Russian Journalists Face Charges Over Negative 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics Stories

Human Rights Watch reported that "journalists and bloggers are among several groups that have been harassed and threatened by authorities in the Russian city of Sochi in the build-up to next year's Winter Olympics," according to blogger Roy Greenslade of the London GUARDIAN. Two journalists and a newspaper director "are said to be facing criminal charges after reporting stories viewed by local authorities as negative." In addition, "several independent online news sources and blogs that have posted critical stories or comments about the Olympics have had their sites disabled by hackers." HRW Europe and Central Asia Division Associate Dir Jane Buchanan said, "Press freedom is a central tenet of the Olympic charter and no successful Games can take place in an atmosphere in which journalists are afraid to report on stories of legitimate public interest" (GUARDIAN, 8/7).