Allgemein

Hungary: Police arrest suspect behind DDoS cyberattacks on IPI…

Hungary: Police arrest suspect behind DDoS cyberattacks on IPI and independent media websites

The International Press Institute (IPI) today welcomes news of the arrest by Hungarian law enforcement of an individual in Budapest suspected of carrying out powerful cyberattacks against the website of IPI and multiple independent news outlets in Hungary in 2023 and 2024.

22.07.2025

On 21 July, the Hungarian National Investigation Bureau’s Cybercrime Investigation Unit announced that they had raided the home of a 23-year-old man suspected of carrying out the distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks and confiscated numerous digital devices.

 

Police said the man, whose identity has not been revealed, is the cyberattacker known as Hano, who was identified as coordinating attacks on media websites in Hungary, as well as IPI. He was arrested and questioned on 9 July on suspicion of the crime of information system or data breach, according to authorities.

 

Formal charges have yet to be brought while police continue to assess digital evidence, and he has since been released from custody. Hungarian authorities added that evidence was found on the seized devices that clearly indicated the commission of the digital crimes.

 

“IPI welcomes the announcement of the arrest by Hungary’s Cybercrime Investigation Unit of the individual suspected to be the cyber attacker known as Hano,” said IPI Executive Director Scott Griffen. “We await further details on the investigation and planned charges. There are many questions here that must be answered to secure accountability. We urge authorities to clearly identify the motive behind these attacks as well as to fully and transparently investigate and determine whether any external coordination or funding was involved in these targeted attacks on independent media and civil society.”

 

IPI’s website was first hit by a DDoS attack on 1 September 2023, just days after we published a report detailing how at least 40 different media websites in Hungary had been hit by DDoS attacks, a form of cyberattack which crashes websites by overloading their servers with millions of simultaneous access requests. The majority of these attacks were directed against independent media platforms, including HVG, Telex, 444.hu, Magyar Hang, and Népszava, while pro-government media were left unscathed.

 

The attack kept IPI’s website offline for three days while our IT team fought to repel waves of attacks. An in-depth forensic analysis conducted in December 2023 by the Qurium, a non-profit based in Sweden, confirmed IPI’s initial assessment that the DDoS attack was carried out in retaliation for our work in support of independent media in Hungary.

 

Hungarian authorities said the man was identified by the Cybercrime Investigation Unit via digital traces and fake profiles. An analysis of access logs and examination of network traffic showed the perpetrator had used so-called “DDoS for hire” services and other online tools to carry out the attacks, which were executed under the name Hano – which he also used on service provider interfaces and in personal messages.

 

After it reported on the attack on IPI, the German newspaper taz was also hit by a similar attack a week later, mirroring a pattern of reprisals for media reporting on the DDoS attacks. Analysis of technical logs from the attacks on taz and IPI both show how the hacker used the nickname Hano – an acronym in Hungarian for a disorder which affects the human body. During many attacks, messages were left behind in the code, such as #HanoHatesU. The same message was left in the code of attacks on Hungarian media outlets, which continued in 2024.

 

Experts taz spoke to unofficially classified Hano as an Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) – defined by the German Cybersecurity Agency as a well-trained, usually state-sponsored attacker who targets a system over a long period of time.

 

The Hungarian police report specifically mentions the attacks on IPI, which led authorities in Budapest to contact Austrian authorities due to the cross-border scope of the investigation.

 

IPI reported the case to Austrian police at the time and sent information to the Hungarian Cybercrime Investigation Unit in April 2025. IPI will be contacting Hungarian and Austrian law enforcement agencies to request further information.

 

“Cyber attacks pose a growing threat to press freedom worldwide, severely harming the public’s right to news and information. It is essential that law enforcement authorities take these attacks seriously whenever they occur and ensure full accountability for all those involved.”

In the wake of the attacks, IPI worked with Cloudflare to provide free digital security tools to a number of Hungarian media to help them defend against future DDoS attacks. If you are a media outlet in need of support in repelling DDoS attacks, IPI can provide referrals for enhanced defences free of charge. Please contact IPI for more information.

This statement was coordinated by IPI as part of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.

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Georgia: Authorities seize bank accounts of Gazeti Batumelebi and…

Georgia: Authorities seize bank accounts of Gazeti Batumelebi and Netgazeti ahead of Mzia Amaghlobeli verdict

Seizure order is a new front in campaign of pressure on media outlets and their co-founder

21.07.2025

Georgian authorities’ decision to seize the bank accounts of independent media Gazeti Batumelebi and Netgazeti ahead of the verdict in the criminal trial of their co-founder Mzia Amaghlobeli is another clear front in the government’s authoritarian campaign of pressure against them, IPI said today.

 

Gazeti Batumelebi and Netgazeti are widely respected media outlets, often reporting on human rights violations and corruption, serving the public with impartial, trustworthy news since their founding 25 years ago.

 

The seizure dramatically ramps up pressure on these outlets ahead of the verdict in the criminal trial against Amaghlobeli, who has been unjustly held in pretrial detention since her arrest on January 12, during which time her health and eyesight has deteriorated.

