< IMG SRC = "/Uploads/Blogs/27/A3/IB-FREHQ0q0_F7B27152.jpg" Alt = "Human Rights Defenders ask US Congress to protect USAGM journalists"/> < p > 36 of human rights organizations, including & laquo; reporters without borders & raquo; (RSF) and Pen America, appealed to the US Congress to protect journalists whose lives and freedom are threatened after President Donald Trump's decree of March 14, & nbsp; nbsp; nbsp; nbsp; nbsp; borders & raquo;.
< P > In a joint letter sent on April 1, human rights activists called on the US Administration, including the State Department, to allocate the necessary resources to support foreign journalists working at the US Agency with Global Media (USAGM).
< p >According to RSF, at least 84 journalists who are in the United States on work visas can be deported to countries where they are threatened with arrests, persecution and prison in & RSQUO; Under the greatest threat are journalists from Belarus, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Russia and in & Rsquo; Etnam. < p > & laquo; it is outrageous that these journalists who risk their lives by exposing the scale of repression in their countries can be completely abandoned. The US Congress should take responsibility for the protection of these journalists and all USAGM funds funded by Congress themselves. This responsibility is not only moral & ndash; It follows from the obligations of the United States to defend the principles of democracy and freedom of the press & raquo ;, & ndash; declared CEO of RSF Tibo Brete.< p >Currently, 11 journalists who have been linked to Rsquo; ryquo; in B & Rsquo; Yetnam, two & ndash; in Russia, one & ndash; in Belarus, Azerbaijan and M & Amp; Rsquo; Janmy.
< p > in particular in Russian prisoner & nbsp; Vladislav Esipenko & nbsp; & ndash; Ukrainian journalist, freelancer Crimea. Before his arrest he covered social and environmental issues, conducted a survey of Crimeans. On March 10, 2021 he was detained in occupied Simferopol. The Russian authorities accused the journalist of information & laquo; in favor of special services of Ukraine & raquo;, as well as storage in the car & laquo; self -made explosive device & raquo;. ~ < p > Esipenko was sentenced to P & Rsquo; years of imprisonment in a colony of the general regime and a fine of 110 thousand rubles. The Russian accusation required the journalist for 11 years of imprisonment. Esipenko himself claims that Russian security officers were tortured, in particular electricity, seeking testimony.< P > US President Donald Trump Signed Decree, & Nbsp; Narbage; Narmed for Reduction of Seven Federal Agency, including US Agency with Global Media (USAGM), which takes care < p > USAGM & ndash; Independent US Government Agency that broadcast news and information nearly 50 languages for approximately 361 million people a week.