Journalists in Trouble is a monthly report of incidents targeting Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) journalists and their work, and developments affecting press freedom across 23 countries. Subscribe for exclusive updates.  

BELARUS: Ihar Losik Releases from Prison After More Than Five Years

On September 11, RFE/RL journalist Ihar Losik and former Vaclav Havel Journalism Fellow Alena Tsimashchuk were freed from unjust imprisonment in Belarus.

RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus said: 

“We are immensely grateful to President Trump for securing Ihar and Alena’s release from wrongful detention by Belarusian authorities. We also thank Secretary Rubio, Deputy Special Envoy John Coale, the Lithuanian government, and the press freedom community for their strong support of RFE/RL’s imprisoned journalists.”

Ihar was detained in June 2020 and later sentenced to 15 years in prison on false charges. Imprisoned for over five years, he endured extremely harsh conditions, including long periods of incommunicado detention.

Alena was detained in September 2023 on baseless extremism charges. In June 2024, she was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison.   

GEORGIA: RFE/RL Journalist Assaulted by Police While Covering Protests

RFE/RL journalist Giorgi Diasamidze was assaulted by police while covering large-scale protests in Tbilisi on October 4. In footage published by RFE/RL, police officers can be seen shoving the journalist, swearing, and throwing a bottle at him. After Diasamidze repeatedly identifies himself as a member of the press, officers can be heard saying, “And what if you are press?”

The International Federation of Journalists condemned the attacks on Diasamidze and others covering protests in Tbilisi and added, “In these crucial times for Georgia, journalists must be able to carry out their functions freely and independently.” 

AZERBAIJAN: Senator Shaheen Writes to Farid Mehralizada

U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen published a letter to RFE/RL journalist Farid Mehralizada, who remains unjustly imprisoned in Azerbaijan. The press release that accompanied the letter also highlighted the pressure on Farid’s wife, Nargiz Mukhtarova:

“There is broad recognition in Congress that a new chapter in our relationship is possible, but that must include the release of those unjustly detained—including Farid, Ulviyya and Alasgar—and an end to the targeting of family members like Nargiz Mukhtarova. Persecuting individuals whose only ‘crime’ is working with the United States is incompatible with the spirit of this partnership.”

TAKE ACTION: RFE/RL encourages Farid’s supporters to write to him using the “Send Letter” feature at the bottom of the page linked here.

In Case You Missed It

• Formerly imprisoned RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva and her husband, Pavel Butorin, will receive the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation’s World Press Freedom Award for their work advocating for the release of journalists detained by repressive regimes.

• A documentary chronicling the unjust imprisonment of RFE/RL journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko in Russia-occupied Crimea debuted at the Press Play Prague film festival. Watch the film here or register for a screening in Washington D.C. on November 4, featuring an in-person Q&A with Vladyslav.

My name is Nathan Shoemaker, Advocacy Officer here at RFE/RL and the author of Journalists in Trouble. Thank you for reading and subscribing to our newsletter and for standing with persecuted journalists.   

If you are interested in collaborating to amplify the stories of our imprisoned journalists, you can reach us by emailing advocacy@rferl.org.