09.08.2024 – Russian Journalist Dmitry Kolezev Sentenced to 7,5 Years in Absentia for ‘Fake News’ Charges

On 6 August 2024 russian authorities continue their crackdown on independent journalism with the recent sentencing of exiled journalist Dmitry Kolezev (Дмитрий Колезев), born 1984, to seven and a half years in prison in absentia. Kolezev, the former editor-in-chief of the independent media outlet Republic (https://republic.ru/) and founder of the Yekaterinburg-based (Екатеринбург), Russia, news site It’s My City (https://itsmycity.ru/), was convicted on charges of spreading so-called “fake news” about the Russian military. He previously worked as journalist and co-founder at Znak.com from Yekaterinburg (founded 2012), as also journalist in Uralpolit.ru(УралПолит.Ru) from Yekaterinburg and columnist in Ura.ru from Yekaterinburg. His personal website is: https://kolezev.ru/.

The case against Kolezev stems from his 2022 Instagram posts detailing the atrocities committed by Russian forces in the Ukrainian city of Bucha (Буча), Ukraine. Russian prosecutors claimed that his reports threatened to create a “false perception” of the objectives of the “special military operation” (специальная военная операция – CBO – SVO) both domestically and internationally, which they argued could lead to unnecessary social tension.

Kolezev, who fled Russia in March 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine, was designated a “foreign agent” later that year. This designation placed him under strict reporting obligations to the authorities and required him to label his publications accordingly. He was also added to a federal list of individuals wanted on criminal charges. In June 2023, the Basmanny District Court in Moscow (Москва), Russia, issued an order for his arrest in absentia.

The sentencing, which took place after a brief two-hour trial, also includes a three-year ban on Kolezev engaging in any professional activities related to his work as a journalist. This follows the pattern of repression against Russian journalists who report critically on the war in Ukraine, a campaign that has forced many into exile.

The Russian government has escalated its efforts to silence dissent since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, effectively clamping down on independent journalism within the country. The Kremlin’s suppression of free speech now extends beyond its borders, as exiled journalists continue to face severe penalties for their reporting.

Kolezev’s conviction highlights the ongoing dangers for Russian journalists, both inside the country and abroad, as they strive to bring the truth to light in an increasingly hostile environment.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the sentencing of journalist Dmitry Kolezev in absentia to seven and a half years in prison on baseless charges of spreading “fake news” about the Russian military. This verdict represents a blatant attack on press freedom and the ongoing persecution of journalists who dare to speak the truth. SEEMO urges Russian authorities to cease their relentless crackdown on independent journalism, both within and outside their borders, and to respect the fundamental rights of journalists to report freely without fear of retribution. SEEMO will continue to closely monitor this case and advocate for the protection of press freedom across the region.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

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On 2 August 2024, Kazakh journalist Duman Mukhammedkarim (Думан Мұхаммедкәрім) has been sentenced during a closed trial to seven years in prison by a court in Qonaev, (Қонаев) Kazakhstan, on charges of financing an extremist organization and participating in the activities of a banned group—charges he denies as politically motivated. In addition to his prison sentence, Mukhammedkarim has been barred from engaging in public activities for three years.

Mukhammedkarim, who operates the popular critical YouTube channel “Ne Deidi?” (What Do They Say? – https://www.youtube.com/@ND-arnasy/featured), was initially detained in June 2023 after conducting an online interview with a former banker and outspoken critic of the Kazakh government from an organisation that was labeled an extremist organization and banned in 2018. The charges against Mukhammedkarim stem from this interview and the sharing in his You Tube fundraising links. Despite these allegations, Mukhammedkarim has consistently maintained his innocence, arguing that his criticism of the government is aimed solely at fostering Kazakhstan’s development, which should not be criminalized.

His trial, which began on 12 February 2024, was marked by secrecy and accusations of mistreatment. After he reported allegedly being beaten by jail guards, the trial was temporarily postponed for an investigation, which was later dismissed due to a lack of evidence. The proceedings resumed behind closed doors, drawing criticism from both domestic and international human rights organizations.

This case is part of a broader pattern of repression in Kazakhstan, where the authorities have been criticized for stifling dissent.

