MFRR partners call for lifting ban on journalists’ access…

MFRR partners call for lifting ban on journalists’ access to Georgian parliament

The partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) condemn the barring of journalists from reporting within the Parliament of Georgia. We urge the Parliament to reinstate the accreditation of all journalists including online media.

Since the start of the debate on the foreign agent bill titled “Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence in Georgia,” journalists from online outlets have been barred from the Parliament. On May 27, Speaker of the Parliament Shalva Papuashvili signed a decree on “enhancing security levels,” indefinitely barring online media journalists and visitors from attending parliamentary sessions.

Since June 3, four journalists of government-critical television channels have also been barred. Nini Balanchivadze of Mtavari Arkhi was banned for one month at the request of ruling Georgian Dream MP Nino Tsilosani after Balanchivadze asked Tsilosani to comment on potential U.S. sanctions against Georgia’s authorities. Tsilosani refused to answer, stating she does not give interviews to Mtavari Arkhi journalists. When Balanchivadze repeated her question, Tsilosani threatened to issue a sanction against her.

On June 4, Sopho Gozalishvili of Formula TV was banned from Parliament for six months also after approaching Tsilosani for an interview. In the video released by Formula TV, Tsilosani accuses Formula TV of being a fascist television.

Nata Kajaia and Maka Chikhladze, working for TV Pirveli, had their accreditation suspended at the request of Sozar Subari and Guram Matcharashvili, MPs of People’s Power party, which is closely aligned with the Georgian Dream party.

All of the suspensions were based on a breach of the parliamentary code of conduct for journalists established by the Speaker, Papuashvili, in March 2023, which requires journalists to immediately terminate an interview if objected to by an MP, staff member, or guest.

Barring journalists from the Parliament represents yet another step by Georgia’s authorities in its crackdown on independent media. The barring of journalists from Parliament deprives the public of information on the activities of the legislative branch.

We urge the authorities to stop misusing the Speaker’s decree to silence journalists and to immediately lift the arbitrary ban on online media’s presence in Parliament.

Furthermore, we reiterate our call to authorities to guarantee the safety of journalists and to ensure that the country’s media can operate freely, without being subjected to derogatory or insulting comments from the authorities.

We also appeal to the Public Defender (Ombudsman) of Georgia Levan Ioseliani to investigate the issue and help end the practice of barring journalists from Parliament. The Public Defender must play a crucial role in safeguarding press freedom in Georgia and protecting its embattled independent media.

Signed by:

International Press Institute (IPI)
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
Free Press Unlimited (FPU)

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.

Event

Germany’s Election Aftermath

Germany’s election aftermath

20 June, 15:00 CET.

In the wake of Germany’s recent European election results, this webinar will focus on the consequences of increased far-right representation for media freedom. Former MEP Rebecca Harms will guide the discussion on the potential threats and necessary safeguards for independent journalism in this new political era.

Moderator

Rebecca Harms

Vice Chair of the Executive Board at ECPMF, former MEP

Speakers

Yann P. M. Rees

Researcher at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Research on Conflict and Violence, Bielefeld University

Philippe Meistermann

Head of Brussels Office, Bundesverband Digitalpublisher und Zeitungsverleger e. V.

Alexander Matschke

Team Lead BMZ Relations, DW Akademie

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Media freedom groups call on Slovakia’s Parliament to reject…

Media freedom groups call on Slovakia’s Parliament to reject public broadcasting bill

Critics warn: proposed law could seriously undermine the independence of public media

Journalists and media freedom groups are urging Slovakia’s MPs to reject the proposed public service broadcasting bill scheduled for parliamentary review next week. Despite recent amendments to the bill, the new structure would lead to the politicisation of the broadcaster in breach of the European Media Freedom Act.

The public broadcasting bill aiming to replace Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS) with a new entity, Slovak Television and Radio (STVR), will be discussed by the Parliament next week after its finalisation by the government in May.

If passed into law, the governing coalition will also remove the current Director-General and supervisory board before the end of their legal mandates.