 

The seizure order was made on 17 July citing an unpaid tax debt. According to Batumelebi, the outlet had acknowledged the debt and had been paying it back. Prior to the seizure order, the Revenue Service informed Batumelebi that it has outstanding tax debt that must be paid within five days. The organisation formally requested a structured repayment plan, which is permitted under the Georgian Tax Code.

 

However, the Revenue Service rejected this request without justification and proceeded to seize the accounts, warning that the National Bureau of Enforcement may also initiate property seizures, including the confiscation of technical equipment and its office.

 

In a statement on its website, Batumelebi condemned the action and said the real motive “appears to be an attempt to shut down the media organisation” and that it represented “direct pressure” on Amaghlobeli to make her give up ahead of the court verdict. It added that the order had been applied in a selective and discriminatory manner, pointing out that pro-government media which owe far greater sums have not received such repayment orders.

 

Amaglobeli has been charged under the criminal code with attacking a police officer – a charge widely viewed as excessive and politically motivated – which carries a sentence of up to seven years in prison.

 

Today, July 21, marks the penultimate court hearing in Amaglobeli’s case, after which a verdict is expected to be reached at a final court date, now slated for August 1.

 

The move by Georgia’s Revenue Service to place a seizure order on the online media’s bank accounts also came just days after IPI met Amaghlobeli’s colleagues from Gazeti Batumelebi and Netgazeti during a mission to Georgia by international press freedom groups to monitor a court hearing in Amaghlobeli’s case.

 

In its statement following the hearing, IPI said along with partners Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) that the proceedings had illustrated the disproportionate and politicized nature of the charges against her. The group also expressed concerns over the dehumanizing and degrading treatment Amaglobeli endured during her arrest.

 

Amaglobeli’s arrest and detention are seen by many in the journalism community in Georgia as a deliberate attempt to intimidate and silence the independent press amidst a broader crackdown on civil society and dissent.

 

“We strongly condemn what is clearly a campaign by authorities against Batumelebi and Netgazeti – first with disproportionate criminal charges against their co-founder and now by seizing their bank accounts”, Amy Brouillette, IPI Director of Advocacy, said. “The IPI global network stands by Batumelebi and Netgazeti and Mzia Amaglobeli and calls on authorities to cease its campaign of harassment.”

 

The Media Development Investment Fund has launched a fundraiser to support Amaghlobeli’s fight for freedom. You can donate via the GoFundMe page here.

This statement was coordinated by IPI as part of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.

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Georgia: Urgent action required as ruling party accelerates efforts…

Georgia: Urgent action required as ruling party accelerates efforts to silence independent media

The EU must immediately respond to unprecedented crackdown on media in candidate country

30.06.2025

The IPI global network today warns of the dire state of media freedom in Georgia amid the introduction of increasingly repressive laws and ongoing attacks on the press. Each day, Georgia moves closer to becoming a fully consolidated authoritarian regime, as the ruling Georgian Dream party intensifies its efforts to erode democracy and silence independent voices.

In the last week the GD has passed legislation to make it far easier to prosecute journalists for defamation, it has imposed new restrictions on reporting from courts, and a court in Batumi has extended the detention of Mzia Amaglobeli despite medical reports that her vision has deteriorated dangerously while in prison.

The international community, particularly the European Union, has a duty to act now to denounce and exert effective pressure on the Georgian Dream (GD) ruling party, the leaders of institutions and judges responsible for the crackdown on both media and civil society.

Repressive new legislation

On June 26, the Georgian Dream parliament adopted amendments to the Law on Freedom of Speech and Expression in the third reading.  The amendments are being fast-tracked before the one-party legislature concludes its spring session on June 27.

The bill redefines defamation as “a statement containing a substantially false fact and one that damages a person’s reputation,” omitting the current clause’s reference that such a statement must “inflict harm” to be considered defamatory. The amendments shift the burden of proof from the plaintiff to the defendant or  the person accused of making the allegedly defamatory statement, who must now justify why the statement was not defamatory.

The legislation expands the scope of public insult offences and repeals key safeguards, including protections for journalists acting in good faith, reporting in the public interest, or refusing to disclose confidential sources or professional secrets. The law would allow courts to impose financial compensation for both material and moral damages, even where a retraction or apology has been issued.

The legislative changes would also allow the government to retroactively prosecute people over statements or comments made up to 100 days before the bill’s enactment. During the parliamentary discussion, ruling party MP Tea Tsulukiani called for an even harsher approach — adding defamation back in the criminal code.

These amendments erode fundamental legal protections for journalism by eliminating source confidentiality, fostering self-censorship, and obstructing investigative reporting. These combined changes threaten the very foundations of independent journalism in Georgia.

Obstructions for court reporting

On June 26, the Parliament also adopted draft amendments to the Organic Law on Common Courts that would significantly restrict journalists’ ability to report from court premises. Once the law comes into effect after being signed by the GD elected President Mikheil Kavelashvili, filming will be prohibited inside court buildings, including courtrooms, hallways and courtyards.

