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 our coverage region. Subscribe for exclusive updates. 

AZERBAIJAN: Lawmakers Call on Vance to Advocate for Imprisoned RFE/RL Journalist  

Ahead of Vice President JD Vance’s visit to Baku last week, Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, Chris Van Hollen, and Rep. Jim McGovern published letters urging him to raise the case of unjustly imprisoned RFE/RL Azerbaijani Service journalist Farid Mehralizada and former VOA correspondent Ulviyya Ali with Azerbaijani authorities. Advocacy groups including Amnesty International USA, the Committee to Protect Journalists, and Freedom House echoed their calls on social media. 

Farid continues to serve an unjust nine-year sentence, which he is appealing at Azerbaijan’s Court of Cassation on March 6. Ulviyya faces up to 12 years in prison over false charges. Her trial is ongoing, with the next hearing scheduled for February 20. 

IRAN: Former RFE/RL Journalist Marks 500 Days in Prison 

Reza Valizadeh, a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen and a former journalist for RFE/RL’s Radio Farda, marked 500 days of wrongful detention in Iran this month. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison in December 2024 and is currently held in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison. 

You can keep up with Reza’s case by visiting this website, or by following this X account run by his advocates. Reza’s story was recently featured on CBS and NPR, which included a recording of him speaking from inside Evin prison. 

UKRAINE: Home of RFE/RL Journalist Hit in Russian Strike 

On January 28, the home of RFE/RL journalist Maryan Kushnir was hit by a Russian Shahed drone. In a video for RFE/RL, Maryan recounts the story of how the war came to his home, setting his building on fire, and the moment he rushed to the top floor to save his neighbors’ child from the flames. 

In Case You Missed It:  

• Georgia’s ruling party introduced controversial grant law amendments to further restrict the funding of media and civil society. The Committee to Protect Journalists compared the policies to those adopted in Russia and Azerbaijan and said, “The ruling Georgian Dream party seems intent on ensuring that the Georgian people have no access to any news besides its own propaganda.” 

• On February 12, RFE/RL journalist Andrei Kuznechyk celebrated one year of freedom following his release from Belarusian prison. Two RFE/RL journalists remain unjustly detained: Nika Novak in Russia and Farid Mehralizada in Azerbaijan.  

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 amplifying the stories of our imprisoned journalists, you can reach us by emailing advocacy@rferl.org.