Ukraine: Journalists’ union attacked by pro-government MP

The EFJ/IFJ has strongly condemned accusations by a Ukrainian MP that the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) was guilty of implementing “Russian media projects” and supporting anti-Ukrainian media. The astonishing claims came after the union opposed government raids on a prominent Ukrainian news website. The EFJ/ IFJ vowed to stand shoulder to shoulder with its affiliate in Ukraine in defending its actions in representing the country’s journalists and defending press freedom. The politician, Dymtro Tymchuk, a member of the People’s Front faction has claimed the NUJU leadership was “working against information security of the country”. He also accused…

Russia: investigative journalist convicted for website administration

Investigative journalist Alexander Sokolov has been sentenced on Friday (10/08/2017) to three and a half years by a Russian court. Sokolov has been convicted with involvement in a banned extremist group.  The EFJ/IFJ joins its affiliate the Russian Union of Journalists (RUJ) in condemning the ruling which is being used to silence and intimidate Sokolov and other Russian journalists. “Sokolov’s conviction is a blatant attack by the authorities on transparency and the truth in Russia,” said the EFJ/IFJ. “We demand his immediate release.” Journalist Sokolov maintains his innocence, stating the actual intent behind the prosecution is in retaliation for a…