WASHINGTON. - In his statement made n advance of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, Chris Smith, chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, called on all OSCE member-states, and especially Turkey, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan to release the imprisoned journalists.

According to him, in several OSCE participating States, governments use increasingly sophisticated tactics to threaten and discourage professional journalism and jail journalists in failed attempts to stifle political dissent. “This is unacceptable behavior for nations committed to the fundamental freedoms and human rights described in the Helsinki Final Act, and I call on all OSCE participating States, particularly Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan, to release those journalists who remain imprisoned,” the statement reads.  

The statement also mentions that on May 5, Chairman Smith plans to introduce the World Press Freedom Protection Act of 2015 in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The legislation would authorize the President to deny entry visas to individuals who have credibly threatened press freedom; restrict some U.S. activities of executives of state-owned media organizations from countries where American journalists are threatened or harassed; and urge the U.S. Government to include press freedoms and Internet freedom as part of international treaty negotiations and trade agreements.