Previously, Georgia’s Public Broadcaster, which has long been a mouthpiece for the GD party, was permitted to film inside courtrooms, with an obligation to share content with other media outlets. If it failed to do so, other broadcasters were permitted to step in. This framework will be repealed under the draft amendments.

The law also abolishes additional provisions that currently permit journalists to record in courthouse corridors and courtyards and protect against the confiscation of recording devices.

Georgian Dream introduced the draft law amid the ongoing trials of individuals arrested during anti-government protests in Georgia, including Mzia Amaglobeli. The hearings have been widely covered by independent and government-critical media.

By adopting these amendments in a fast-tracked manner, along with other recently adopted laws and the ongoing impunity for crimes against journalists, GD is slowly suffocating the space for quality independent journalism.

Mzia Amaglobeli remains behind bars

In the same week, on June 23, the Batumi City Court ruled to keep journalist and media director Mzia Amaglobeli in pre-trial detention, rejecting a motion from her defense team to replace imprisonment with a milder preventive measure. Judge Nino Sakhelashvili cited a ‘high risk of reoffending’ as the justification for continued detention.

Amaglobeli’s health has further deteriorated in prison. Medical examinations conducted on February 4 and 6 during her hunger strike revealed a sharp decline: vision in her right eye had dropped from 30% to 10%, while her left eye retained only about 4% vision, limited to light perception. An outspoken regime critic, Amaglobeli faces charges of assaulting a police officer — carrying up to seven years in prison — following an altercation with Batumi Police Chief Irakli Dgebuadze. Amaglobeli’s arrest is widely viewed as retaliation for her journalistic work.

Resilience despite repression

In the last few years, GD has intensified repression of the media, independent journalists have demonstrated exemplary resilience. Media workers have been beaten, harassed, detained, jailed, smeared, fined and still continued their work.

Despite such resilience, in the absence of a robust system of checks and balances, legal protections and independent democratic institutions, amid explicit hostility and a climate of fear, independent journalism is increasingly unlikely to survive in Georgia.

The new wave of legal oppression is unfolding in parallel with massive arrests of government critics, including leaders of opposition parties. Over the past month, the Georgian Dream government has jailed seven opposition leaders, a former defense minister and a former member of the United National Movement (UNM) party.

The adoption of repressive, undemocratic and illiberal legislation, along with widespread political persecution, is unfolding at an unprecedented scale in Georgia—an EU candidate country once widely considered as a beacon of democracy in the South Caucasus. The GD is increasingly relying on the Russian authoritarian playbook to silence critics, undermine human rights and dismantle democratic institutions.

The erosion of  civil liberties at an extraordinary pace in Georgia also poses a serious threat  to democracy in the region, where far-right and populism are on the rise and illiberal and authoritarian regimes are increasingly gaining ground.

While the Georgian Dream attempts to consolidate authoritarian rule in a matter of months, the international community must urgently respond. We renew our call on the European Union and its member states to step up pressure on Georgia and stem the rapid descent into authoritarianism. The effective pressure must be applied to not only the Georgian Dream officials but every decision maker as well as judges, responsible for this crackdown on media, capture of the public broadcaster and ongoing impunity for crimes against journalists.

We also renew our  call on the GD party to repeal repressive laws, including the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and recent amendments to the Law on Broadcasting and the Law on Grants. We further urge the Georgian Dream-led parliament to withdraw the recently adopted amendments to the Law on Freedom of  Expression, as well as the amendments restricting media coverage of court proceedings.

We reiterate our call for the release of unjustly jailed veteran Georgian journalist Mzia Amaglobeli, who has become a symbol of the resilience of Georgian media.

This statement by IPI is part of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.

Allgemein

Turkey: Press freedom and journalist organisations call for the…

Turkey: Press freedom and journalist organisations call for the release of journalist Fatih Altaylı

The undersigned press freedom, freedom of expression and journalists’ organisations today strongly condemn the arrest of Turkish journalist Fatih Altaylı over his political commentary during a YouTube live broadcast and call for his immediate release.

Türkçe açıklama aşağıdadır…

25.06.2025

Fatih Altaylı, a prominent journalist and columnist, was taken into custody and arrested on June 21, 2025, hours after a segment of his YouTube broadcast went viral on social media. In the video, Altaylı offered critical political commentary in response to a poll suggesting that 70 percent of the Turkish public would oppose a proposal to allow the Turkish President to remain in power indefinitely.

 

Following this, some social media accounts began spreading edited clips from his broadcast that mischaracterised his comments as threatening speech. Shortly afterward, Oktay Saral, a senior advisor to the Turkish President, publicly targeted Altaylı on social media, writing that he was “in hot water already”. Within ten hours, Altaylı had been detained.

 

Under Turkish law, if a person is under investigation for a crime that carries a maximum prison sentence of two years or less, they typically cannot be held in pretrial detention. Initially, Altaylı was held on suspicion of making a criminal threat—an offense that is applicable to threats against any individual, and falls into this category. Prosecutors later reinterpreted the case and invoked a provision that increases penalties for offenses in which the president is the victim. This provision, which mandates a minimum five-year sentence, allowed authorities to place Altaylı in pretrial detention. However, legal experts argue that this provision applies only to direct physical acts—not verbal statements made through the press—and warn that its use in this case exceeds its intended legal scope.