The new Director-General will be appointed by the new Board of STVR, which will consist of nine members, five appointed by the Parliament and four by the Ministry of Culture. All their mandates would start at the same time. This would hand the ruling majority effective control over the Board and, therefore, the Director General, leading to the likely rapid politicisation of the new public television and radio channels.

The ruling coalition has persistently accused the public media and its journalists of bias and political activism and has made no secret of its desire to assert control over it through this ‘reform’.

The initial bill, published in March, provoked a string of protests led by RTVS’s journalists who published a petition expressing fear that the new law will create “a tool for political control of RTVS for any government in power”, adding that “free and independent public media should serve all citizens of Slovakia, not the power ambitions of any parties.”

Slovakia’s President, Zuzana Čaputová, European Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová, as well as many international organisations also expressed concerns including that the law may breach provisions for independence laid out in the European Media Freedom Act.

As a result, the government has since withdrawn some of the more vexatious elements of the law, including a provision for a new politically appointed Programme Council to coordinate the programming.

Despite these modifications the bill still provides for the politicisation of the public broadcaster by the government that would fatally compromise its independence. It is therefore still contrary to the European Media Freedom Act’s provisions on the independence of the public media.

Moreover, the law has done nothing to secure sufficient, stable and independent funding which is essential to ensure STVR’s independence and fulfilment of its public service mission. In 2023 Slovakia replaced the licence fee model with direct state funding increasing its dependence on the government.

Our organisations have seen how easy it is for governments to undermine the independence of public broadcasters and how serious the effects of such a politicisation can be for society as a whole.

The tragic shooting of Prime Minister Robert Fico against the background of a polarised society shows that the need for pluralistic and independent public media, that can facilitate debate across the political spectrum in a time of crisis, has never been greater.

Signed by:

International Press Institute (IPI)
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
OBC Transeuropa (OBCT)
Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

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Germany: Journalist Ignacio Rosaslanda physically assaulted by police while…

Germany: Journalist Ignacio Rosaslanda physically assaulted by police while covering police operation

The undersigned international media freedom, free expression, and journalist organisations call on the German authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the physical attack by Berlin police on Mexican video journalist Ignacio Rosaslanda while he was covering a police operation. The journalist who is working for the daily Berliner Zeitung, was not only prevented from reporting and physically abused but was also arbitrarily detained for hours without medical care. We urge authorities to take appropriate measures to ensure that the attack does not go unpunished and strengthen the protection of journalists who are vulnerable targets during demonstrations.

On 23 May 2024, Mexican journalist Ignacio Rosaslanda was at the Humboldt University’s Institute of Social Sciences to cover protests by pro-Palestinian activists who had occupied the building. The police intervened to evacuate the activists. Rosaslanda, who was filming the evacuation and had identified himself to the police as a member of the press, was physically attacked by a Berlin policeman. The incident was recorded by the journalist.

“The policeman suddenly attacked me from behind. He punched me twice in the face before pushing me to the ground with his knee behind my back. I kept shouting that I was a journalist. I even had my journalist card around my neck and my camera in one hand. They could see that I was documenting,” Rosaslanda told the MFRR partners. According to Rosaslanda, when he was on the ground, the policeman even said to him: “Freedom of the press is not without restrictions, your colleagues are outside and have done their work and are not handcuffed”. Although Rosaslanda tried to clarify the reason for his aggression by the police, he was told that he was the one who had attacked and resisted arrest. “I was then handcuffed for at least an hour and held in the building university for at least three hours for questioning”. Rosaslanda, who was injured, was refused immediate medical attention. The journalist had to be taken to hospital by one of his colleagues after the interrogation.

On 24 May 2024, the editors of the Berliner Zeitung strongly condemned the violence against Rosaslanda and the obstruction of his work by the Berlin police. “An attack on a journalist is an attack on the freedom of the press. This is all the more serious when the attack comes from the state,” wrote the Berliner Zeitung. Rosaslanda filed a lawsuit for assault and abuse of authority.

