Ukraine: IMI recorded 12 assaults on press freedom in January 2025
Threats were the most common attack on journalists in Ukraine in January, with press outlets continuing to receive anonymous bomb threats via email.
Russia: Navalny’s lawyers handed prison terms on spurious “extremism” charges
Vadim Kobzev, Alexei Liptser and Igor Sergunin received prison sentences ranging from 3.5 to 5.5 years in retaliation for providing legal services to the late, jailed opposition leader, Alexei Navalny.
Russia introduces new legislation targeting critics
In recent weeks, laws on “foreign agents”, “fake news” and “discrediting” the Russian army were made substantially harsher.
Ukraine: IMI recorded 268 violations of freedom of expression in 2024
Of the 268 attacks on freedom of expression recorded by IMI, 155 were committed by Russian forces, and included killings, woundings, kidnapping, cyberattacks and threats.
Ukraine: Russia targets Ukrainian journalists to cover up war crimes
“The Russians had pre-made lists of Ukrainian journalists and purposefully detained and kidnapped them. This was done to prevent the media from reporting on Russia’s crimes to the world” – IMI
Foreign tech companies cave to Russia’s censorship demands
“Tech companies find themselves vulnerable to blocking and other forms of pressure by Russian authorities. However, this does not give the companies carte blanche to enable the Kremlin’s outrageous violations of human rights online” – HRW
Ukraine: 13 journalists killed at work in first 1,000 days of Russia’s invasion
Some journalists have been killed as a result of Russian shelling, either indiscriminate or targeted, while others were likely killed in extrajudicial executions. Dozens more have been wounded.
Ukraine: 1,000 days of war have seen 329 media outlets forced to close
The most common reasons for closing down were the Russian occupation of territories, which saw 117 media outlets closed, and financial difficulties caused by the war, which resulted in 96 closures.
RSF presses criminal charges against ‘X’ over disinformation
After ‘X’ failed to address disinformation about RSF on its platform, the press freedom group is now pursuing the matter via the French courts, arguing that ‘X’ is complicit in disseminating false information and identity theft.
ECtHR finds that Russia’s “foreign agents” law violates right to free expression
“This decision brings attention to the problematic nature of foreign agent-style laws, which are proliferating as governments, including those of Georgia and Turkey, attempt to stifle criticism” – ARTICLE 19
Russia has committed 644 crimes against media in Ukraine
In October, several media outlets and journalists received identical emails with bomb threats. Ukrainian police said the threats came from Russian IP addresses.
Russia: Draft law aims to ban “propaganda” about so-called child-free lifestyles
The ruling United Russia party proposed the bill, saying it will protect “traditional” and “family values,” prevent the “degradation of public institutions,” and counter “depopulation”.
New RSF report calls for fund to rebuild Ukraine’s media landscape
Since Russia’s invasion, Ukrainian media have shown exceptional resilience, but their situation remains fragile: journalists are under threat and media infrastructures are partially destroyed.
Ukranian journalist Viktoria Roshchina dies in detention in Russia
“Responsibility for her death lies with the Russian authorities, who detained her for daring to report the truth on the Russia-Ukraine war. Ukrainian and Russian authorities must do everything in their power to investigate Roshchina’s death” – CPJ