 

The Istanbul 10th Criminal Court of Peace approved the prosecutor’s request to jail Altaylı pending trial, citing the “severity of the offense” and a purported “risk of flight”.

 

Following his arrest, Turkey’s Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) issued a warning on June 23 announcing that Altaylı’s YouTube channel must apply for an internet broadcasting license within 72 hours, submit the required documents, and pay a three-month licensing fee in advance, or be closed down.

 

The undersigned organisations regard this arrest as a clear abuse of criminal law to silence critical political commentary. The decision to interpret Altaylı’s remarks as incitement to assassination is a dangerous expansion of criminal liability, one that threatens to further erode freedom of expression in Türkiye.

 

We jointly call for the immediate release of Fatih Altaylı and urge Turkish authorities to cease exploiting vague legal provisions to persecute journalists. A free press must include the right to freedom of expression and critique political leaders without fear of reprisal.

Signed by:

  • International Press Institute (IPI)
  • ARTICLE 19 Europe
  • Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
  • European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
  • European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
  • Foreign Media Association (FMA Turkey)
  • Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA)
  • Progressive Journalists Association (PJA)
  • Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
  • South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)

This statement was coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.

Türkiye: Basın ve ifade özgürlüğü ile basın meslek kuruluşları gazeteci Fatih Altaylı’nın serbest bırakılmasını talep ediyor

 

Aşağıda imzası bulunan basın özgürlüğü, ifade hürriyeti ve basın meslek kuruluşları olarak gazeteci Fatih Altaylı’nın YouTube’daki canlı yayınında yaptığı siyasi yorumları nedeniyle tutuklanmasını şiddetle kınıyor, derhal serbest bırakılmasını talep ediyoruz.

 

Gazeteci ve köşe yazarı Fatih Altaylı, sosyal medyada çokça paylaşılan YouTube yayınından birkaç saat sonra 21 Haziran’da önce gözaltına alındı, sonra da tutuklandı. Söz konusu videoda Altaylı, Türkiye halkının yüzde 70’inin devlet başkanlarının süresiz görevde kalmasına karşı olduğunu gösteren bir anketi değerlendiriyordu.

 

Yayının ardından bazı sosyal medya hesapları, Altaylı’nın sözlerini bağlamından koparıp tehdit içerikliymiş gibi yansıtan video kesitlerini yaymaya başladı. Kısa süre içinde Cumhurbaşkanı Başdanışmanı Oktay Saral da sosyal medya hesabından videoyu paylaşıp, “Altaylıııı! Suyun ısınmaya başladı” ifadelerini kullandı. Saral’ın paylaşımından yaklaşık 10 saat sonra Altaylı gözaltına alındı.

 

Türkiye’deki yasalar, azami cezası iki yıl olan suçlarla ilgili soruşturmalarda şüphelilerin tutuklu yargılanamayacağını belirtiyor. Altaylı da ilk olarak bu kapsamda değerlendirilmesi gereken tehdit suçu şüphesiyle gözaltına alınmıştı. Ancak savcılık daha sonra dosyayı yeniden değerlendirerek mağdurun Cumhurbaşkanı olması durumunda cezayı artıran maddeyi devreye soktu. En az beş yıl hapis cezası talep edilebilmesinin önünü açan bu madde uyarınca Altaylı’nın tutuklu yargılanmasının yolu açıldı. Ancak hukukçular, bu maddenin sadece fiziki müdahaleler için geçerli olduğunu, basın yoluyla yapılan sözlü açıklamalara uygulanamayacağını belirterek yasanın kapsamının aşıldığını ifade ediyor.

 

İstanbul 10. Sulh Ceza Hakimliği, savcılığın tutuklama talebini “suçun vasıf ve mahiyeti” ve “kaçma ihtimalinin yüksek olduğu” gerekçesiyle kabul etti.

 

Altaylı’nın tutuklanmasının ardından 23 Haziran’da Radyo ve Televizyon Üst Kurulu (RTÜK) ise gazetecinin YouTube kanalı için 72 saat içinde internet yayın lisansına başvuruda bulunması, gerekli belgeleri sunması ve üç aylık lisans ücretini peşin ödemesi gerektiğini, aksi takdirde kanalın kapatılacağını duyurdu.

 

Aşağıda imzası bulunan kuruluşlar olarak bu tutuklamayı, cezai yasaların açıkça suistimal edilmesi sonucu siyasi eleştirinin bastırılması olarak değerlendiriyoruz. Altaylı’nın sözlerinin suikast suçu kapsamında yorumlanması cezai sorumluluğu tehlikeli biçimde genişletmekte ve Türkiye’de ifade özgürlüğünü daha da zayıflatmaktadır.

 

Fatih Altaylı’nın derhal serbest bırakılmasını ve yetkililerin gazetecileri cezalandırmak için muğlak yasal düzenlemelere başvurmaktan vazgeçmesini talep ediyoruz. Özgür basın, misilleme korkusu yaşamadan siyasi liderleri eleştirme ve fikirlerini ifade edebilme hakkına sahip olmalıdır.