“We condemned and made the attack visible via our X account. We will also talk with the Berlin police and call for clarification on this attack. The Berlin police had only declared to various media that they “check” investigations,” emphasises Renate Gensch, regional chairwoman of the German Union of journalists (dju) in ver.di Berlin-Brandenburg and member of the national board of dju.

“As a Press representative, Ignacio Rosaslanda had only wanted to do his job. We condemn the violence against a press colleague by the Berlin police in the strongest possible terms. We also call for even stronger cooperation between the police and journalists’ associations and press representatives to prevent such incidents,” said Andrea Roth, deputy chairwoman of the Bavarian Journalists’ Association and EFJ Steering Committee member.

The MFRR partners are concerned about police violence because this unacceptable behaviour encourages and normalises hatred against journalists, who are already being targeted by protestors in pro-Palestine demonstrations, ranging from covering up or damaging cameras, harassment of the press, threats of physical violence, and assaults. Of the seven physical attacks on journalists during demonstrations, recorded by the Media Freedom Rapid Response platform, four journalists were injured at protests related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Most recently, a freelance photographer was physically assaulted with a poster at a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Berlin and suffered a bleeding wound. Reporters from Sachsen Fernsehen were brutally beaten in Leipzig in January.

The MFRR partners stand in full solidarity with the journalist Ignacio Rosaslanda and all journalists subjected to pressure and threats to silence them. We urge the relevant authorities to take immediate steps to protect the journalists, including a swift and thorough investigation into the police attack on Rosaslanda.

Signed by:

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
OBC Transeuropa (OBCT)
Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
The International Press Institute (IPI)

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(Lokal-)Journalismus unter Druck: Monitoring und Schutzmechanismen in Zeiten wachsender…

(Lokal-)Journalismus unter Druck: Monitoring und Schutzmechanismen in Zeiten wachsender Gefährdung

24. Juni 2024, 19:00 – 20:30 Uhr

Ort: Nikolaistr. 27-29, Institut für Kommunikations- und Medienwissenschaft, Raum 1.01

Im Rahmen des Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) Projekts des Europäischen Zentrums für Presse- und Medienfreiheit und der Veranstaltungsreihe „Erzählen Sie mehr“ des Masterstudiengangs Journalistik der Universität Leipzig sowie des monatlichen Stammtischformats „LeMoMo“ des DJV-Sachsen laden wir Sie herzlich zur Veranstaltung “(Lokal-)Journalismus unter Druck: Monitoring und Schutzmechanismen in Zeiten wachsender Gefährdung” ein.

Am 24. Juni um 19 Uhr werden Patrick Peltz und Andreas Lamm vom European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) in Leipzig über ihren jüngsten Report „Feindbild Journalist:in 8“ (Statistik tätlicher Angriffe auf Journalist:innen deutschlandweit) und den neuen „Mapping Media Freedom Monitoring Report“ (für die EU-Ebene) berichten. Gemeinsam mit Journalist:innen wollen wir anschließend über die Bedrohungen für die Pressefreiheit in Deutschland und die Möglichkeiten, Journalist:innen besser zu schützen, diskutieren. Unter anderem mit dem Journalisten Matthias Puppe, der seit 2001 für die Leipziger Volkszeitung arbeitet und seither vielfach von Protesten berichtet hat und der stellvertretenden Chefredakteurin der “Freien Presse”, Anne Lena Mösken.

Für einen Snack und alkoholfreie Getränke ist gesorgt.

Die Registrierung schließt um 12:00 Uhr am 23. Juni.

Moderator

Dr. Uwe Krüger

Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter, Universität Leipzig Institut für Kommunikations- und Medienwissenschaft

Speakers

Andreas Lamm

Interim Managing Director, European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)

Patrick Peltz

Monitoring and Research Officer, European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)

Matthias Puppe

Journalist, Leipziger Volkszeitung

Anne Lena Mösken

Stellvertretende Chefredakteurin, Freie Presse

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Romania: Super election year calls for press freedom assessment

29 May 2024

A coalition of media freedom organisations will conduct a mission to Bucharest on 17-18 June 2024 to assess key challenges amid Romania’s super election year. The mission will address political influence on media, legal threats to journalists’ work and their safety, culminating in a conversation with the press.

