Watchdog

RFE/RL contributor Mykola Semena -- a journalist who has been convicted of separatism in Ukraine's Russia-occupied Crimea region before a court there expunged his criminal record -- has arrived in Kyiv following his release from detention in Simferopol.

Semena, 69, is seeking medical care in Kyiv for a heart condition and damaged spine.

In 2017, Semena was convicted of separatism and handed a 2 1/2-year suspended sentence together with a a ban from "public activity" for three years.

On January 14, a court in Crimea's capital, Simferopol, ruled to prematurely terminate Semena's sentence period and expunge his criminal record.

Last week, Semena received the court documents confirming the January 14 ruling.

The journalist said he was planning to stay in mainland Ukraine "indefinitely," adding: “As long as part of Ukraine is occupied, I cannot consider it my home. My family thinks the same.”

RFE/RL President Jamie Fly said the news of Semena’s "safety and security is long-awaited and joyous."

"His arrest, almost four years ago, for publishing criticism of Russia's annexation of Crimea, was always wrong and violated every basic human right and freedom," Fly added. "I’m glad Mykola is free and able to resume his writing career for the benefit of the people of Ukraine."

Semena, who has contributed to RFE/RL's Krym.Realii (Crimea Realities) reporting project, was arrested by Crimea's Russia-imposed authorities in 2016 and charged with acting against the "territorial integrity of the Russian Federation."

Semena says the accusation against him was politically motivated.

The United States, the European Union, and international media watchdogs have all condemned the trial and verdict.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is urging Pakistani federal authorities to rescind newly adopted rules for regulating social-media content, saying they pose a "major threat" to journalists' work.

The Paris-based group on February 18 joined other media freedom watchdogs, both inside and outside Pakistan, in saying that the new set of regulations would give the authorities unchecked powers to stifle free speech and press freedom.

"The vague and ambiguous wording used in these regulations testifies to the arbitrary nature of the measures planned by the government," Daniel Bastard, the head of RSF’s Asia-Pacific desk, said in a statement.

Bastard said that the regulation of social media was "necessary, but should not become a disguised form of censorship."

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s cabinet approved the new rules in late January amid accusations that it has sought to censor the media, and intimidate and silence its opponents. The government has rejected the allegations.

According to the new rules, reported by the media last week, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications would appoint a so-called national coordinator empowered to "arbitrarily" demand the removal or blocking of any content deemed to be harmful, RSF said.

The rules provide for other measures designed to "step up government"control over social media companies, the watchdog said, citing the requirement for such companies to open offices in Pakistan.

They could also be fined up to 500 million rupees ($3.24 million) if they fail to remove or block content within a stipulated deadline.

Online platforms could also be required to surrender all information, private or public, about any user.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists has said "these stringent but vague rules...threaten the ability of journalists to report the news and communicate with their sources."

Pakistan is ranked 142nd out of 180 countries in RSF's 2019 World Press Freedom Index.