Mukhammedkarim’s extensive reporting on the January 2022 protests in Kazakhstan, which resulted in at least 238 deaths, brought him to the attention of authorities. He was one of the few journalists to report from the epicenter of the unrest in Almaty (Алматы), Kazakhstan, documenting testimonies from victims’ families and those allegedly tortured by police. His work earned him a reputation as a vocal critic of the government, and his efforts to run as an independent candidate in the March 2023 parliamentary elections led to further legal troubles, including multiple administrative detentions.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the sentencing of journalist Duman Mukhammedkarim to seven years in prison by a court in Kazakhstan on charges that appear to be politically motivated. This harsh and unjust punishment, along with the banning of Mukhammedkarim from public activities, represents a severe violation of press freedom and a blatant attempt to silence critical voices in Kazakhstan. SEEMO will continue to monitor the situation closely and urges the Kazakh authorities to respect international standards of free expression and human rights.

You can read the previouse SEEMO article about this case here: https://seemo.org/ressources/23-07-2024-kazakh-journalist-duman-mukhammedkarim-hospitalized/

This court case came after killing of journalist and government critic Aydos Sadykov on 18 June 2024, who was shot in the head in Kyiv, Ukraine. Sadykov, ran a Kazakhstan government-critical YouTube channel.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

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On 4 August 2024, the City Court in Tbilisi (თბილისი), Georgia, sentenced Azerbaijani journalist Afqan Sadygov (Əfqan Sadıqov), editor-in-chief of Azel.tv (https://azel.tv/), to three months of extradition detention. Sadygov had been apprehended the previous day, on 3 August 2024 as he was walking in Tbilisi with his family. His arrest was carried out by Georgian police at the request of Azerbaijani authorities, who have accused him of threats and extortion.

Sadygov’s lawyer stated that his client was detained due to an Azerbaijani extradition request. He expressed concern that Sadygov’s life would be at risk if he were sent back to Azerbaijan, where he could face torture or other forms of inhumane treatment. Lawyer emphasized that Sadygov had not been formally summoned by Azerbaijani authorities and had not been informed of any criminal proceedings against him.

Sadygov, who has been living in Georgia since December 2023, had sought refuge in the country due to increasing repression of independent journalists in Azerbaijan. He had previously attempted to leave Georgia for Türkiye / Turkey on 17 July 2024 but was stopped at Tbilisi International Airport by border officials, who informed him that he could only travel to Azerbaijan. Following this incident, Sadygov and his wife applied to the French Embassy in Georgia, seeking assistance in relocating to a safer country.

This is not the first time that Azerbaijani journalists have faced peril in Georgia. Sadygov himself has been imprisoned in Azerbaijan before, serving time on charges of assault in 2016 and extortion in 2020, the latter of which resulted in a seven-year sentence that was later reduced after a presidential pardon. His case is emblematic of the broader crackdown on independent media in Azerbaijan, where numerous journalists have been jailed or forced into exile.

You can read previous SEEMO article about this case here: https://seemo.org/ressources/29-07-2024-azerbaijani-journalist-afgan-sadygov-denied-departure-from-tbilisi-georgia-airport/

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the detention of Azerbaijani journalist Afqan Sadygov in Georgia and expresses deep concern over the possibility of his extradition to Azerbaijan, where he faces the threat of torture, inhumane treatment, and a lack of a fair trial. Such actions are a blatant violation of human rights and freedom of the press. SEEMO calls on the Georgian authorities to uphold their international obligations for such cases by refusing his extradition and ensuring his safety. SEEMO will closely monitor this situation to ensure that justice and press freedom are upheld.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

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A recent incident involving the aggression towards a journalist during a municipal council session in municipality of Venets (Венец), Shumen (Шумен) province, Bulgaria, has raised concerns about press freedom and the safety of journalists in Bulgaria. On 31 July 2024 Diana Zhelyazkova (Диана Желязкова), a reporter for the media outlet “For the Truth,” (За истината – zaistinata.com), also connected to the newsportal radian.bg (owner company АГЕНЦИЯ МАДАРА ЕООД, owner Дияна Димитрова Желязкова), who also reports for Bulgarian section of Radio Free Europe (RFE/RL – Радио Свободна Европа/Радио Свобода – www.svobodnaevropa.bg – https://www.svobodnaevropa.bg/a/33044882.html), was subjected to threats and insults by a security guard while covering a local municipal council session.

