A view of the Olympic Park and seaside of the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia, Monday, Jan. 27, 2014. Russia has spent about $51 billion to deliver the Winter Olympics in Sochi, which run Feb. 7-23. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
January 28, 2014 - 12:08 AM
MOSCOW - An international journalism watchdog has sharply criticized Russian authorities for restricting news coverage of preparations for the Sochi Olympics.
The Committee to Protect Journalists published a report Tuesday, detailing how Russian and international journalists have been harassed and prevented from covering sensitive stories in Sochi such as the abuse of migrant workers and environmental issues.
The report said that Russia has not seen such an intense crackdown on journalists and other critical voices since the break-up of the Soviet Union.
The Associated Press last year document stories of local journalists and activists who found themselves at the front lines of a struggle to reveal corruption and environmental damage in the run-up to the games.
The Black Sea resort of Sochi will host the Winter Games Feb. 7-23.
News from © The Associated Press, 2014