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Our Journalists, Under Threat
The right to free and open access to news and information should be universal, but threats to a free press persist. Journalists reporting for USAGM networks face risks every day. USAGM strongly condemns these actions, which violate international standards by suppressing independent media and targeting journalists doing their jobs. This page lists USAGM-affiliated journalists who are currently detained, imprisoned, or under house arrest on account of their reporting for our networks. USAGM and its networks are working tirelessly to free each journalist by advocating on their behalf here in the U.S. and abroad.
USAGM CEO Amanda Bennett reflects ahead of International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists
American RFE/RL reporter Alsu Kurmasheva released from Russian custody
American RFE/RL reporter Alsu Kurmasheva released from Russian custody
VOA statement on Russia’s release of RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva
American RFE/RL reporter Alsu Kurmasheva tried & convicted in Russian Court
Cases We're Watching
Truong Duy Nhat
Contributor and blogger, RFA Vietnamese Service
Jailed
RFA Vietnamese contributor and blogger went missing on Jan. 26 after seeking political asylum with a UN refugee agency in Thailand.
Nguyen Tuong Thuy
Contributor, RFA Vietnamese
Imprisoned
Nguyen Tuong Thuy, contributor to RFA, received an 11-year prison sentence for “making, storing, and disseminating documents and materials for anti-state purposes.”
Phạm Chí Dũng
Reporter and Blogger, VOA Vietnamese Service
Imprisoned
VOA Vietnamese contributor, Phạm Chí Dũng, is serving a 15-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2021 of anti-state offenses under Article 117 of Vietnam's Penal Code.
Bashar Fahmi
Correspondent, Alhurra TV
Missing
The Alhurra correspondent went missing while reporting in Aleppo, Syria, in August 2012.
Nguyen Lan Thang
Contributor, RFA Vietnamese service
Imprisoned
RFA contributor Nguyen Lan Thang was sentenced to six years in prison and two years of probation on April 12, 2023. The long-time Radio Free Asia (RFA) contributor was arrested in July 2022 and charged with spreading anti-state propaganda.
Nguyen Vu Binh
Contributor, RFA Vietnamese
Imprisoned
RFA contributor Nguyen Vu Binh was sentenced to seven years in prison in September 2024 for "propaganda against the state" after being arrested earlier that year.
Farid Mehralizada
Economist and Journalist, RFE/RL Azerbaijani Service
Jailed
Farid Mehralizada is serving a nine-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2025 on charges widely criticized by press freedom and human rights organizations.
Nika Novak
Journalist, RFE/RL Russian Service (Radio Svoboda)
Imprisoned
RFE/RL Russian Service journalist Nika Novak is serving a four-year prison sentence in Russia after being convicted in 2024 under a law that human rights groups say can be used to target independent journalists.
Reza Valizadeh
Journalist, RFE/RL Persian Service (Radio Farda)
Imprisoned
Former Radio Farda journalist Reza Valizadeh is serving a 10-year prison sentence in Iran after being convicted in 2024 on charges of "collaborating with a hostile government."
Ulviyya Ali
Correpondent, VOA Azerbaijan Service
Jailed
Ulviyya Ali has been held in pretrial detention in Azerbaijan since May 2025 on currency smuggling charges that she and press freedom advocates say are politically motivated.
Le Anh Hung
Contributor, VOA Vietnamese Service
Jailed
Former VOA Vietnamese contributor Lê Anh Hùng was detained in March 2026 and is being held in pretrial detention on charges of anti-state propaganda under Article 117 of Vietnam's penal code.
There are no journalists with this status.
