The PEN Pod: On Reporting on Russia and the Climate for Foreign Journalists with Sarah Rainsford
“The climate for journalism and generally in Russia is closing down. It’s changing, it’s getting harder, it’s getting tougher. And for some reason, I appear to have been singled… More
Natalia Estemirova | Status: Murdered | Russia
On July 15, 2009, Natalia Estemirova, a journalist and human rights defender, was abducted by four gunmen on her way to work in Grozny, the capital of Chechnya. Estemirova… More
The PEN Pod: On Vaccine Misinformation, the Capitol Insurrection, and Crackdowns on Journalists in Russia
“It’s extremely important to get [the Capitol insurrection] down as a first draft of history that cannot be wished away or ignored.” More
The PEN Pod: The Russian Key with Jeri Laber
“The human rights movement now is facing more problems than ever, and it’s more necessary than ever before. We have serious human rights problems in the United States.” More
The PEN Pod: On the Arrest of Raman Pratasevich and Free Speech on Social Media
“This disturbing trend of reaching across borders to nab people that regimes see as a threat. . . [is] a new demonstration of how far these governments are willing… More
Yury Dmitriev | Status: Imprisoned | Russia
Yury Dmitriev, Russian historian and head of the Karelian branch of the human rights center Memorial, was detained in Petrozavodsk on December 13, 2016, on suspicion of production of… More
Case Against Journalist Svetlana Prokopieva Exemplifies Broken Russian System
Svetlana Prokopieva’s case is worryingly emblematic of the free expression situation in Russia and the closing space for anyone to freely voice their opinion. More
Drop Charges Against Russian Theater Director Kirill Serebrennikov
PEN America’s Artists At Risk Connection, together with a coalition of human rights and film organizations, call for the charges against Kirill Serebrennikov and his codefendants to immediately be… More
From Informed Responsibility To Dangerous Denial: COVID Responses in Eurasia
There have been striking differences in how certain countries in Eurasia have responded to COVID-19 with regard to freedom of expression, access to information, and privacy rights. More
Mykola Semena | Status: Released | Ukraine
Mykola Semena was convicted under the “separatist” Article 280.1 of the Russian Criminal Code, for publicly denouncing the Kremlin’s annexation of Crimea. He was handed a 2-year suspended sentence.… More