İmzalayanlar:

  • Uluslararası Basın Enstitüsü (IPI)
  • ARTICLE 19 Europe
  • Avrupa Basın ve Medya Özgürlüğü Merkezi (ECPMF)
  • Avrupa Gazeteciler Federasyonu (EFJ)
  • Çağdaş Gazeteciler Derneği (ÇGD)
  • Gazetecileri Koruma Komitesi (CPJ)
  • Güney Doğu Avrupa Medya Örgütü (SEEMO)
  • Medya ve Hukuk Çalışmaları Derneği (MLSA)
  • Sınır Tanımayan Gazeteciler (RSF)
  • Yabancı Medya Derneği (FMA)

Bu açıklama, AB üye ülkeleri ve aday ülkelerde basın ve medya özgürlüğünün ihlallerini takip eden, izleyen ve bunlara müdahale eden Avrupa çapında bir mekanizma olan Medya Özgürlüğü Acil Müdahale (MFRR) tarafından koordine edildi.

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Serbia: Media regulator election again made a mockery of…

Serbia: Media regulator election again made a mockery of EU-required reforms

Process to appoint new members of media regulator council was again conducted in non-transparent and discriminatory manner

19.06.2025

The process for the appointment of new members to the council of Serbia’s media regulator has again been conducted in a non-transparent and discriminatory manner, in clear violation of Serbian legislation, making a mockery of democratic media reforms demanded by the European Union, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) and SafeJournalists Network said today.

 

Last week, candidates and nominator organisations which are independent of the government pulled out of the process for appointing new members of the Council of the Regulatory Body for Electronic Media (REM), Serbia’s most important media regulator.

 

The independent groups cited numerous serious violations of legal requirements and manipulation of the election process by the government majority in the Committee for Culture and Information of the National Assembly. Many of the proposed candidates did not satisfy professional requirements, while multiple organisations permitted to nominate candidates displayed clear government bias or were formed in murky circumstances.

 

Efforts to address these concerns were rejected by the government majority in the Committee earlier this month after they voted against a proposal by the opposition to individually consider each application and the organisation proposing candidates to address serious allegations of bias or non compliance with criteria.

 

Our organisations conclude that the appointment process to the REM Council was again conducted in a non-transparent, non-independent and arbitrary manner, favouring candidates and organisations supportive of the ruling administration, in violation of Article 10 of the Law on Electronic Media. This makes a mockery of actual democratic reform called for by the EU.

 

Our organisations note with further concern that this is the second time that independent candidates have withdrawn from the process, after the initial procedure was abandoned in January 2025 due to widespread complaints of the same procedural irregularities.

 

The result is that the new election of the REM Council – a key EU-mandated measure outlined in both EU Rule of Law and Enlargement reports – is now again in a state of limbo, stalling wider reform of the Serbian media ecosystem.

 

The MFRR, which recently undertook a media freedom mission to Serbia, has repeatedly highlighted the need for urgent reform of the REM, which has long been stacked with government loyalists and undermined by political capture, resulting in an underregulated media ecosystem rife with propaganda and disinformation.

 

As pointed out in our recent mission report, the REM has long represented a key element of media capture in Serbia. Under the control of government loyalists, the previous REM Council, which is responsible for issuing television and radio broadcasting licences, made controversial decisions which undermined media pluralism by boosting pro-government broadcasters at the expense of independent broadcasting houses.

 

The REM repeatedly failed to uphold its mandate. It has failed to oversee fair and balanced election coverage; it has failed to address violent rhetoric and hate speech by tabloid media, as well as the spread of pro-Russian disinformation, and it has failed to sanction targeted smear campaigns by certain tabloid media on critics of the ruling party and its leadership.

 

As the REM Council is also tasked with appointing the Boards of Directors of Serbia’s state broadcaster Radio Television of Serbia (RTS), the appointment of government aligned individuals to the Council remains fundamental to maintaining overall control by the ruling Serbian Progressive Party over the country’s media landscape and broader public discourse.

 

If it is to be assessed as credible, legitimate and lawful by the European Union, the REM Council election process must be held in a fair, transparent and democratic manner, free from irregularities, and resulting in a pluralistic and professional body able to carry out its mandate without obstruction. This must be accompanied by a detailed assessment of conflicts of interests, with any candidate or organisation displaying clear bias disqualified. 

 

It is highly regrettable that these democratic procedures and rule of law requirements were wilfully disregarded by the Committee for Culture and Information during this selection process.

 

Moving forward, the EU should be clear eyed about the disingenuous and compromised approach displayed by Serbian authorities in implementing EU-mandated reform of the REM Council. The legally unviable and politically motivated manner in which the recent election procedure was carried out should mean that progress on media reforms under Chapter 23 of the EU accession process remain stalled until true democratic reform is completed.

 

We warn finally that the situation at the REM Council is illustrative of the wider state of emergency for press and media freedom in Serbia, where attacks on independent journalism in recent months have reached levels not seen for decades, deepening a long-standing media freedom crisis that requires urgent attention and vigilance from the EU.

