Europe - Central Asia

Security guards at Domodedovo International Airport in Moscow continued to hold Natalya Morar and her husband Ilya Barabanov, both reporters with the independent newsweekly the New Times, for a second consecutive day, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has reported. Authorities have denied Morar access to her lawyer while pressuring her to buy a return ticket to her native...

The Belarusian Supreme Court has ordered the early release of Aleksandr Sdvizhkov, former deputy editor of the now-shuttered independent newspaper Zgoda, who was sentenced in January to three years in a high-security prison for reprinting controversial Danish cartoons of the prophet Mohammed in 2006. “We’re relieved at the Belarusian Supreme Court’s decision to grant early release to Aleksandr...

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called on Belarus’s Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that found Aliaksandar Zdzvizhkou, former deputy editor of Zhoda newspaper guilty of inciting religious hatred for re-printing the Danish caricatures of the prophet Mohammed in 2006. “This prosecution is an attack on press freedom that the government has tried to disguise by claiming...

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) today condemned a Maltese news web portal for its decision to ban political coverage and commentary. “We are shocked that a major media outlet would ban political reporting right before the general elections,” said EFJ General Secretary Aidan White. “It is a craven act of self-censorship at a critical time when the public needs reliable political...

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) today accused the Slovenian government of trying to spin its way out of trouble within the European Union over controversial claims that it is interfering in press freedom at home. EFJ said in a statement that political meddling with media in Slovenia cast a shadow over the country’s presidency of the European Union. It has criticised the government...

Press freedom organisations have condemned a recent court decision in Finland against a staff photographer who took pictures during the “Smash ASEM” demonstration during the Asia Europe meeting in Helsinki on September 9, 2006. Staff photographer Markus Pentikäinen of the Finnish weekly Suomen Kuvalehti was convicted for refusing police orders to move away from the scene while he insisted on his...

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the European group of the IFJ, has called for better protection of sources in France after the latest case against a journalist who has refused to reveal a confidential source. “It is urgent that a protection of sources law is passed in France”, said EFJ Chair Arne König. “Unfortunately we are not surprised by this event, which happened the day before...

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the European regional group of the International Federation of Journalists, Tuesday called on the European Union to put in place procedures to protect journalists from unsubstantiated allegations of wrong-doing by Brussels officials. The call follows the European Court of Human Rights verdict last week that condemned the Belgian state for acting...

PARIS, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Staff at French business newspaper La Tribune have decided to suspend a strike begun in protest over a deal by owner LVMH (LVMH.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) to sell the paper, trade unions said on Monday. "Staff at La Tribune, who have been on strike since November 29, have just voted (72 percent) to suspend their movement," the unions said in a statement. Luxury goods...

A European court has awarded damages to an investigative journalist whose home was raided and computers confiscated after he published articles alleging fraud within the European Union. In its ruling for the German reporter, Hans-Martin Tillack, the European Court of Human Rights said Tuesday that the right to protect the identity of sources is an essential pillar of freedom of the press. Though...