CPJ: The number of imprisoned journalists has increased

2024-01-18 20:52:34, Aktualitet CNA

The number of jailed journalists has risen sharply in 2023 with countries such as Belarus and Russia using extremism and other "anti-state" laws as their "most common weapon" to silence independent media, the Defense Committee said. of Journalists (CPJ).

In its annual report on imprisoned journalists, released on January 18, the Committee said 321 reporters were behind bars as of December 1 - the second-highest number since the census began in 1992.

The leading country is China with 44 jailed journalists, CPJ said, followed by Myanmar with 43, Belarus with 28, and Russia.

The total is "a disturbing barometer of the authoritarianism entrenched by governments determined to stifle independent voices," CPJ said, noting that more than 65 percent of jailed journalists face "anti-state charges such as fake news and terrorism in retaliation for their critical coverage”.

In Belarus, where the number of jailed journalists has risen sharply since widespread unrest following disputed 2022 presidential elections that gave authoritarian Alyaksandr Lukashenka his sixth consecutive term, CPJ said 71 percent of prisoners face anti-state charges and almost half of them serve sentences of five years or more.

According to CPJ, Russia — which began its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 — also intensified its efforts to suppress free reporting.

"Moscow is trying to criminalize journalism beyond its borders by issuing arrest warrants and prison sentences in absentia to several prominent journalists working abroad," the report said.

Meanwhile, 12 out of a total of 17 non-local journalists arrested are being held by Russia, including Alsu Kurmasheva - a veteran journalist at the Tatar-Bashkir Service of Radio Free Europe (REL) - who has been held in Russia for three months, and the Wall reporter Street Journal, Evan Gershkovich.

Ten other journalists from Ukraine - five of whom are Crimean Tatars - are also in Russian custody. Moscow illegally annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

One country that CPJ pointed out has seen a decrease in the number of detained journalists is Iran, where the total dropped to 17 from 62 in 2022.

However, CPJ said many of those listed in the 2022 census have been released on parole to await charges or sentencing, "meaning that the lower number of inmates in 2023 in no way signals that "Iran has given up suppressing the media."

"Instead, the authorities have responded to increased reporting on women's rights by singling out prominent female journalists," CPJ added, saying eight of the seventeen still held are women.

In Central Asia, Tajikistan emerged as the country with the most jailed journalists, with seven serving sentences of between seven and 20 years - all sentenced as of the end of 2022.

"The harsh sentences have exacerbated a widespread climate of fear and self-censorship among journalists in a media environment already ravaged for years by government pressure," CPJ said in describing the team's findings during a trip to Tajikistan in late 2023. .

CPJ also noted that press freedom also "deteriorated rapidly" in Azerbaijan, with presidential elections due next month.

Four members of the media were arrested on December 1 and at least three more since then, CPJ said.

The first four were from the renowned investigative newspaper Abzas Media - known for its investigations into the corruption of senior state officials.

Azerbaijani authorities have accused US and European embassies and donor organizations of illegally funding the media.

Many observers in Azerbaijan believe that the government started the anti-US campaign to provide a pretext for suppressing local journalists, especially since there has been no significant change in the US position towards Baku./ REL