The aggression appeared to be directly linked to Zhelyazkova’s work, suggesting an attempt to allegedly intimidate and silence her critical reporting.

At the start of the municipal council session, Zhelyazkova was initially denied entry into the meeting hall by the security guard. Despite the fact that current Bulgarian legislation ensures that municipal council sessions are open to journalists and citizens, security guard refused to allow her access. It was only after receiving permission from the one of the mayors who were present, that Zhelyazkova was allowed to attend the session.

During the session, Zhelyazkova was allegedly confronted by one other mayor for moving around the hall to take photographs.

After the session concluded, the security guard confronted Zhelyazkova again, this time with aggressive shouts and insults directly related to her reporting. He reportedly criticized her focus on the municipality of Venets in her articles.

What makes the situation even more alarming is the lack of intervention from the other municipal officials present. According to Zhelyazkova, the scene played out in front of numerous local officials who did not step in to stop the aggression, despite the risk that the verbal assault could escalate into physical violence. It was only the intervention of a municipal employee, who stepped in to protect Zhelyazkova, that prevented the situation from turning violent.

Following the incident, Zhelyazkova promptly reported the event to the authorities by contacting the police and provided a statement to police officers from the Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior in Shumen, Bulgaria.

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by journalists in Bulgaria, particularly those covering sensitive or critical topics on local level, and underscores the importance of protecting press freedom and ensuring accountability at all levels of authorities.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the unacceptable aggression against journalist Diana Zhelyazkova by a security guard in Venets. This blatant attempt to intimidate and silence a critical voice is a serious violation of press freedom and the rights of journalists to carry out their duties without fear of violence or harassment. SEEMO call on the local authorities and law enforcement to conduct a thorough and independent investigation and to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of journalists and the protection of their rights.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) supports also the Association of European Journalists-Bulgaria (Асоциация на европейските журналисти – България – AEJ / AEЖ) and Union of Bulgarian Journalists (Съюзът на българските журналисти – СБЖ), that reported about this case. Here is the link to an AEJ report : https://aej-bulgaria.org/agresia_journalist/ and to the Union of Bulgarian Journalists report: https://sbj-bg.eu/article/details/58405

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #bulgaria #DianaZhelyazkova #forthetruth #journalisattacked #SEEMO #journalistarrested #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) welcomes the release of wrongly convicted United States (U.S.) journalists Evan Gershkovich, born 1991, and Alsu Kurmasheva (Алсу Курмашева), born 1976. Both had been unjustly imprisoned in Russia and released on 1 August 2024. Their freedom was secured through a prisoner exchange involving Russia, Belarus, the United States and several European countries. In total, Russian and Belarus authorities reportedly released 15 prisoners from custody. In return, 8 Russian citizens have been released from prisons in the US, Poland, Norway, Germany and Slovenia. Several of them have been accused of intelligence activities and one Russian was accused for killing in Germany. Also children of two of the prisoners were sent to Russia.

The prisoner swap comes shortly after Gershkovich and Kurmasheva were sentenced in trials that were widely criticized as being farcical and politically driven. Gershkovich, a correspondent for The Wall Street Journal (https://www.wsj.com/), was detained in March 2023 while covering recruitment efforts by Russia’s now-defunct Wagner Group. He was accused of espionage linked to his journalistic activities, culminating in a 16-year prison sentence in July 2024.

Kurmasheva, a journalist with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (Радио Свобода – RFE/RL – https://www.rferl.org/), was arrested in her hometown of Kazan (Казань), Tatarstan, Russia, in October 2023. Her conviction was based on charges of disseminating “fake news” about the Russian military, stemming from her involvement in a book published by RFE/RL on Russians opposed to the invasion of Ukraine. She faced up to 15 years in prison under Article 207.3 of Russia’s criminal code.

Despite today’s positive outcome, the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) remains deeply concerned about the continued incarceration of Russian and Belarus journalists. SEEMO renew our call on Russian and Belarus authorities to immediately release all journalists still imprisoned.

