Russian Social Media Platform Threatens Free Expression
The acquisition of Russia’s most popular social network by a close ally of President Vladimir Putin puts another nail in the coffin for free expression in the country. More
PEN America Condemns Continuous and Unjust Persecution of the Popular Rappers in Russia
Targeting rappers for their music part of ongoing assault on dissidents, artists, and human rights organizations. More
PEN America Decries Move to Liquidate Russian Human Rights Group
PEN America today decried the move by the Russian prosecutors to liquidate Memorial, the country’s oldest human rights group. More
Nobel Prize to Dmitry Muratov is a Sign that the World Should Unite to Confront Kremlin’s Foreign Agent Law
The Nobel Peace Prize to Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov is an important step to acknowledge the crackdown on independent media by authoritarian regimes. More
New Round of Additions to Russia’s List of ‘Foreign Agents’ Is Direct Threat to Press Freedom
PEN America today condemned Russia’s government for adding yet more journalists and media outlets to its “foreign agents” list. More
Russia Labels Mediazona as ‘Foreign Agent’ in Ongoing Crackdown
The Russian justice ministry this week designated the independent investigative news outlet Mediazona and its editor-in-chief, Sergei Smirnov, as “foreign agents.” More
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
Russia Effectively Blackmailed Apple, Google Into Removing Voting App
Google and Apple have removed from their stores a tactical voting app from imprisoned activist Alexei Navalny and his allies after coming under pressure from the Russian government for… More
PEN America Decries Russia’s Expulsion of Comedian
The Russian government this week issued an order permanently expelling Idrak Mirzalizade, a Belarusian standup comedian, from Russia in retaliation for a joke he made about racial discrimination in… 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