Meet our jailed colleagues

VOA historically has broadcast to some of the most dangerous countries in the world. That brings risk to our journalists and contributors, who face threats, attacks, even imprisonment, just for doing their job — reporting factual, balanced and independent news.

When VOA was silenced in March 2025, two of our contributors were among the 11 USAGM journalists being detained for their journalism by hostile regimes.

For our colleagues who work in repressive regions, having the backing of a large, international independent broadcaster, funded by Congress, can provide a measure of protection.

USAGM, VOA and our sister networks ordinarily have dedicated teams working on journalism safety and other efforts to assist colleagues if they are detained, injured or threatened. But nearly all of those specialists were placed on administrative leave when the outlets were silenced, leaving our jailed journalists without a dedicated team fighting for their release.

Since March 2025, we have had some successes. Our sister network RFE/RL secured the release of its journalist Ihar Losik, who was jailed in Belarus, and Vladyslav Yesypenko, imprisoned in Russian-occupied Crimea. And VOA Burmese contributor Sithu Aung Myint was released from prison as part of an amnesty in late 2025.

But as of February 2025, nine colleagues remain detained, including in Azerbaijan, Myanmar, Russia and Vietnam. One of those — VOA contributor Ulviyya Guliyeva — was arrested just weeks after Kari Lake cut VOA broadcasts. According to one media advocate, when VOA fell silent it “100% made Ulviyya more vulnerable.”

Human rights experts and media freedom advocates agree that the legal cases leveled against our colleagues are a “sham” and in retaliation for their reporting on issues including corruption, politics and land disputes.

Many are held in dire conditions and denied access to due process or proper medical care. RFE/RL’s Nika Novak, for example, is being held in a Siberian prison colony that is known for abusive practices. Others, like our five colleagues jailed in Vietnam, are denied access to medical treatment or are subjected to psychological torture, according to groups including Project 88.

Vietnam is one of the biggest jailers of journalists, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The country is currently detaining five USAGM journalists, including VOA contributor Pham Chi Dung.

Azerbaijan, which RSF says is seeing a “new wave of fierce repression against the country’s last remaining journalists,” is detaining VOA contributor Guliyeva and RFE/RL journalist Farid Mehralizada.