphemism’ July 28, 2023 Few dispute that migration needs governing. But what happens when a little-known organisation working far from the glare of public scrutiny takes things too far? The Vienna-based International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) has operated since the early 1990s along the geographical fringes of the European Union. Its remit is “migration management”, which may […] Read more » Taggedij4eu
South African journalist barred from covering Russia- Africa Summit July 27, 2023 The IPI global network condemns the recent decision by Russian authorities to revoke accreditation for Daily Maverick journalist Peter Fabricius for the Russia-Africa summit taking place this week in St. Petersburg. The Summit’s Organising Committee did not provide reasons for the revocation nor did they afford the journalist an avenue to appeal the decision. Fabricius […] Read more »
Turkey: International and local groups condemn detention of journalists in Ankara, Diyarbakır, İstanbul and İzmir July 26, 2023 The undersigned media freedom, freedom of expression and human rights organizations strongly condemn the detention of T24 editor Sibel Yükler, Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporters Delal Akyüz and Fırat Can Arslan, bianeteditor Evrim Kepenek and freelance journalist Evrim Deniz in Turkey on July 25. While four of these journalists were conditionally released, Arslan was arrested later […] Read more »
Russia must stop designating media as ‘undesirable’ July 26, 2023 Russia must stop its practice of designating media companies as ‘undesirable’, the International Press Institute (IPI) said. IPI made the call following Russia’s latest such designation, which targeted independent television broadcaster TV Rain. The broadcaster was forced to leave Russia last year and now operates out of the EU. The designation has previously been used […] Read more »
United States: Reauthorization of Section 702 surveillance law will imperil the work of journalists July 25, 2023 IPI Contributor Rowan Humphries As U.S. lawmakers debate the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which is set to expire at the end of this year, the IPI global network expresses profound concerns about the statute’s risks for journalists, and calls on Congress to enact serious reforms to Section 702 that address those risks […] Read more »
Oleg Deripaska demands removal of video mentioning his reported PMCs On 24 July 2023, a court in Moscow published information on a defamation lawsuit filed by Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska, who demanded that Russian journalist Elizaveta Osetinskaya fully remove a recent Youtube video interview with human rights defender Olga Romanova. In the interview, Romanova claimed that Deripaska owned two private military companies, similar to Wagner, […] Read more »
Myanmar: Junta threatens legal action against independent media over broadcasting fees July 20, 2023 IPI Contributor Katherine Dailey The IPI global network condemns plans by Myanmar’s military junta to sue two independent media outlets, Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) and Mizzima, for broadcasting fees incurred prior to the military coup in February 2021. Since the junta took power, independent media has faced an extreme crackdown, including the jailing of journalists and closure of […] Read more »
Seven years into new era, Uzbekistan’s independent media fight for survival July 18, 2023 On July 9, Uzbekistan, Central Asia’s most populous nation, re-elected its president, in an atmosphere which local independent journalists describe as extremely constraining for their profession, limiting options for real political pluralism in Uzbekistan. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was officially declared the winner of the race, receiving 87 percent of the vote, in an election described […] Read more »
Seven years into new era, Uzbekistan’s independent media fight for survival July 18, 2023 On July 9, Uzbekistan, Central Asia’s most populous nation, re-elected its president, in an atmosphere which local independent journalists describe as extremely constraining for their profession, limiting options for real political pluralism in Uzbekistan. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was officially declared the winner of the race, receiving 87 percent of the vote, in an election described […] Read more »
Uganda: More than a dozen journalists assaulted in recent months July 17, 2023 The IPI global network is alarmed by growing attacks on journalists in Uganda this year and calls on Ugandan authorities to take appropriate measures to safeguard press freedom and protect the safety of journalists. Journalists must be able to operate freely and report on matters of public interest without fear of retaliation or interference by […] Read more »
