Belarusian Association of Journalists: facing closure but not extinction

Body representing independent media in country facing liquidation in further crackdown by Lukashenko regime

Four parts of Sochi 2014 the Russians didn’t want their citizens to see

Some of the biggest talking points from the Winter Olympics were muted in the host country. Alastair Sloan reports

Who are Putin’s Olympic guests?

Obama might be snubbing Sochi, but these lesser-known politicians should get their share of the spotlight

Will Olympians defy their protest ban and stand up for gay rights at Sochi?

Athletes have used the Olympics to deliver political messages in the past, writes Milana Knezevic

Putin promises discrimination free Olympics – should you believe him?

Here are a few cases that show just how empty Putin's promises are

A proposal to ban every (gay) sport from the Winter Olympics

You may have heard: Russia just passed an “anti-gay propaganda” law. You may know: Russia is hosting the 2014 Winter Olympics. Ryan O'Hanlon of Pacific Standard magazine writes

A twist in the tale of the man arrested for not smiling at the Olympics

Padraig Reidy: A twist in the tale of the man arrested for not smiling at the Olympics

Censorship, self-censorship and the Olympic spirit: Confusion over blocking of BBC content as Olympic rules kick in

Chilling free speech in the name of brands, rights and commercialisation is not what promoting the Olympic spirit is about, says Kirsty Hughes Read more about Locog's tactics on our Free Speech Blog

Lukashenko grounded as Olympics kick off

In Belarus there are only two positions that are officially allowed to have a title of “President”. The first one is the head of the state, the other one is the head of the National Olympic Committee. Both posts are taken by the same person — Alexander Lukashenko. But he is not coming to London […]

Censorship subverts Olympic ideals

The censorship and control-freakery imposed by Locog makes a mockery of the idea that the London Olympics are open and inclusive, says Kirsty Hughes Read more about Locog's tactics on our Free Speech Blog

LOCOG strikes again! Newsagent's Olympic bunting targeted

We really don’t want to go on about this…no, actually, lets. After the Twitter censorship, the links policy fiasco, and the Box Hill newsletter ban, the organisers of the London Olympics have turned their attention to an east London newsagent who sought to celebrate the Olympics with bunting on his shop. According to the Hackney […]

London 2012: Spy games

With the colossal security apparatus in place for the London Olympics, due to begin next week, Katitza Rodriguez and Rebecca Bowe look at how intense surveillance can threaten privacy long after the games are over