According to the latest news Belarusian journalist and blogger Ales Sabaleuski and video reporter Yauhen Hlushkou have been sentenced on 31 July 2024 to 4 and 3 years in prison respectively. Both come from the Belarus city of Mahilyow /Mahilou / Mogilev (Магілёў), where they worked for local independent media and have been accused of participation in extremist and armed formations or armed conflict on the territory of a foreign state, military actions, recruitment, or preparation for such . Both also were fined with 8000 BYN (around 2450 USD) each of them. Sabaleuski was arrested in December 2023 and Hlushkou in January 2024.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

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Tamara Skrozza, a well-respected journalist and deputy editor-in-chief of the independent Serbian News Agency FoNet (https://fonet.rs/), has become the target of a coordinated smear campaign in Serbia. This campaign, which has been ongoing for three days, accuses Skrozza of making incendiary remarks during a TV appearance on TV N1 (https://n1info.rs/). These allegations are a blatant distortion of her words, taken entirely out of context.

The timing and uniformity of these attacks suggest an orchestrated effort to discredit Skrozza, an experienced journalist known for her critical stance and adherence to journalistic ethics. This situation is particularly alarming, as it recalls previous instances where Skrozza was similarly vilified, raising concerns for her safety and that of her family.

Such actions not only endanger Skrozza but also serve to intimidate independent journalists across Serbia, creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity. As surprise came the reaction of the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications in Serbia, that instead to support Skrozza and protect her from the attacks, said in an official statement, that it “expresses its concern over the increasingly frequent manifestations of hate speech and open calls for violence and/or even the murder of dissenters that fill our public space. The most recent example is a part of the statement of Mrs. Tamara Skroza given in the program “Da sam ja neko” broadcast at the beginning of June this year on TV N1″ (in Serbian: Ministarstvo informisanja i telekomunikacija izražava zabrinutost zbog sve učestalijih manifestacija govora mržnje i otvorenog poziva na nasilje i/ili čak i na ubistva neistomišljenika kojima je ispunjen naš javni prostor. Najnoviji primer jeste deo izjave gđe Tamare Skroza dat u emisiji ,,Da sam ja neko“ emitovanoj početkom juna ove godine u programu TV N1. – more on the official webpage of the Serbian Ministry: https://mit.gov.rs/vest/sr/7362/sucelimo-stavove-i-cinjenice-a-niposto-ljude.php)

Tamara Skrozza, born 1973 in Sombor, Serbia, began her journalism career in Radio Indeks and became well-known in Serbia through her work with weekly “Vreme (https://vreme.com/),” and the portal Cenzolovka (https://www.cenzolovka.rs/), and has been with the FoNet news agency since 2017, currently serving as deputy editor-in-chief. She is member of the Complaints Commission in the Press Council in Serbia. Skrozza is also a mentor in media ethics at the School of Digital Journalism, organized by the Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation. Her contributions to media ethics and professionalism have earned her multiple accolades, including the “Jug Grizelj” award, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (www.osce.org) Person of the Year in Media, and the regional “Srđan Aleksić” award for journalistic courage.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) strongly condemns the coordinated smear campaign against Tamara Skrozza. This campaign not only endangers Skrozza but also aims to intimidate independent journalists, creating a climate of fear and insecurity. SEEMO calls on the relevant authorities to take immediate action to protect Skrozza and uphold press freedom in Serbia.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #serbia #tamaraskrozza #fonet #journalistattacked #SEEMO #journalistarrested #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

Mitropol (https://mitropol.net/), an online media outlet based in Mitrovica (Mitrovicë), Kosovo, published by Mitropol Media, recently faced two serious threats on 24 July 2024. The first threat was tied to a report concerning the establishment of a mini-amusement park in Vushtrri (Vushtrria / Vučitrn), Kosovo, square, while the second involved a video claiming that the Wagner Group (Группа Вагнера) is present in Kosovo. The Wagner Group is allegedly a Russian paramilitary organization, often described as a private military company, known for its involvement in various conflicts, including in Ukraine, Syria, and several African countries, often acting in alignment with Russian state interests.

These threats are deeply troubling and represent a clear attempt to intimidate journalists and undermine their ability to report freely in the public interest.

In response to these incidents, the Kosovo Police have been urged to conduct a thorough investigation and collaborate with the media to ensure those responsible are brought to justice. It is essential that journalists in Kosovo are able to perform their duties without fear of intimidation or violence.