Romanian translation here.

In Romania, European and local elections in early June will be followed by presidential and parliamentary elections in September and December respectively. In the midst of this super election year, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium will undertake a mission to Bucharest on 17-18 June 2024.

The mission will be jointly organised by the International Press Institute (IPI) and the Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT), and will be joined by partners from the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), and Free Press Unlimited (FPU).

Following its online fact-finding phase involving meetings with media and civil society stakeholders, during the upcoming in-person mission, the MFRR delegation aims to meet with state authorities. The group will discuss with institutional stakeholders developments regarding a set of critical issues, highlighted in the consortium’s recent report on Romania’s media landscape.

First findings: A politically influenced, unsafe media environment

The MFRR consortium has identified the following key issues to tackle:

Media capture: The MFRR analysis identified severe political influence over Romanian media. Primarily, an opaque allocation of “media and propaganda” funds from state budgets to political parties foster a compliant and clientelist media environment. Additionally, the consortium noted with concern that the National Audiovisual Council, tasked with regulating media, is under-resourced and lacks political independence.
Legal threats: Journalists in Romania face an increasing number of vexatious lawsuits (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, known as SLAPPs), designed to intimidate and silence voices of dissent. Aside from draining the media’s resources, the MFRR warns about their chilling effect on journalistic freedom.
Safety concerns: The consortium has been monitoring a number of prominent cases of physical attacks, online harassment and smear campaigns targeting investigative journalists. Notable cases, such as that of investigative journalist Emilia Șercan, underscore the severity of these threats.

These topics are linked to key pieces of legislation that the European Union has recently adopted. The European Media Freedom Act aims to safeguard media independence and pluralism by tackling media capture, while the Anti-SLAPP Directive provides increased protections for journalists against vexatious lawsuits. Additionally, the European Commission adopted the Recommendation on the protection, safety and empowerment of journalists in September 2021. Two years later, the Council of Europe also launched the five-year Journalists Matter campaign, aiming to promote best practices among government and media stakeholders for improved journalist safety.

Our goals: Assess and address

Particularly during elections, journalists face intense political pressure and scrutiny for potential bias. Furthermore, an overall lack of public confidence is perhaps the biggest challenge Romanian media have to face. Yet, their role as public watchdogs is crucial for a fair electoral process. For this reason, the primary objectives of the upcoming MFRR mission are to:

Evaluate the impact of political interference and media capture on journalistic independence, including an evaluation of the effectiveness and independence of media regulatory bodies.
Investigate the prevalence and impact of SLAPPs and other forms of legal threats on Romanian journalists.
Address the safety and protection concerns of journalists facing threats and harassment.
Explore solutions, in dialogue and cooperation with relevant authorities, to support and sustain independent and local journalism in Romania.

Engagement and advocacy

The MFRR delegation will organise a conversation with the press on June 18, 2024, at 2PM in Bucharest, to present its initial observations and recommendations. An additional press release will be produced shortly after, in order to further detail the mission’s findings.

Press registration and contacts

Registration for the press event is open until June 17 at 12.00PM. To join the conversation, please fill out the registration form. To request a meeting with the delegation at a different time, and for more information about the mission, please contact us (stating your full name and media):

Beatrice Chioccioli

Advocacy Officer Europe
International Press Institute (IPI)
bchioccioli@ipi.media

+43 681 103 433 67

Sielke Beata Kelner, PhD

Researcher & Advocacy Officer

OBC Transeuropa (OBCT)

kelner@balcanicaucaso.org

This mission is part of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism tracking, monitoring, and responding to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and candidate countries. The project is co-funded by the European Commission.

România: Anul super electoral impune o evaluare a libertății presei

Misiunea viitoare a consorțiului european pentru libertatea presei va evalua principalele provocări ale presei din România.

