JournalismPakistan.com | Published February 02, 2018
Join our WhatsApp channel
KIEV - The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Ukrainian authorities Friday to investigate death threats made against Igor Guzhva, editor-in-chief of the Kiev-based news website Strana.
Guzhva fled to Austria after receiving death threats, and amid “unprecedented pressure from the [Ukrainian] authorities,” according to a statement from the editor that was published yesterday on Strana.
In the statement, Guzhva said that he decided to flee after Ukrainian law enforcement agencies ignored several requests to investigate the threats against him. He said other Strana journalists had also received threats.
Critics see Strana’s editorial line as being pro-Russian and at odds with official government narratives. The site gives positive coverage to members of Ukraine’s Moscow-friendly Opposition Bloc political party, and its articles are often critical of authorities, including President Poroshenko.
“We are concerned that editor Igor Guzhva was compelled to leave Ukraine because he lost confidence in his government’s ability or will to ensure his safety,” CPJ Europe and Central Asia Program Coordinator Nina Ognianova said from New York. “A critical editorial line is no reason for any journalist to be left vulnerable to harassment or attacks.”
A spokesperson for the interior ministry and national police, Artem Shevchenko, told CPJ that he was unaware of any requests Guzhva said he sent to the agencies. Shevchenko also accused Guzhva of being a Russian “information agent of influence.”
The presidential administration did not respond immediately to CPJ’s request for comment.
Authorities previously accused Guzhva of taking orders from Moscow, something he denied in interviews with CPJ in 2017.
Guzhva founded Strana in February 2016 after growing the daily Vesti into one of Ukraine’s largest outlets, according to a report by the independent website Open Democracy.
Guzhva also faces extortion charges in Ukraine. In June, the country’s National Security Service (SBU) searched Strana’s Kiev office and briefly arrested Guzhva for allegedly demanding a US$10,000 bribe in exchange for not publishing reportedly compromising materials on a politician. Speaking to CPJ after being released on bail, Guzhva denied all charges and called the case a “witch hunt” against him. He said of the Ukrainian authorities at the time, “They want to close [Strana] and put me in jail.”
Guzhva said in his statement that he was able to leave Ukraine after a court order preventing him from leaving the country expired on January 6. - CPJ News Alert
June 11, 2025: Pakistan celebrated a narrow win over Bangladesh, but beneath the jubilation lies a deeper crisis—from sidelined veterans to a collapsing domestic structure—signaling an urgent need for cricket reform.
June 11, 2025: Journalists walked out of the post-budget press conference in Islamabad to protest the absence of a technical briefing and the government's dismissive behavior, calling it unacceptable and intolerable.
May 31, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz has issued a defamation notice to Shoaib Akhtar over derogatory remarks made during a recent broadcast, reigniting a longstanding media feud between the two prominent figures in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has demanded the full repeal of PECA, citing its vague language, coercive powers, and threats to free speech and digital rights in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the murder of journalist Syed Mohammed Shah in Jacobabad, calling for urgent justice and improved safety for media professionals in Sindh.
May 26, 2025: In Rawalpindi, police allegedly side with Jang Group to block 66 reinstated employees from resuming work despite court orders, drawing sharp criticism from unions and press freedom advocates.
May 25, 2025: PFUJ condemns the Jang Group's decision to dismiss over 80 employees in Rawalpindi, calling it an 'economic massacre.' The union warns of nationwide protests if workers are not reinstated.
May 25, 2025: Daily Jang Rawalpindi has terminated over 80 employees, including female staff, despite multiple court rulings in their favor—raising concerns over labor rights violations and misuse of authority in Pakistani media.
May 19, 2025 PJS reports 219 Palestinian journalists killed in Israeli attacks since October 7, with 30 women among the victims. Over 430 were injured and 685 family members were killed. Read more on the systematic targeting of media in Gaza.
May 15, 2025 Discover the legacy of Samiullah Khan, Pakistan’s legendary "Flying Horse," whose breathtaking speed and artistry redefined hockey. From Olympic glory to World Cup triumphs, his story is one of myth, movement, and magic.
May 04, 2025 Algerian authorities suspend Echorouk News TV for 10 days after it used a racist slur against African migrants. ANIRA demands an apology, calling it a violation of human dignity.
May 04, 2025 NCHR and MMfD launch a journalism fellowship to train reporters on digital rights & gender inclusion in Pakistan. Supported by UNESCO, this initiative aims to bridge the gender digital divide. Apply by May 15, 2025!
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.