Articles by International Press Institute (IPI)
Kurdish-language television transmissions jammed
(IPI/IFEX) – IPI is strongly condemning the jamming of transmissions from the London-based Kurdish-language satellite television station, Med TV, by the Turkish authorities. **For background to harassment of Med-TV, see IFEX alerts of 20 September and 20 November 1996** IPI has been informed that Med TV’s news and panel discussion programmes are being targeted since […]
Military trial of journalist set to begin
(IPI/IFEX) – IPI is most concerned about the forthcoming case of Grigori Pasko, who has been imprisoned since November 1997 in Vladivostok. IPI reported on 13 October 1998 that he was to go on trial on charges of treason on 14 October. **Updates IFEX alerts of 21 May and 11 May 1998** The charges against […]
President vetoes proposed radio and tv law; bill goes back to parliament
(IPI/IFEX) – According to the International Press Institute, Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov vetoed a proposed radio and television law on 28 September 1998. Stoyanov sent the bill back to parliament for further debate, as he was concerned it may fail to guarantee the political independence of the media and could create divisions between ethnic groups. […]
IPI calls on authorities to revoke penal code articles which allow prison for libel and defamation
(IPI/IFEX) – An International Press Institute delegation met in Sofia with three members of parliament (MPs) from the ruling Union of Democratic Forces Party (UDF) — Dimitar Abajiev, Ivan Dimov and Sasho Stoyanov — to call on the Bulgarian authorities to revoke articles within the penal code that punish journalists with imprisonment for articles that […]
IPI issues report on Slovakia?s elections and the media
(IPI/IFEX) – In a 21 September 1998 press statement, IPI says over the past few weeks, listeners to private Radio Twistâs news programmes have first been presented with a recorded apology issued by the General Director Andi Hryc. The statement announces that due to restrictive aspects of the Election Law, Radio Twist is legally forbidden […]
New media law proposed in Hungary
(IPI/IFEX) – According to information obtained by IPI, the Hungarian government is considering moves to force the Hungarian media – by law and under threat of sanctions – to publish rectification not only of facts but also of opinions published in the media – a development that deeply concerns IPI. IPI has been informed that […]
Iranian journalist killed
(IPI/IFEX) – The International Press Institute (IPI) strongly condemns the reported killing of Mahmoud Saremi, a correspondent for the official Iranian news agency, IRNA, who was abducted by the Taliban militia forces on 8 August. The Taliban movement announced on Friday, 11 September, that the 10 Iranian diplomats and one journalist, who were abducted in […]
Five journalists sentenced to death for treason
(IPI/IFEX) – IPI is deeply concerned about the fate of five journalists who were sentenced to death in Sierra Leone on 24 August 1998, on charges of treason in connection with a May 1997 coup d’état. **Updates IFEX alerts of 14 and 1 April 1998** According to IPI, 16 Sierra Leone citizens, including five journalists, […]