freedom of speech
Ethiopia targets independent media in escalating press freedom crackdown – rights groups
The Committee to Protect Journalists and Human Rights Watch say a raid on the offices of the Addis Standard was part of a wider pattern of targeting independent media
Russia steps up pressure on exiled journalists: Reporters Without Borders condemns new repressive law
Russian authorities continue to expand the legal mechanisms they use to persecute independent journalists. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned a new law unanimously passed by the Russian State Duma on 24 July, 2026. The law imposes further restrictions on people designated as "foreign agents" in Russia or linked to so-called "undesirable organisations"
Russia designated U.S.-based Crimean Tatar Foundation an “undesirable organisation”
Russian prosecutors also claim that the Crimean Tatar Foundation organises lectures, conferences and exhibitions covering the deportation of the Crimean Tatar people, Russia’s occupation of Crimea and its war against Ukraine
Russian Justice Ministry targets more activists of Crimean Solidarity grassroots movement
On 24 June 2026, the Russian Justice Ministry expanded the list of people it considers members of the Crimean Solidarity grassroots movement, which had previously been added to Russia’s register of foreign agents. The list now contains 137 names
OSCE condemns Russian strikes on Ukrainian newsrooms
The statement also refers to other recent attacks on Ukrainian regional media, including damage to the newsroom of Kordon.Media in Sumy on 17 July and to Inform.zp.ua in Zaporizhzhia on 21 July
Crimean Solidarity grass-roots initiative ceases operations
The movement stressed that many of its members who assisted victims of political repression had themselves faced fines, administrative detention and criminal prosecution. These activities were among the reasons why Crimean Solidarity was added to the register
Russian occupation forces detained man in Melitopol over online comments posted in 2022
Russian security forces claim that in September 2022, he posted messages in a public Telegram group for local residents. The occupation authorities classified them as "public calls to the performance of terrorist acts"
Dzhankoi district resident sentenced to four years in penal colony over comments about illegal construction of Kerch Bridge by Russian occupiers
Russian occupying investigators allege that Mykola Semiletov posted comments on Telegram calling for the destruction of the Kerch Bridge and the killing of Russians and political figures
FSB detained local resident in occupied Crimea over pro-Ukrainian comments
A criminal case was opened against the man under Article 280(2) ("Public calls for extremist activities") of the Russian Criminal Code. Occupation law enforcement officers also said they were considering opening a case under Article 205.2(2) ("Public calls to the performance of terrorist acts") of the Russian Criminal Code.
Illegitimate “court” in temporarily occupied Crimea punishes woman for calling for protests over power and water outages
On social media, local residents complained about the lack of electricity and water, saying they were unable to live or work normally. They wrote that businesses had come to a standstill, workers were not being paid, and families were forced to care for children and carry water up to flats in multi-storey buildings without electricity
Yellow-and-blue pillowcases bring people to court: Occupation authorities issue more than 1,500 rulings for “discrediting” the Russian army
The largest number of such cases was heard by the "Armiansk City Court", which issued 495 rulings - almost a third of all documented cases
Chinese media expand their presence in Ukraine’s occupied territories and promote Kremlin narratives, RSF says
Although China does not officially recognise Russia’s occupation of Ukrainian territory, its media presence there continues to expand. As Vira Yastrebova, director of the Eastern Human Rights Group, pointed out, Chinese media actors frequently reproduce or reinforce Russian propaganda narratives
The first issue of the Crimean Tatar newspaper Qırım was published 37 years ago
According to available estimates, between 2021 and 2024 alone, the occupation authorities imposed at least 658,000 Russian roubles in fines on the newspaper, its Editor-in-Chief and its founder
Court bars Anti-Corruption Action Centre and Slidstvo.Info from publishing investigation into 143 properties linked to SBI director’s brother
According to AntAC, the court issued the order as a provisional measure pending the filing of a future lawsuit. However, no lawsuit has been filed yet, and the court has not considered the case on its merits
Russia’s Supreme Court upholds sentence of man convicted over pro-Ukraine comments
He was convicted under Part 2 of Article 205.2 ("Public calls for terrorist activity") of the Russian Criminal Code and Part 2 of Article 280 ("Public calls for extremist activity") of the same code
Melitopol journalist Anastasiia Hlukhovska declares hunger strike in Russian detention centre
Anastasiia Hlukhovska has been held in Russian captivity for almost three years in an incommunicado status. Since her abduction in August 2023, Russia has effectively held her without contact with the outside world and without officially confirming her place of detention
US Human Rights Commission calls for release of Crimean Tatar journalist Rustem Sheikhaliyev on his 47th birthday
Russian security forces detained Sheikhaliyev during mass searches of Crimean Tatar homes in March 2019. At the time, more than two dozen people were arrested simultaneously in occupied Simferopol and surrounding areas
Citizen journalist Vilen Temerianov returned to Rostov pre-trial detention centre after a month in hospital
The journalist also needs to undergo a CT scan and is expected to be hospitalised again for this procedure
Columns
“Reaching an agreement with the US on what we disagree on”: What the campaign against ICC means for Ukraine
ICC must remain free from political pressure to bring justice to victims of world’s gravest crimes
Only 5% of those responsible for deporting Ukrainian children face global sanctions
The human safari: How Russia weaponized precision against Ukrainian civilians