Following these threats, a suspect from Vushtrri / Vučitrn has been arrested. The Basic Prosecutor’s Office in Mitrovica, Kosovo, has identified the individual, accusing him of making threats in connection with the report on the amusement park. The suspect has been detained for 48 hours as part of the ongoing investigation, with the actions classified as the criminal offense of “Threat,” under Article 181 of the Criminal Code of Kosovo.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the recent threats made against the journalists of Mitropol which represent a blatant attack on media freedom and the safety of journalists in Kosovo. Such intimidation tactics are completely unacceptable and undermine the vital role of the press in providing information to the public. SEEMO calls on the Kosovo authorities to ensure the protection of journalists, and secure press freedom. SEEMO will continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure that press freedom is upheld.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

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On 19 July 2024 Ukrainian photographers Olga Kovalova (Ольга Ковальова) and Vladyslav Krasnoshchok (Владислав Краснощок ) were documenting Ukrainian artillery operations near the front line in Toretsk (Торецьк), Donetsk region (Донецька область), Ukraine, when they came under fire from Russian artillery. The Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers (Українська Асоціація Професійних Фотографів- UAPP – https://www.ukrainianphotographers.com/en), where Kovalova is working, reported that the photographers were working with the Ukrainian army at the time. Both photographers are from Kharkiv ( Харків) in Ukraine.

You can read the UAPP report here: https://www.ukrainianphotographers.com/en/post/hit-in-a-dugout-1

The incident occurred after the Ukrainian military fired several shots at Russian positions. Seeking cover, the soldiers, along with Kovalova and Krasnoshchok, took refuge in a dugout. Krasnoshchok recounted that while they were in the dugout, Russian forces began their counterattack. Initially, 12 shells landed in a nearby field, but the thirteenth struck the dugout directly.

As a result, Kovalova sustained multiple injuries, including shrapnel wounds to her underarm, supraclavicular area, and chest, as well as a fractured rib. She was promptly hospitalized. Krasnoshchok and the soldiers in the dugout suffered concussions.

Kovalova detailed her injuries, mentioning that she sustained three shrapnel wounds. Doctors were able to remove two of the fragments, which were dangerously close to major blood vessels. However, one fragment remains lodged in her body, as removing it could cause further harm. As a result, her right arm is currently completely non-functional.

The military provided first aid to Kovalova before evacuating her to a field hospital, then to a military hospital in Pokrovsk (Покровськ), Ukraine, and finally to a civilian hospital where two of the three shrapnel fragments were removed. She is now in stable condition at a hospital in Kharkiv (Харків), Ukraine.

Kovalova explained that she was injured because she was sitting near an improvised ventilation pipe through which the shrapnel entered. Her bulletproof vest and helmet provided some protection, but the shrapnel struck areas without coverage.

This attack highlights the severe dangers faced by journalists covering the conflict in Ukraine.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the attack on Ukrainian photographers in the strongest terms. The incident, which resulted in serious injuries to Kovalova and concussions to Krasnoshchok , underscores the extreme dangers faced by journalists covering the conflict. Covering armed conflicts poses the most serious threat to a journalist. A security training is very important before stating to a war area. If journalists are attaching themselves to military units, as being with military forces provides with exclusive access to frontline stories, it is important to know, that the risk of embedding with military forces should not be underestimated.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

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On 25 July 2024 two media crews, one from the Mtavari TV – Mtavari Arkhi (https://mtavari.tv/) and another from TV Monitoring (https://tvmonitoringi.ge/), were assaulted in connection with their professional duties. Mtavari TV blamed alleged government-aligned thugs for the attack on its crew, while the TV Monitoring crew was attacked by minibus drivers angered by a recent report on their station.

In Supsa (სუფსა), a village in the western Georgia, Mtavari TV’s journalist Lado Menabde (ლადო მენაბდე) and cameraman Manuchar Mzhavanadze (მანუჩარ მჟავანაძე) were attacked by several persons. Menabde recalls that the incident began when a man started swearing at Mtavari TV and then at them personally. Despite their attempts to avoid confrontation, the man allegedly spat in Menabde’s face and kicked him. The assault escalated when four others joined in, allegedly beating the crew members and breaking their camera. Both men had to call for emergency assistance.