Signed by:

Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) 

  • International Press Institute (IPI)
  • ARTICLE 19 Europe
  • European Centre for Press and media Freedom (ECPMF)
  • European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
  • Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
  • Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)

SafeJournalists Network 

  • Association of Journalists of Kosovo
  • Association of Journalists of Macedonia
  • BH Journalists Association
  • Croatian Journalists’ Association
  • Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia
  • Trade Union of Media of Montenegro

This statement was coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.

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Georgia: Independent media face new wave of repression as…

Georgia: Independent media face new wave of repression as new laws come into effect

Laws on foreign funding and broadcast content empower authorities to censor, prosecute and close media which provide vital sources of news and information to the public. 

17.06.2025

As the ruling Georgian Dream party intensifies efforts to consolidate authoritarian rule, independent media face unprecedented pressure and are now on the brink of survival. Journalists are increasingly subjected to detentions, physical attacks, arbitrary fines, censorship, as well as financial and institutional repression.

 

We, the undersigned international media freedom, journalists’, and human rights organisations, renew our call on the international community, especially the European Union (EU), to exert effective pressure on the Georgian Dream ruling party to end the suppression of independent journalism and to uphold democratic principles and media freedom. We further reiterate our full solidarity with Georgian journalists, who, despite mounting pressure, refuse to be silenced.

 

In recent months, the Georgian Dream party has enacted several repressive pieces of legislation, including the new Foreign Agents Registration Act, as well as amendments to the Law on Grants and the Law of Broadcasting.

 

As a result, directors of media and CSOs now risk criminal prosecution if the state alleges they acted on behalf of “foreign principals” [1] and deliberately failed to register. Furthermore, NGOs and media organisations are required to obtain “the consent of the government or an authorised person/body designated by the government” before receiving any grants from outside Georgia. Even the provision of free training to journalists by international organisations is expected to be ruled a breach of the law.

 

Independent media in Georgia may only have months left before they are forced to close, depriving the public of independent news.

 

Using the new amendments to the law on broadcasting, the authorities have already filed complaints against Formula TV and TV Pirveli with the Georgian National Communications Commission (GNCC).

 

These complaints object to the broadcasters’ use of terms such as “illegitimate Parliament,” “illegitimate government,” “oligarchic regime,” or “regime prisoners”. Formula TV and TV Pirveli now face possible sanctions ranging from public or written warnings and content correction, to imposing fines or ultimately removing licences.

 

This represents a clear attempt by the Georgian Dream party to impose strict censorship and silence independent media.

 

Additionally, journalists covering protests have been subjected to heavy fines in recent months. Mapping Media Freedom data records 28 journalists fined 5,000 Lari (approximately EUR 1,600) for “blocking the road” since November 28, while covering pro-European rallies in Tbilisi.  Some journalists have been fined multiple times.

 

The Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) has long served as an instrument of the Georgian Dream government, suppressing efforts by journalists seeking to report free of political control. Recently, the GPB management fired journalists Vasil Ivanov Chikovani and Nino Zautashvili after they spoke out about political interference at the broadcaster, and subsequently shut down “The Real Space,” the talk show hosted by Zautashvili.

 

Meanwhile, Mzia Amaglobeli, a veteran Georgian journalist and the founder and director of two of the country’s most prominent independent media organisations, has been unjustly held in pre-trial detention since her arrest in early January. According to Mapping Media Freedom data, at least 13 journalists have been detained since November 28 on various charges. Since that date, 246 journalists have been subjected to attacks including physical harassment, smear campaigns, obstruction of work, legal harassment, and fines.

 

The crackdown on media freedom is unfolding against the backdrop of a rapid and systematic dismantling of the rule of law and democratic freedoms.

 

Without sustained international pressure on both Georgian Dream officials and the leaders of institutions responsible for the media crackdown, independent journalism in Georgia cannot survive.

 

This dismantling of media freedom, democratic freedoms and journalists rights in Georgia, amid rising authoritarianism and a shift in Georgia’s geopolitical direction has wider implications for democracy in the region. We urge the international community to place effective pressure on Georgia and to support independent journalism in the country. We call on the Georgian Dream ruling party to end its assault on the media, repeal repressive legislation and immediately release Mzia Amaglobeli.

 

[1]: The list of those who can qualify as “foreign principals” ranges from foreign governments, organisations, and companies to foreign individuals or Georgian citizens who are not permanently residing in Georgia. 

Signed by:

  • International Press Institute (IPI)
  • European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
  • European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
  • Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa
  • ARTICLE 19 Europe
  • Index on Censorship
  • Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP)
  • Society of Journalists (Warsaw)
  • South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)
  • Media Diversity Institute
  • Media Diversity Institute Global
  • Justice for Journalists Foundation
  • RNW Media
  • Ossigeno.info
  • Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
  • IFEX
  • Association of European Journalists in Belgium (AEJ Belgium)
  • IMS (International Media Support)
  • Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD)
  • Democracy Reporting International (DRI)
  • Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS)
  • PEN International
  • Public Media Alliance (PMA)
  • Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

This statement was coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.

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Under pressure: protecting media freedom in the EU and…

Under Pressure:

Protecting media freedom in the EU and beyond.

