Articles by Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
Journalists trapped in Chechnya hostel reportedly rescued; CPJ appeals to both sides in Chechen conflict for journalists’ safety
On 12 August 1996, ITOGI television news and other news sources reported that Russian and foreign journalists trapped in a hostel in Grozny, the capital of the secessionist Russian republic of Chechnya, had been rescued and taken safely out of Grozny by Russian forces. On 10 August 1996, CPJ urged both sides in the Chechen […]
Journalist Amiel Nkuriza detained; Isaie Niyoyita goes into hiding; Appolos Hakizimana and Joseph Ruyenzi still detained; whereabouts of Mauass Mugabo still not known
On 6 August 1996, Amiel Nkuriza, director of the privately-owned newspaper “Intego” and editor of the independent newspaper “Le Partisan”, was arrested by officers of the security forces. He is reportedly being held at the information services department. No formal charges have been made against him. **New cases, plus update to IFEX alerts dated 1 […]
Prosecutor withdraws suit against Kazakh edition of Russian daily “Komsomolskaya Pravda”
On 24 July 1996, the Medeus District People’s Court judge closed the case against the Kazakh edition of the Russian newspaper “Komsomolskaya Pravda”. **Updates IFEX alert dated 31 May 1996** At a court hearing on 17 July, the paper was ordered to print an apology within a week for publishing a controversial 23 April article, […]
Journalist Rodrigo Alonso kidnapped and robbed
Rodrigo Alonso, a Chilean national who works as a reporter for the Miami-based Telemundo television network, was kidnapped and robbed during a visit to Cuba in June 1996. Alonso traveled to Cuba on 10 June with two other representatives of Telemundo to research material and conduct interviews for a program about the life of Che […]
Ban on issue of “Azadlig” among incidents of censorship; journalist Metin Yasar Oglu remains in detention
In a 1 August letter to Azeri President Haidar Aliev, CPJ expressed concern at the recent closure of “Avrazia” (see previous IFEX alert of 6 August), and at recent press reports of censorship exercised by both the government’s Committee for the Protection of Secrets and by the President’s office. **For background to “Avrazia” closure, see […]
“Al-Safa” editor-in-chief Ashraf Shaban abducted
On 1 August 1996, three unidentified men — one armed with a pistol — abducted Ashraf Shaban, the editor-in-chief of the Urdu-language daily “Al-Safa”, from the newspaper’s offices in Srinagar, Kashmir, and forced him into an auto-rickshaw taxi. Shaban has not been seen since and no one has claimed responsibility for his abduction. Shaban, who […]
Independent television station Rustavi-2 forced off the air
According to local journalists, on 17 July 1996, Rustavi-2, the leading independent television station in Tbilisi, with an audience of more than one million viewers, was forced off the air by the Georgian Ministry of Communications. Authorities claimed afterwards that the commercial charter of Gamma Plus Agency Ltd., the parent company of Rustavi-2 in Tbilisi, […]
“The Point” editor Edison Yongai released on bail; sedition trial set for August
**Updates IFEX alerts dated 23 and 19 July 1996** On 24 July 1996, Edison Yongai, editor of “The Point” newspaper, was granted bail of 10 million leons (US$ 11,000). He was released from Pademba Road Prison the evening of 23 July. His trial for sedition is set for 9 August. Appeals To