Russia designates Karen Shainyan as “extremist”, opens criminal case against journalist On 14 July 2023, the Russian institution for the control of financial transactions, Rosfinmonitoring, added journalist Karen Shainyan to its list of “terrorists and extremists”, forbidding any financial transactions in Russia by the journalist. According to Russian independent media, this step indicates authorities have opened a criminal case for extremism against Shainyan, without however publishing […] Read more »
IPI welcomes Kyrgyz court decision reversing order to close Radio Azattyk July 14, 2023 IPI Contributor Rowan Humphries IPI and its global network welcome the Bishkek City Court’s decision to annul an April shut down order for Radio Azattyk, the Kyrgyz service of the U.S. Congress-funded broadcaster RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. The ruling clears the way for the broadcaster to return online after being blocked since October of last year. IPI had previously condemned the decision […] Read more »
Poland: Media capture fears confirmed in new report examining PKN Orlen takeover of Polska Press July 13, 2023 The International Press Institute (IPI) today joins the undersigned organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium in warning that the findings of a new report assessing the impact of the takeover of regional news publisher Polska Press by Poland’s state-controlled oil company PKN Orlen illustrate a shocking example of media capture in the […] Read more »
#IPIWoCo Recap: Media and democracy in the age of AI July 12, 2023 AI can be harnessed to help journalists do their jobs more efficiently, but is also poised to further pollute the information landscape, panelists at the opening Town Hall of the 2023 IPI World Congress and Media Innovation Festival said. They assessed the risks of AI to independent journalism, and the information landscape more broadly, and […] Read more »
Turkey Trial Blog: Court releases 15 journalists detained for over a year in Diyarbakır July 12, 2023 The International Press Institute (IPI) traveled to Diyarbakır, Turkey, in July 2023 to monitor the first hearing of a case in which 17 Kurdish journalists and 1 media worker – 15 of whom are currently in pre-trial detention are charged with “membership in a terrorist organization” and face a prison sentence up to 15 years. […] Read more »
Polen: Neuer Bericht über die Übernahme von Polska Press durch PKN Orlen bestätigt die Befürchtungen einer Vereinnahmung des Mediums July 12, 2023 Read in English Das International Press Institute (IPI) schließt sich heute den unterzeichnenden Organisationen des Konsortiums Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) an und warnt davor, dass die Ergebnisse eines neuen Berichts, der die Auswirkungen der Übernahme des regionalen Nachrichtenverlags Polska Press durch den staatlich kontrollierten polnischen Ölkonzern PKN Orlen bewertet, ein schockierendes Beispiel für die Vereinnahmung […] Read more »
Mexico: IPI condemns the killing of journalist Luis Martín Sánchez Íñiguez July 10, 2023 IPI Contributor Rowan Humphries The IPI global network condemns the killing of Mexican journalist Luis Martín Sánchez Íñiguez, who was found dead in the Mexican state of Nayarit after going missing last week. He is at least the fourth journalist to be killed in Mexico this year. IPI urgently calls on the Mexican government to thoroughly investigate all cases […] Read more »
Analysis: A new global cybercrime treaty risks becoming yet another legal instrument to punish and muzzle the press July 9, 2023 By Amy Brouillette, IPI Director of Advocacy For journalists and rights advocates, much is at stake as UN-member states gather in New York next month to hammer out the final points of a new global treaty to combat cybercrime. The treaty being negotiated could hand authorities far-reaching surveillance and investigatory powers both at home and abroad — and give repressive governments even […] Read more »
Media freedom and journalist groups call on EU to secure effective Media Freedom Act July 7, 2023 To the European Council, the European Parliament and the European Commission On behalf of media freedom, journalists and human rights organizations across Europe, we call upon the European Union institutions to negotiate a strong and effective European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) that can counter media capture and protect editorial independence and media pluralism across Europe. […] Read more »
‘Journalists are not legitimate targets’: Pegasus hacks amidst a war July 4, 2023 IPI contributor Rowan Humphries Researchers have been tracking the use of cyber surveillance software to target journalists for years, but until now no government has ever been caught using it during an active international conflict. New revelations from digital rights researchers and advocates uncovered the targeting of public officials and journalists with Pegasus spyware during the 2020 war between […] Read more »