Menabde links the attack to the journalist investigative work. Mtavari TV released a statement condemning the attack and urging government agencies to investigate and hold the perpetrators accountable. There is no confirmation yet on whether an investigation has been initiated. You can read the statement here: https://mtavari.tv/news/161856-mtavari-arkhis-gantskhadeba

In a separate incident in the capital city Tbilisi (თბილისი), Georgia, TV Monitoring journalist and cameraman Beka Pirveli (ბექა პირველი) and Shota Sadaghashvili (შოთა სადაღაშვილი) were allegedly attacked by bus drivers. Pirveli believes the attack was triggered by their recent report on the unsafe and uncomfortable conditions on the Tbilisi-Gori-Tbilisi bus route, including the lack of air conditioning and the use of tiny chairs as extra seats. The attackers recognized Pirveli and Sadaghashvili from their report. The incident began when a driver allegedly refused to let them on his bus, followed by an assault by five other men. One crew member was hospitalized with head injuries, while another suffered a sprained hand. TV Monitoring has informed the relevant authorities about the case.

You can see the video of the attack here: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/72Ehnqh1mHhaDEL6/?mibextid=UalRPS

Interference with a journalist’s professional activities is punishable under Article 154 of Georgian Criminal Law. On 26 July 2024, the Special Investigation Service in Georgia, announced the arrest of two individuals involved in the attack on the Mtavari TV crew. The investigation is being conducted under Article 156, Part 2, Subparagraph “a” of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which prescribes punishment for the persecution of a person in connection with their professional activity, with penalties of up to three years of imprisonment.

Additional to the two cases on 25 July 2024, the Georgian regulatory authority – National Communications Commission, published a warning to the television channel Mtavari TV for airing a video in July this year that, according to the warning, portrayed with critics Members of Parliament in Georgia who supported the new Foreign Agents law.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns these attacks on journalists and the decision by the the Georgian regulatory authority and stresses the importance of protecting press freedom and ensuring the safety of media professionals. SEEMO will be closely monitoring the situation and calls on the Georgian authorities to take swift and decisive action to ensure justice is served and to prevent such incidents in the future.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

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On 17 July 2024 Azerbaijani journalist, founder and editor of webportal Azel.tv(https://azel.tv/), Afgan Sadygov (Əfqan Sadıqov), was allegedly stopped by Georgian border guards at Tbilisi International Airport in Tbilisi / Tifilis (თბილისი / ტფილისი), Georgia (საქართველო), while attempting to travel to Ankara, Türkiye / Turkey.

Sadygov stated that border officials informed him he could only fly to Azerbaijan, citing issues with his travel document and advised him to seek clarification from Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs. According to some voices the officials are trying to force Sadigov to return to Baku, where they will be arrested.

Azel.tv is a online news agency that covers also corruption and other topics that are not covered by main media in Azerbaijan. The web site was temporarily unavailable in the past years for several times. This webpage has also a You Tube channel.

Sadygov, who has been living in Georgia since last year, attributes this incident to his critical posts and videos about the Azerbaijani government. The journalist moved to Georgia initially for medical reasons but decided to stay due to threats and the ongoing arrests of Azerbaijani journalists.

Sadygov’s arrest history in Azerbaijan includes a 2020 conviction for extortion, which led to a seven-year prison sentence, later in 2021 reduced to four years. He was released in May 2022 after receiving a presidential pardon. During his imprisonment, Sadygov staged a long hunger strike in protest of his charges. The case started after the public prosecutor of Azerbaijan accused Sadygov and one other reporter of extorting a bribe from an official in exchange for not publishing compromising documents in the media.

This incident is not isolated, as other Azerbaijani journalists have faced similar challenges in Georgia. The increased pressure on Azerbaijani journalists in Georgia raises significant concerns about their safety. Georgian authorities have yet to provide a detailed explanation for these actions. In January 2023, journalist Seymour Hazi (Seymur Həzi) was denied entry into Georgia without explanation. In July 2021, blogger Huseyn Bakikhanov (Hüseyn Bakıxanov) died under suspicious circumstances in Tbilisi, Georgia. In 2017, journalist Afgan Mukhtarli (Əfqan Muxtarlı) was allegedly kidnapped from Georgia and taken to Azerbaijan, where he was sentenced to six years in prison. Mukhtarli later claimed that the Georgian government had colluded with Azerbaijani authorities in his abduction.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the alleged incident involving Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Sadygov. SEEMO is deeply concerned about this restriction of freedom of movement of Sadygov and about problems that other Azerbaijani journalists had. SEEMO will be closely monitoring the situation and urges the authorities to ensure that journalists can operate without fear of retribution or unlawful restrictions.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

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