Cathal Sheerin

Journalists attacked, protesters arrested, porn users relieved

October in Europe and Central Asia: A roundup of key free expression news, based on IFEX member reports.

The importance of persistence: Challenging impunity and the murder of Alisher Saipov

The investigation into the 2007 murder in Kyrgyzstan of journalist Alisher Saipov was suspended, apparently indefinitely, in 2013. However, the recent reopening of the inquiry – following pressure from IFEX members – offers a glimmer of hope to the journalist’s family.

Nails in the coffin of a tyrant and the country where everything is satirical

September in Europe and Central Asia: A roundup of key free expression news, based on IFEX member reports.

Disinformation wars: From the stupid to the malign

Cathal Sheerin looks at disinformation across Europe – particularly in Macedonia and Ukraine – Russia’s role, and the harmful staying power of inaccurate information.

Protesters doxxed, journalists detained and violent neo-Nazis ‘defamed’

August in Europe and Central Asia: A roundup of key free expression news, based on IFEX member reports.

Deterring democracy, the “LGBT-Free Zone” and the danger of thinking out loud

July in Europe and Central Asia: A roundup of key free expression news, based on IFEX member reports.

Don’t shoot us!

June in Europe and Central Asia: A roundup of key free expression news, based on IFEX member reports.

Russia: Anti-corruption journalist Ivan Golunov arrested, severely beaten, placed under house arrest

Arrested on dubious drugs charges, well-known investigative journalist Ivan Golunov was beaten up and placed under house arrest, pending trial. If convicted on the charges against him, he faces between ten and 20 years in prison.

A car bomb, baseball bats and a blank placard

May in Europe and Central Asia: A roundup of key free expression news, based on IFEX member reports.

Ukrainian journalist Vadim Komarov beaten into coma

Komarov’s colleagues believe that the attack was connected to his work. Komarov frequently wrote about corruption, embezzlement of city budget funds, administrative incompetence, illegal construction and prison conditions.

Protesters hold copies of the "Cumhuriyet" newspaper and placards during a demonstration in front of a courthouse in Istanbul, Turkey, 31 October 2017, YASIN AKGUL/AFP/Getty Images

“In the future they will apologize to our children”

April in Europe and Central Asia: A roundup of key free expression news, based on IFEX member reports.

Police officers detain anti-government protesters during a rally in Almaty, Kazakhstan, 22 March 2019, REUTERS/Pavel Mikheyev

A database of porn users and the 59 journalists serving 417 years on terrorism charges

March in Europe and Central Asia: A roundup of key free expression news, based on IFEX member reports.

A projection on the facade of the city hall shows the portraits of murdered journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova, in Bratislava, Slovakia, 20 February 2019, VLADIMIR SIMICEK/AFP/Getty Images

Journalists failed by Turkish justice, a Nobel nomination, and France’s “anti-thug” law

February in Europe and Central Asia: A roundup of key free expression news, based on IFEX member reports.

Protesters carry a banner with the portraits of Azerbaijani political prisoners during a demonstration for press freedom, in Berlin, Germany, 21 January 2015, Maurizio Gambarini/picture alliance via Getty Images

Mobs target journalists and Turkey hands jail sentences to 28 academics

January in Europe and Central Asia: A roundup of key free expression news, based on IFEX member reports.

An Azerbaijani opposition supporter holds a placard reading 'Where is democracy?' during a protest against a scheduled referendum in Baku, 17 September 2016, Aziz Karimov/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

Support for Mehman Huseynov: Protests on the streets, in the prisons and from European institutions

IFEX members have been among those calling for the charges against Huseynov to be dropped and for him to be unconditionally released.

az.wikipedia.org

IFEX member Mehman Huseynov begins hunger strike in protest at new charges

Azerbaijani IFEX member and long-time critic of President Aliyev’s regime, Mehman Huseynov, faces dubious assault charges just two months before he is due to be released from jail.