24 June, 2025, 15:00 CET

Hilton Warsaw City, Warsaw, Poland

As part of the World Justice Forum, taking place from 23 to 27 June 2025 in Warsaw, OBCT organises a panel to discuss the state of media freedom in Europe and how the decline of the rule of law is affecting the media’s ability to serve as public watchdogs in defense of the public interest.

 

In recent years, even countries traditionally regarded as stable democracies have faced growing threats to the rule of law. Within the European Union, some member states are witnessing a rapid and troubling decline in democratic standards, raising serious concerns about the EU’s capacity to uphold its fundamental values.

 

This panel will focus on media freedom, often one of the first pillars to come under attack in times of democratic decline. We will examine how the weakening or collapse of the rule of law negatively affects journalists’ rights and the media’s ability to operate independently and safely. Topics will include the growing use of vexatious lawsuits (SLAPPs), the failure of justice systems to properly respond to violence against journalists, the abuse of state power to impose financial or regulatory pressure on critical media outlets, and the growing use of restrictive regulations to obstruct civic watchdogs.

 

The panel will also highlight the work of civil society organizations actively defending media freedom on the ground. We will discuss both their successes and the obstacles they face, with particular attention to their engagement with EU instruments such as the Rule of Law Mechanism, and its potential to foster transnational support and accountability.

 

The discussion will bring together perspectives from both EU member states and candidate countries, where the decline of media freedom is a particularly urgent concern.

Register here

Moderator

Luisa Chiodi

OBC Transeuropa (OBCT)

Speakers

Jonathan Day

Civil Liberties Union for Europe

Oliver Money-Kyrle

International Press Institute (IPI)

Ena Bavčić

European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)

Joanna Szymanska

Article 19 Europe

Serena Epis

OBC Transeuropa (OBCT)

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Albania: MFRR and SafeJournalists condemn blatant intimidation of journalists…

Albania: MFRR and SafeJournalists condemn blatant intimidation of journalists covering parliamentary elections

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) and the SafeJournalists Network (SJN) today raise alarm over numerous incidents of intimidation and obstruction faced by journalists covering the Albanian parliamentary elections. Since the 11 May election, at least 20 journalists and media entities have faced reporting interference and pressure, including from public officials. All incidents were captured in multiple videos.

22.05.2025

Throughout election day, at least five journalists covering the vote experienced alarming incidents across the country, including verbal abuse, physical aggression, and interference in their reporting. Incidents documented by the MFRR and SJN on that day include the physical assault of journalist Armando Rabi in Gjirokastër, the forced deletion of recorded materials from Erisa Xhindole’s phone in Pogradec, and a violent confrontation involving Syri TV’s Ambrozia Meta and crew by Socialist Party MP Erion Braçe, during a live broadcast from an unofficial electoral office in Tirana.

 

Journalists also faced arbitrary restrictions by voting center staff in violation of Albania’s electoral code. Accredited media observers in Durrës were reportedly prevented from documenting voting, while in Saranda, Euronews Albania’s Enriko Gaba was allegedly limited to 15 minutes of filming, again in violation of the official rules, which permit media workers access. Gaba had previously experienced obstruction from elected officials during the municipal elections in August 2024.

 

In the context of elections, public officials have a particular duty to ensure transparent electoral processes, allowing journalists to scrutinise campaigns, voting procedures, and vote counts without hindrance or violence. These incidents raise concerns regarding the state of press freedom and the free flow of information in Albania, with authorities failing to provide the environment for fair, balanced reporting and transparency during the electoral process.

 

Following the voting results, other incidents have been reported involving officials of the opposition Democratic Party of Albania (DP). At least 10 verbal abuses were documented as journalists were covering the party’s defeat. Among them, Democratic Party General Secretary Flamur Noka repeatedly discredited and denied questions to Report TV and A2 CNN journalists. During the Democratic Party protest organised on 16 May to denounce alleged electoral fraud, Euronews Sara Demushi had her badge for the concurrent European Political Community Summit grabbed by party official Edi Paloka. This physical confrontation, along with insults and obstruction of recording by other party officials, fueled hostility from DP supporters in the protest, prompting some journalists, including Demushi, to leave for their safety.

 

Therefore, the MFRR and SJN call on Albanian authorities to ensure prompt, thorough, and independent investigations into all reported cases of violence, intimidation and obstruction against journalists by public officials and private individuals.

 

In the wake of the election, the MFRR and SJN urge the re-elected Socialist Party administration to take concrete steps to strengthen press freedom in Albania, and for all political parties to refrain from interfering with journalistic work and to publicly condemn all forms of hostility against the press.

Signed by:

Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR)

  • European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
  • Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
  • International Press Institute (IPI)
  • Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)
  • European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)

SafeJournalists Network (SJN)

  • Association of Journalists of Kosovo
  • Association of Journalists of Macedonia
  • BH Journalists Association
  • Croatian Journalists’ Association
  • Independent Journalists Association of Serbia
  • Trade Union of Media of Montenegro

This statement was coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.

