Central Asian regimes, especially Uzbekistan, are notoriously known for their hostile treatment of civic freedoms, including freedom of press. Yet, even in most closed societies there are always a few who “pull chestnuts out of the fire,” reporting from the country disregarding the risks of persecution. Fergananews.com (also known as Fergana.Ru) and its small team of journalists are among these reporters. The success of this news website is outstanding: the number of its daily visitors has reached 18,000, with readership spiking at major events.
More than anybody else, Daniil Kislov knows what price they have to pay for this popularity: A number of local correspondents are either in prison, facing persecution or constantly experiencing harassment by the police. At this Open Forum, he will be joined by Muzaffar Suleymanov from the Committee to Protect Journalists, the organization holding the Annual Ceremony to award four most courageous journalists of the year, among them Azimjan Askarov, a prominent prisoner of conscience.
Speakers:
- Danill Kislov, Editor-in-Chief, Fergananews.com
- Muzaffar Suleymanov, Europe and Central Asia Research Associate, Committee to Protect Journalists
- Cornelius Graubner, Senior Program Officer, Central Eurasia Project, Open Society Foundations (moderator)
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