O coaliție de organizații pentru libertatea presei va efectua o misiune la București în perioada 17-18 iunie 2024 pentru a evalua principalele provocări în contextul anului super electoral din România. Misiunea va aborda influența politică asupra mass-mediei, amenințările legale la adresa activității jurnaliștilor și a siguranței acestora. O conversație cu presa va încheia activitățile coaliției.

În România, alegerile europene și locale de la începutul lunii iunie vor fi urmate de alegeri prezidențiale și parlamentare în septembrie și, respectiv, decembrie. În mijlocul acestui an super electoral, consorțiul Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) va întreprinde o misiune la București în perioada 17-18 iunie 2024.

Misiunea va fi organizată în comun de către International Press Institute (IPI) și Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT), și va fi însoțită de parteneri de la European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) și Free Press Unlimited (FPU).

Misiunea delegației MFRR – precedată de o documentare online, care a inclus întâlniri cu mass-media și cu parteneri din societatea civilă – urmărește acum să se întâlnească cu autoritățile statului.. Grupul va discuta cu părțile interesate un set de aspecte critice, evidențiate în raportul recent al consorțiului privind peisajul mediatic din România.

Primele constatări: Un mediu mediatic incert și influențat politic

Consorțiul MFRR a identificat următoarele aspecte cheie care vor fi abordate pe parcursul misiunii :

Mass-media capturată politic: Analiza MFRR a identificat o influență politică severă asupra mass-mediei românești. În primul rând, o alocare opacă a fondurilor pentru „presă și propagandă” de la bugetul de stat către partidele politice favorizează un mediu jurnalistic conformist și clientelar. Mai mult, consorțiul a observat cu îngrijorare că Consiliul Național al Audiovizualului, care are sarcina de a reglementa mass-media, este lipsit de resurse și de independență politică.

Amenințări juridice: Jurnaliștii din România se confruntă cu un număr din ce în ce mai mare de procese vexatorii (procese strategice împotriva participării publice, cunoscute sub numele de SLAPP), menite să intimideze și să reducă la tăcere vocile disidente. Pe lângă faptul că astfel de procese epuizează resursele organizațiilor de presă, MFRR avertizează asupra efectului lor descurajator asupra libertății jurnalistice.
Preocupări legate de siguranță: Consorțiul a monitorizat o serie de cazuri proeminente de atacuri fizice, hărțuire online și campanii de defăimare care au vizat jurnaliștii de investigație. Cazuri notabile, precum cel al jurnalistei de investigație Emilia Șercan, subliniază gravitatea acestor amenințări.

Aceste subiecte sunt legate de acte legislative cheie pe care Uniunea Europeană le-a adoptat recent. Legea europeană privind libertatea mass-mediei are ca scop protejarea independenței și pluralismului presei prin abordarea capturării mass-media, în timp ce Directiva anti SLAPP oferă o protecție sporită pentru jurnaliști împotriva proceselor vexatorii.

În septembrie 2021, Comisia Europeană a adoptat o Recomandare privind protecția, siguranța și capacitarea jurnaliștilor. Doi ani mai târziu, Consiliul Europei a lansat, de asemenea, campania de cinci ani Journalists Matter, care vizează promovarea celor mai bune practici în rândul guvernelor și al părților interesate din domeniul mass-media pentru îmbunătățirea siguranței jurnaliștilor.

Obiectivele noastre: Să evaluăm și să răspundem la probleme

În special în timpul alegerilor, jurnaliștii se confruntă cu o presiune politică intensă și cu o examinare amănunțită a imparțialității presei. Mai mult, lipsa generală de încredere a publicului este poate cea mai mare provocare cu care se confruntă mass-media din România. Cu toate acestea, rolul lor de avertizori publici este esențial pentru un proces electoral corect. Din acest motiv, obiectivele principale ale viitoarei misiuni MFRR sunt următoarele:

Să evalueze impactul interferențelor politice și al capturii mediatice asupra independenței jurnalistice, inclusiv să evalueze eficiența și independența organismelor de reglementare a mass-media.
Să investigheze prevalența și impactul SLAPPs și a altor forme de amenințări legale asupra jurnaliștilor români.
Să abordeze preocupările legate de siguranța și protecția jurnaliștilor, care se confruntă cu amenințări și hărțuiri.
Să exploreze soluții, în dialog și cooperare cu autoritățile relevante, pentru a sprijini și susține jurnalismul independent din România.