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France: MFRR renews calls to end police violence after…

France: MFRR and RSF renew calls to end police violence after new attacks on journalists at May Day protest

Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) today condemn state security forces’ deliberate violence against journalists covering the International Workers’ Day protest in Paris on 1 May, including physical violence and arbitrary confiscation of protective masks. We call on the French authorities to rigorously enforce national safety protocols to protect media workers and end recurring police violence against the press during demonstrations.

14.05.2025

Under the Ministry of Interior’s National Law Enforcement Plan (SNMO), state security must ensure journalists’ rights to cover law enforcement operations, protect them, and allow protective equipment. The recent incidents of violence, documented in multiple videos posted to social media, raise grave concerns about the increasingly dangerous environment in which journalists are operating while covering public demonstrations in France. National safety protocols for journalists have been openly ignored for years.

 

Among the eight incidents documented on 1 May, three journalists were reportedly assaulted by state security officers despite being identifiable as members of the press. Among them was a freelance journalist who was pushed and beaten, AB7 Média reporter Laurent Bigot, who was violently thrown to the ground and bludgeoned. Dyf news agency photojournalist Axel Gras suffered a mild concussion after being hit in the head. In June 2024, Gras was previously injured by another police officer during a demonstration.

 

In addition to police violence, five Spanish freelancers, Miquel Muñoz, Joan Gálvez, Adria Tur, Axel Miranda, and Marti Segura, reportedly had their protective masks arbitrarily confiscated. While contesting this decision, they were allegedly threatened with 24 hours of police custody and were ultimately unable to retrieve them after the demonstration. The cases documented on 1 May are not isolated occurrences.

 

In March 2025, journalist Clément Lanot was reporting from an anti-racism demonstration when he was struck in the head while wearing a helmet by a police officer, who was later cleared of any responsibility in the attack.

 

Since 2019, Mapping Media Freedom data indicates that journalists attacked by police during demonstrations in France are injured in most cases.

 

The MFRR consortium and RSF strongly urge independent and thorough investigations into the documented attacks and sanctions for the perpetrators. Ensuring justice for the attacks is paramount to send an unequivocal signal that violence and threats against journalists can no longer be tolerated, and to discourage further police violence.

 

We also call upon French state security forces to fully implement and rigorously enforce the National Law Enforcement Plan, which includes training for law enforcement officers on journalists’ rights. Police violence against journalists reporting from protests and demonstrations must stop immediately to protect the fundamental rights of access to information and press freedom.

Signed by:

  • European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
  • European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
  • Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
  • International Press Institute (IPI)
  • Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)
  • Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

This statement was coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.

Croatia press freedom mission Library

Croatia: Weekly Novosti faces drastic funding cuts amid political…

Croatia: Weekly Novosti faces drastic funding cuts amid political pressure

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners today condemn the drastic annual cuts in funding for the weekly magazine Novosti, the only print media for the Serb minority in Croatia and one of the most respected publications in the country, which is well-known for its critical reporting of the government.

07.05.2025

Co-financed by the Croatian public body Council for National Minorities as part of the Programme for Cultural Autonomy of Minorities, Novosti recently had its 2025 budget decreased by 35 percent compared to last year, despite an increase of the Council’s annual budget of 13.3%.  

 

The decision appears to have been politically motivated and driven by demands made by the far-right government coalition partner, Homeland Movement, which included in its election manifesto a pledge to defund the magazine over its writing about the state.

 

The President of the Council for National Minorities said the reason for the cuts was Novosti’s “previous influence on political developments in the Republic of Croatia,” despite the Council’s budget being “strictly” allocated to the weekly for informative content on “cultural autonomy.” However, as stated by the Novosti editor-in-chief Andrea Radak, the magazine’s editorial position has remained unchanged for years, indicating ulterior motives for the sudden funding cut.

 

The MFRR expresses serious concern over the blatant politicisation within the Council for National Minorities’ decision-making processes. This is particularly concerning due to the fact that Novosti is the sole national minority media outlet to experience a funding cut this year.

 

By cutting Novosti’s funding, the Council for National Minorities is not only failing in its constitutional duty to protect minority rights, but is also jeopardising the sustainability of critical journalism. The move directly erodes media pluralism and goes against the MFRR’s recommendations made following its online fact-finding mission to Croatia, which called for constitutional safeguards for the funding and independence of minority media to counter political pressure and ensure a diverse media landscape.  

 

The MFRR consortium today calls on the Council for National Minorities to re-evaluate the significant budget reduction for Novosti and to guarantee the independence of its decision-making processes free from all political agendas. The MFRR also calls on the Council to transparently justify its ‘cultural autonomy’ criterion for awarding grants, which suggests the exclusion of a weekly publication from public interest reporting, allegedly due to potential political influence.

 

The MFRR will continue to advocate for media pluralism and for stronger protection against political pressure, in an upcoming fact-finding mission from 19-21 May in Zagreb. Meetings with various stakeholders, including Croatian government ministries, media organisations, journalists’ associations, academics, and civil society groups, will allow for in-depth recommendations to remedy the state of press freedom, including stronger protection of media serving national minority communities.

Signed by:

  • European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
  • European Center for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
  • Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
  • Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)
  • International Press Institute (IPI)

This statement was coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.