Week-ending 4 April 2025
“The additional 22 months in prison given to journalist Maria Ponomarenko shows the relentless attitude of the Russian authorities towards a journalist who has already been pushed to breaking point by the last three years spent in prison,” sa“Authorities should immediately release Ponomarenko, along with all other jailed members of the press.”
– CPJ Program Director Carlos Martinez de la Serna
Source: ‘Russian journalist Maria Ponomarenko sentenced to 22 additional months in prison,’ CPJ, 28 March 2025
Background from CPJ: A court in Russia’s southern Altai Krai on Thursday convicted Maria Ponomarenko, a correspondent for independent news site RusNews, of using violence against prison staff and sentenced her to an additional 22 months in prison
“It is outrageous that these journalists, who risk their lives to expose the extent of repression in their home countries, might be completely abandoned. The US Congress must take responsibility for protecting these reporters and all USAGM-funded outlets, funded by Congress itself. This responsibility is not just moral —it stems from the United States’ commitment to defending the principles of democracy and press freedom.
– Thibaut Bruttin, RSF Director General
Source: ‘USA: RSF and a coalition of 36 human rights organisations urge Congress to protect USAGM journalists whose lives and freedom are at risk,’ RSF, 1 April 2025
Background from RSF: In a letter to US Congress, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and a coalition of human rights organisations sounded the alarm over the dangers facing employees of the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) after an executive order issued by President Trump dismantled the agency. The coalition submitted policy recommendations and urged Congress to act to secure the release of 11 USAGM journalists currently imprisoned abroad, ensuring that no journalist working for an outlet associated with USAGM is deported to a country where they risk persecution.
“This is an important victory in the fight for press freedom but the war waged by the Trump administration will lead to new battles. RSF will be there every step of the way. We extend our deepest thoughts to the employees of Voice of America — especially those in danger of losing their lives or their freedom — and to the millions who rely on VOA’s reporting. Finally, we offer our heartfelt thanks to the legal teams and are immensely grateful for the courageous VOA employees who chose to stand as co-plaintiffs alongside RSF and their unions.”
– Thibaut Bruttin, RSF Director General
Source: ‘USA: RSF and VOA coalition secure first court victory against the Trump administration,’ RSF, 28 March 2025
Background from RSF: On March 28, District Judge J. Paul Oetken granted the motion for a temporary restraining order in a case brought by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) together with a coalition of Voice of America (VOA) employees and their unions to stop the Trump administration from dismantling the public service broadcaster. RSF is encouraged by this outcome, stands ready to proceed with the case on its merits and calls on the government to immediately unfreeze funding for VOA and reinstate its employees.
‘The US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) has terminated contracts with two satellite systems that carry Russian-language content produced by Current Time, a network run by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, amid a fight over winding down operations at a number of US-funded broadcasters. Current Time said on April 4 that broadcasts on the Astra and Eutelsat satellite systems were no longer running after the move by the US government agency, which oversees the operations of RFE/RL and Voice Of America, though Current Time was still being carried on the Hotbird satellite system. The USAGM gave no explanation for its decision.’
Source: ‘USAGM Terminates Some Satellite Broadcasts By Radio Free Europe’s Russian-Language Current Time,’ RFE/RL, 4 April 2025
Background from RSF/RL: Current Time, which has been designated an “undesireable organization” by Russia’s Justice Ministry, said its audiences could use other digital means to access its programming, which continues to be produced. Current Time focuses on Russia, Ukraine, Central Asia, Eastern Europe and other regions. RFE/RL reaches almost 50 million people in countries including Belarus, China, Iran, and Russia as it seeks to present independent and unbiased news and information to the 23 countries it broadcasts to in 27 languages. The USAGM move to terminate the satellite contracts comes three weeks after an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump called for the reduction of seven agencies — including USAGM — to “the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.”