Implicare și advocacy

Delegația MFRR va organiza o dezbatere cu presa pe 18 iunie 2024, la ora 14:00, la București, pentru a prezenta observațiile și recomandările sale inițiale. Un comunicat de presă va fi publicat la scurt timp după aceea, pentru a detalia în continuare concluziile misiunii.

Informații pentru presă

Înregistrarea la evenimentul de presă este deschisă până la 17 iunie, ora 24.00. Pentru a participa la dezbatere, vă rugăm să completați formularul de înregistrare.

Pentru a solicita o întâlnire cu delegația la o altă oră și pentru mai multe informații despre misiune, vă rugăm să ne contactați (menționând numele și prenumele dvs. și numele instituției mass-media pe care o reprezentați):

Beatrice Chioccioli

Ofițer de advocacy pentru Europa

International Press Institute (IPI)

bchioccioli@ipi.media

+43 681 103 433 67

Sielke Beata Kelner, PhD

Cercetător și ofițer de advocacy

OBC Transeuropa (OBCT)

kelner@balcanicaucaso.org

Această misiune este parte a MFRR (Media Freedom Rapid Response), un mecanism la nivel european de urmărire, monitorizare și răspuns la încălcările libertății presei și a mass-media în statele membre ale UE și în țările candidate. Proiectul este cofinanțat de Comisia Europeană.

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Urgent action needed to address the financial deadlock facing…

Urgent action needed to address the financial deadlock facing Radio-Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina

27 May 2024

Today the partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) express concern at the critical financial situation facing Radio-Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHRT).

Dear Mr. Denis Zvizdić, First Deputy of Chairman, House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

Dear Mr. Mladen Bošković, Vice President of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

Dear Mr. Elmedin Konaković, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

Dear Mr. Edin Forto, Minister of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

Dear Mr. Nermin Nikšić, Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina;

Dear Mr. Radovan Višković, President of the Government of Republika Srpska;

We would like to urgently bring to your attention the critical financial situation facing Radio-Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is a direct result of the failure to implement the law on the Public Broadcasting System of Bosnia and Herzegovina, leaving the broadcasters in perpetual conflict and in a dire financial situation. The long-standing financial dispute between the National Public Broadcaster (BHRT) and the Federation Public Broadcaster of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FTV) is leading to an unprecedented media blackout ordered by the BHRT management and creating dramatic working conditions.

The financial situation of Radio-Television of Bosnia and Herzegovina is very serious and this broadcaster risks being shut down if there is no agreement on how to distribute the RTV tax. Unfortunately, we still have no information on if and when this issue will be resolved. In Republika Srpska, Radio Television of Republika Srpska (RTRS) is collecting the monthly licence fee through JP Pošta RS and illegally since 2017 RTRS has not transferred more than 80 million BAM (40 million EUR ) that BHRT should have received. This is also contributing to the dire financial situation of BHRT.

As a result of the financial impasse, most FTV programmes were replaced by a test signal at 6 am on 8 May. The signal to FTV was reactivated a day later following the order of the Municipal Court in Sarajevo, which threatened BHRT with a fine. The situation keeps worsening and as of 27 May 2024, BHRT will cancel fifteen programmes, while others will be shortened.

On 28 May 2024, it will be 50 days since the last time public service employees in Bosnia and Herzegovina received their last salary. Otherwise, more than 60 per cent of the 750 employees have a salary of less than 400 euros, which is not enough to live on. If salaries and arrears to employees are not paid by 1 June 2024, the continuation of broadcasting will be put in jeopardy, including events of high public interest that only the public service of Bosnia and Herzegovina can cover.

As the Independent Union of Workers of BHRT has exhausted all means of negotiation, it will hold a warning protest on 28 May, announcing the next steps prescribed by law: a warning strike and a general strike.

