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.

VOA statement on denying clearance for journalists in advance of Zimbabwe Elections

USAGM marks World Press Freedom Day by highlighting global censorship threats

Conviction of Vietnamese blogger condemned by USAGM

Radio Free Asia condemns sentencing of Vietnamese blogger Nguyen Lan Thang

Martí director decries detention of Cuban contributor

RFE/RL sanctioned by government of Iran, denounces designation as supporter of international terrorism

Cases We're Watching

Status

Tatyana Voltskaya

Freelance correspondent, Radio Liberty

HARASSED

Tatyana Voltskaya, a freelance correspondent for Radio Liberty in St. Petersburg, is appealing the fine of 30,000 rubles that a court in St. Petersburg imposed on her in December 2020 for spreading false information about the coronavirus.

Ihar Losik

Journalist, RFE/RL

IMPRISONED

Ihar Losik, RFE/RL Belarus Service journalist, was arrested on June 25, 2020, and accused by authorities of using his popular Telegram channel to “prepare to disrupt public order” ahead of the 2020 presidential elections in the country.

Schemes

RFE/RL and Ukrainian Public Television

HARASSED

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 as they report on regions in conflict or transition.

Svetlana Prokopyeva

Contributor, RFE/RL’s Russian Service

HARASSED

Russian journalist and RFE/RL contributor, Svetlana Prokopyeva was charged with publicly justifying terrorism. Prokopyeva denies the charges and claims the case is an attempt by Russia to curtail freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

Nguyễn Văn Hoá

Videographer and contributor, RFA Vietnamese Service

JAILED

Hoá is being held in violation of Article 258 of Vietnam’s penal code, for “abusing democratic freedoms to infringe on the interests of the state,” an offense that carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.

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.

Le Anh Hung

Contributor, VOA Vietnamese Service

JAILED

VOA contributor Le Anh Hung was arrested on July 5th, 2018 on the charges of "abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the State, lawful rights and interests of organizations and/or citizens” under Article 331 of Vietnam’s 2015 Penal Code. If convicted, he could save up to seven years in prison.

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.”

Pham Chi Dung

Reporter and Blogger, VOA Vietnamese Service

IMPRISONED

VOA Vietnamese freelance blogger, Pham Chi Dung, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for “dangerous actions” against the Hanoi government.

Bashar Fahmi

Correspondent, Alhurra TV

MISSING

The Alhurra correspondent went missing while reporting in Aleppo, Syria, in August 2012.

Vladyslav Yesypenko

Contributor, RFE/RL

IMPRISONED

RFE/RL freelance reporter Vladyslav Yesypenko was arrested after attending a peaceful gathering in Simferopol, Ukraine. He was detained on suspicion of collecting information for Ukrainian intelligence and sentenced to six years in prison.

Andrey Kuznechyk

Journalist, RFE/RL

IMPRISONED

Andrey Kuznechyk, a correspondent for RFE/RL Belarus Service, was detained on November 25, 2021. He was taken from outside his apartment in Minsk by four unidentified men in plain clothes. At the time, no reason for his detention.

Sithu Aung Myint

Contributor, VOA

IMPRISONED

VOA contributor Sithu Aung Myint was arrested on August 15, 2021, on charges of incitement and defaming the armed forces and state. On October 6, 2022, he was sentenced to three years in prison for hard labor.