22 journalists are in pre-trial detention centers and colonies in Russia

As of December 2023, at least 320 journalists were in prison in the world in connection with their activities. This is stated in the report of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an international non-governmental organization headquartered in New York. The organization notes that this number of journalists deprived of their freedom is one of the highest in history, but slightly less than in 2022.

The most journalists are behind bars in China – 44 people. 43 journalists were deprived of their freedom in Myanmar, in third place was Belarus, where 28 journalists were deprived of their freedom.

Russia is in fourth place. According to the Committee for the Protection of Journalists, there are 22 journalists in pre-trial detention centers or colonies in this country. The report notes the increased number of imprisoned journalists in Israel – it is noted that these are Palestinians who were deprived of their freedom after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 and the start of the war in the Gaza Strip. The persecution of journalists in Iran, Vietnam, Afghanistan and other countries is also noted.

Speaking of Russia, the Committee to Protect Journalists notes a large number of foreign citizens or persons with dual citizenship who are persecuted by the Russian authorities. Last year, two journalists with US citizenship were arrested in Russia and are now in pretrial detention – The Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Hershkovich and journalist of the Tatar-Bashkir Service of Radio Svobodnaya Evropa/Radio Svoboda Alsu Kurmasheva. She was accused of not submitting documents to include herself in the register of so-called foreign agents, and then of spreading “fakes” about the army. She does not admit guilt.

Another 10 journalists behind bars in Russia are citizens of Ukraine, including Crimean Tatars. The names of Ivan Safronov, Abdulmumin Hadjiev, and Maria Ponomarenko, who were convicted on various charges, were also named. The report also notes that Russian authorities have issued arrest warrants or convicted in absentia several well-known journalists living and working abroad. This practice became widespread after Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.