We would like to recall that sustainable financing of public services is a prerequisite for the country’s accession to the European Union, in line with the newly adopted European Media Freedom Act. The problematic situation in which the workers find themselves is the result of the inaction of the current and previous political authorities, which have failed to ensure stable funding and functioning of the Public Broadcasting Service of Bosnia and Herzegovina and to implement the existing law.

We reiterate our appeal to the authorities to support the BHRT journalists and employees, and to find a sustainable solution to ensure that public broadcasters receive sufficient funding to operate normally and not undermine citizens’ right to freedom of information. It is the responsibility of the state to ensure the implementation of a legal framework that protects the independence of the media and safeguards their public service mission.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We remain at your disposal for any further information.

Sincerely,

Borka Rudić, General Secretary of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Journalists’ Association

(BHJA)

Ricardo Gutiérrez, General Secretary of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)

Ruth Kronenburg, Executive Director, Free Press Unlimited (FPU)

Oliver Vujovic, Secretary General, South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)

Frane Maroević, Executive Director, International Press Institute (IPI)

Andreas Lamm, Interim Managing Director, European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)

Joanna Szymańska, Acting Head of Europe Office, ARTICLE 19

Luisa Chiodi, Director, Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa

Antoinette Nikolova, Director of Balkan Free Media Initiative (BFMI)

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Two decades of impunity in case of murder of…

SafeJournalists and MFRR Condemn Two Decades of Impunity in Case of murder of Duško Jovanović

On the 20th anniversary of the murder of Montenegrin journalist Duško Jovanović, the SafeJournalists Network and partners in the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) call for stronger action from the authorities.

Media freedom organisations jointly condemn the two decades of impunity in the case of the murder of journalist Duško Jovanović and urge the Montenegrin authorities, both political representatives and relevant bodies, to take all necessary measures to identify and bring the perpetrators and masterminds to justice.

Duško Jovanović was the founder, director, and chief editor of the daily newspaper “Dan,” one of the first private newspapers in Montenegro. He was killed in front of his newspaper’s office on May 27, 2004. For this gravest crime in the history of Montenegrin journalism, only one accomplice has been convicted, who will soon be free as he has nearly served his multi-year prison sentence.

According to relevant domestic and international media organizations, the years-long investigation was conducted poorly and ineffectively, with numerous recorded oversights for which no one has been held accountable. Despite announcements from the highest Montenegrin officials in recent years that progress in the investigation could be expected, none has been made, or at least the public has not been informed. For this reason, we justifiably fear that this could remain one of the key unsolved cases, sending a devastating message about the media and socio-political landscape in Montenegro, that crimes against journalists are allowed to go unpunished. Therefore, it is essential that the state of Montenegro takes decisive steps towards justice as the family and colleagues of the late Jovanović, as well as the entire public, have been waiting too long.

In addition to Jovanović’s murder, over the past two decades, more than 100 cases of attacks on journalists and media property have been recorded in Montenegro, many of which remain unresolved, with some even having reached the statute of limitations. Hence, more decisive action by Montenegrin state authorities is needed to ensure the safety of journalists and resolve these cases.

We strongly urge the Montenegrin authorities to take immediate and concrete steps to address and resolve this most severe case in Montenegrin history. The time for action is now—swift and decisive measures are essential to ensure justice and restore public trust, and to show that crimes against journalists are not permitted.

Signed by:

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

Media Freedom Rapid Response

European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)

European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)

Free Press Unlimited (FPU)

International Press Institute (IPI)

OBC Transeuropa (OBCT)

This statement was coordinated by the SafeJournalist Network and 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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Death threats to editorial of weekly magazine Nacional in…

Death threats to editorial of weekly magazine Nacional in Croatia

The editorial office of the weekly magazine Nacional received death threats in an SMS message on Monday, 20 May 2024. The SafeJournalists Network and The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners are calling on the relevant institutions in Croatia to immediately respond, find, and prosecute the perpetrator.

