PEN International

Laws passed since Vladimir Putin’s return to the presidency in May 2012 have dramatically strengthened the authorities’ control over the flow of information online and offline, radically restricting free expression in Russia.

The public inquiry must be completely independent of the Maltese police, government and politicians, and it should be conducted by a panel of respected international judges with no political or government links.

Arrested in October 2011 and charged with ‘aiding and abetting an illegal organisation’ in connection with a speech he made, Ragıp Zarakolu faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted. His trial resumes 28 September.

This statement was originally published on pen-international.org on 8 August 2018. On 7 August 2018, Carles Torner, Executive Director of PEN International, visited civil society leaders Jordi Cuixart and Jordi Sànchez, currently held in Lledoners prison near Barcelona, at the request of a family member. They have been held in pre-trial detention since 16 October […]

Liu Xia was placed under house arrest following the 2010 announcement that her husband Liu Xiaobo would be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Her home was guarded by security officers and she was prevented from communicating freely with the outside world.

Following Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary elections, the authorities must end the onslaught on freedom of expression and lift the state of emergency.

Andrew Caruana Galizia, son of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, spoke about the situation of violence against women journalists in the context of a session with the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women at the UN Human Rights Council 38th Special Session.

From cases of harassment, arrests, attacks, imprisonments and killings of writers and journalists around the world – it is clear that the space for free expression is sharply shrinking.