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. 

UNITED STATES: Uncertainty Over Funding Puts Journalists at Risk

On March 15, RFE/RL was informed by the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) that its Congressionally appropriated federal grant agreement, which funds RFE/RL’s global operations, had been terminated.  

RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus called the cancellation of RFE/RL’s grant “a massive gift to America’s enemies.” On March 18, RFE/RL filed a lawsuit to block USAGM’s termination of the grant, and was granted temporary relief on March 25. 

The next day, USAGM rescinded its termination of RFE/RL’s grant agreement, but has yet to release RFE/RL’s funds for April, forcing RFE/RL to furlough staff.   

If RFE/RL shuts down, 1,300+ journalists and support staff would face great uncertainty. Hundreds of RFE/RL journalists working on the ground in repressive countries already suffer threats and harassment. Many more have been forced into exile by governments that have retaliated against RFE/RL journalists for their work, like Russia, Iran, and Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, and cannot safely return to their home countries.  

Four RFE/RL journalists are currently imprisoned for their reporting: Farid Mehralizada in Azerbaijan, Ihar Losik in Belarus, Nika Novak in Russia, and Vladyslav Yesypenko in Russia-occupied Crimea. 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT 

• “It just cannot be — at the peak of repression against journalists, at the peak of the threat to freedom of information, which we now see is a very fragile notion.” Recently freed RFE/RL journalist Andrei Kuznechyk spoke to The New York Times about efforts to close the outlet. 
• “If Radio Liberty were really shut down, our viewers would lose a reliable news source that – unlike Russian propaganda – offers independent information.” Watch RFE/RL journalist Igor Sevryugin’s conversation with Deutsche Welle.  
• “We’re not going anywhere.” Read Stephen Capus’ interview in Foreign Policy magazine.

AZERBAIJAN: Farid Mehralizada Writes from Prison

“A threat to press freedom anywhere is a threat to press freedom everywhere.” 

On March 19, Farid Mehralizada, who has been imprisoned in Azerbaijan since May 2024, published an op-ed in The National Interest, as his unjust trial continues in a Baku court.   

Writing from his prison cell, Farid describes his violent arrest at the hands of Azerbaijani authorities, and how he missed the birth of his first child while in prison. 

He also spoke about Azerbaijan’s rapidly deteriorating media climate. “My reporting upset the Azerbaijani government…If you’re not a supporter, then you are a traitor. Independent voices aren’t seen as legitimate but as threats to be silenced,” Farid wrote.  

On April 8, Farid testified again in court as his trial continued, calling the charges against him “politically motivated” and asserting that “the real reason” for his arrest is his work for RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani Service. 

TAKE ACTION: RFE/RL encourages supporters to write letters to all our imprisoned journalists. Visit their pages on our website to learn how. You can also join the call on social media to #FreeFarid, #FreeIhar, #FreeNika, and #FreeVlad.    

RUSSIA: Nika Novak’s Appeal Denied by Court, Former RFE/RL Journalist Convicted

On March 31, a Russian court upheld the sham sentence of RFE/RL journalist Nika Novak. Nika was convicted and sentenced to four years of prison in November 2024 on charges of “collaboration with a foreign organization on a confidential basis.” 

Nika’s detention conditions have deteriorated since her conviction. At the end of March, Russian authorities placed Nika under “special watch.” Detainees held under this protocol are subject to stricter control and surveillance. 

On April 15, four journalists, including a former RFE/RL reporter, were sentenced to five and a half years in prison by a Russian court. 

RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus said: 

“We condemn Russia’s unjust sentencing of former RFE/RL journalist Konstantin Gabov, alongside three other reporters. Yet again, the Kremlin is resorting to baseless, ‘extremism’ charges to crack down on free expression.” 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT 

• On March 10, RFE/RL’s Vladyslav Yesypenko marked four years behind bars in Russia-occupied Crimea. 
• In two new videos, journalists with RFE/RL’s Turkmen and Georgian Services discuss what it’s like to report in exile and work on the front lines of press freedom. 

My name is Rowan Humphries, Media and 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.