Russia
Russian Union of Journalists in jeopardyPosted Apr 2 2008
The Russian Union of Journalists may be forced to shut down due to pressure by Russian political bosses and the Russian government to vacate their premises. According to International Federation of Journalists, there has been pressure on the organization over the past year by state agencies to evict them from their current location that they have occupied for almost 30 years.
The organization, Russia’s largest NGO, said they were told the reason for the eviction is the lack of building safety. The government has also been attempting to sell the building to a private owner to kick the organization out from its location. IFJ believes the reason this treatment began was due to the criticism the Russian government received for the treatment of journalists during the World Congress of Journalists it held in June of last year.