On September, 13, the Justice For Journalists Foundation and the Foreign Policy Centre organised a webinar: Examining attacks on media workers in the post-Soviet region.
Speakers included:
- Maria Ordzhonikidze, Justice for Journalists Foundation
- Roman Dobrokhotov, Founder and editor-in-chief, The Insider
- Hanna Liubakova, Freelance journalist and researcher
- Sarah Clarke, Head of Europe and Central Asia, ARTICLE 19
Chair: Catherine West MP, Shadow Minister for Europe and the Americas
This Justice For Journalists Foundation and the Foreign Policy Centre event examined the way in which journalists and other media workers in the post-Soviet region have been targeted by the authorities and others such as organised crime and nationalist groups. It was built on the findings of a recent JFJ report that showed 4,611 attacks on media workers were registered in 12 countries in the post-Soviet region (except the Baltic States) in 2020, two and a half times more than the findings for 2019, and these trends have continued in 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in new laws and regulations ostensibly to target misinformation but which have been used against those criticising the government, while there have been new crackdowns on protest activities and on local groups working with international partners. JFJ has documented an increasing number of ‘hybrid attacks’ which combine physical assaults, harassment (both online and in-person) and judicial or economic pressure.
Listen to an audio recording of the event here.
You can also watch the video of the event here.