(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: New On CPJ’s Web Site: Freedom and Captivity: Terry Anderson Interviews Andrei Babitsky “I always had a sense that even colossal, dramatic events could change if a journalist were to tell the truth about what is happening.” – Russian journalist Andrei Babitsky Earlier this month, CPJ […]
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release:
New On CPJ’s Web Site:
Freedom and Captivity: Terry Anderson Interviews Andrei Babitsky
“I always had a sense that even colossal, dramatic events could change if a journalist were to tell the truth about what is happening.”
– Russian journalist Andrei Babitsky
Earlier this month, CPJ Vice Chairman Terry Anderson visited Moscow as a member of an international delegation of press freedom advocates. The delegation met with a consortium of Russian journalists and officials to voice concern over the increasing number of attacks on the Russian media.
On July 12, Anderson spoke with Russian reporter Andrei Babitsky. Anderson, former chief Middle East correspondent for The Associated Press, was held in captivity in Lebanon for nearly seven years. Early this year, Babitsky, who reports for Radio Liberty, was captured and held for 40 days, as a result of his reporting on the war in Chechnya. Babitsky is now in Moscow, but authorities are restricting his travel. On July 4th, he was formally charged with carrying a false passport. He is expected to go on trial in August.
The two journalists spoke about their common experiences of war reporting and of being kidnapped and held in captivity.
For the complete interview, and for more information about press conditions in Russia, visit CPJ’s Web site, .
CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom around the world.
