Over the past decade, and with growing urgency since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, press freedom in Russia has collapsed into one of the most repressive environments for journalists outside of active warzones. The Kremlin’s tightening grip on the media extends far beyond traditional censorship. It now encompasses aggressive legal crackdowns, the criminalization of independent reporting, forced media closures, and the systematic persecution of journalists, both foreign and domestic. High-Profile Persecution The case of Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal correspondent detained in March 2023 while reporting on a military facility, underscores the Kremlin’s willingness to conflate journalism with espionage. Accused under vague national security charges, Gershkovich was imprisoned until August 1, 2024, when he was released as part of a rare prisoner exchange brokered by then President Biden. His case was a rare exception; his arrest sent a chilling signal to both foreign and domestic reporters. More

Following the release of Reporters Without Borders’ (RSF) Press Freedom Index, the outlook for Peru is deeply concerning. The country has dropped 53 positions over the last three years, currently ranking 130 out of 180 nations. This sharp decline reflects an increasingly hostile environment for journalists and media outlets, marked by harassment, violence, and repressive legislative initiatives. Below, we examine the key factors driving this deterioration. A fragmented and pressured media ecosystem Outlets such as Trome, the country’s most-read newspaper, and Radioprogramas del Perú, the leading news radio station, still maintain broad reach. However, widespread public distrust has led audiences, particularly younger ones, to turn to alternative sources like TikTok for news. This digital migration has caused a sharp decline in viewership for traditional TV channels. Political and institutional crisis: The start of the downfall On December 7, 2022, then President Pedro Castillo attempted to dissolve Congress and establish an

A Fragile Landscape for Journalists Amid Escalating Gang Violence As detailed in our May 2024 article “Impunity and Violence: The Decline of Freedom of the Press in Haiti”, the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021 marked a dramatic turning point for press freedom in the country. Since then, gang violence and institutional collapse have created an environment in which journalists operate under constant threat of harassment, abduction, and death. The situation has only worsened. Gangs now exert significant territorial and political influence, often more than local authorities. As insecurity spreads, so too does the silencing of independent journalism. A Climate of Fear and Censorship To report safely, journalists require a secure environment, something that is increasingly elusive in Haiti. Threats, disappearances, assaults, and kidnappings have become common. Since 2021, dozens of media workers have been killed or abducted, many of them while simply doing their jobs. One recent