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.

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

VOA statement on Russia’s release of RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva

American RFE/RL reporter Alsu Kurmasheva tried & convicted in Russian Court

Russia extends American RFE/RL journalist’s detention for sixth time

Cases We're Watching

Status

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.

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.”

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

Journalist, 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.

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

Jailed

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.