The message sent to Nacional’s official phone contained the following text: “You and those like you carried out the attempted assassination of Prime Minister Fico by writing half-truths, lies, and inciting against people who are doing their jobs just to make money. Your triple informant paid for it with his life, and soon all the editors of the ‘axis of evil’ will too. We are waiting for the moment to catch as many of you together as possible so that we don’t waste explosives on just one scavenger. The surviving vultures will start writing the truth and only the truth, not lying, inventing, and writing in order just to collect money. We are watching you, and getting more than two will be a success, so write your wills….”

The Nacional editorial staff immediately reported the threat to the police and informed the Minister of the Interior, Davor Božinović. This threat is particularly alarming as it echoes the tragic story of Nacional’s owner and editor, Ivo Pukanić, and marketing director, Niko Franjić, who were killed in a bomb attack in Zagreb on 23 October 2008. “This threat is serious. You mentioned explosives. It is impossible not to think of our colleagues who were killed in a bomb assassination described by the state attorney as the most violent attack in modern Croatian history. But we will not let the threats affect our work,” editor-in-chief Berislav Jelinić told the EFJ. Jelinić has been under police protection for five years, from 2008 to 2013 due to threats linked with the tobacco mafia linked with the killing of his colleagues in 2008. He has even been the target of two assassination attempts. The threat of death, already worrying, takes on an even more frightening dimension in this highly charged context.

Hrvoje Zovko, president of the Croatian Journalists’ Association (CJA), stated: “For the Croatian Journalists’ Association, this is a direct threat not only to the safety of our colleagues from Nacional, whom we support but also a direct attack on media freedom. I will just remind you that Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, a little over a month ago, dangerously labeled several media outlets, including Nacional, as the ‘axis of evil.’ I also remind you of the open threats from the leaders of the “Domovinski pokret” directed at the editorial office of the weekly Novosti and the entire journalistic community, practically marking the media as enemies of the state,” Zovko emphasized.

The SafeJournalists network and MFRR partners are calling on the relevant institutions in Croatia to conduct a thorough investigation and bring the perpetrator of the death threat to justice. Such incidents represent a serious attack on media freedom and further endanger the safety of journalists working in increasingly difficult conditions daily. It is necessary to ensure that all journalists can do their jobs without fear of violence and threats, and it is therefore crucial that the relevant institutions demonstrate determination in protecting media freedoms. Organisations also call on authorities to stop targeting the media, as their inflammatory rhetoric encourages individuals and groups to threaten journalists.

We call on the authorities to provide meaningful support to journalists’ safety.

Signed by:

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

Media Freedom Rapid Response

European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)

International Press Institute (IPI)

Free Press Unlimited (FPU)

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Defending Press Freedom in Georgia as the foreign agent…

Defending Press Freedom in Georgia as the foreign agent bill passes the third reading

Today the partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) urge President of the European Council Charles Michel and EU Ambassador to Georgia Pawel Herczyński to call on the Georgian government to fully and unconditionally withdraw the foreign agent bill and to respect the right of journalists to report on the ongoing demonstrations without fear for their safety.

President of the European Council: Charles Michel

EU Ambassador to Georgia: Pawel Herczyński

Dear President Michel,

Dear Ambassador Herczyński,

We, the undersigned international press freedom, journalists and human rights organisations, are writing to express our deep concern about recent critical developments in Georgia, where the ruling Georgian Dream party passed the Russian-style foreign agent bill titled “Transparency of Foreign Influence” in its third and final reading on Tuesday May 14.

The Bill was approved with 84 votes in favor and 30 against. According to this legislation, NGOs and independent media receiving more than 20% of their funding from foreign sources would be required to register as organisations “pursuing the interests of foreign power.”

On Sunday, May 19, President Zourabichvili of Georgia vetoed the law, which is widely accepted to be overruled by the Parliament.

International press freedom and human rights organisations have been raising the alarm about this restrictive piece of legislation since it was reintroduced in early April. On April 11, Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners called on the Georgian Dream (GD) ruling party to withdraw the bill, and on May 10, 18 international press freedom organisations sent a letter to Prime Minister Kobakhidze urging him to withdraw the Bill, ensure the safety of journalists, and uphold press freedom.

The Bill provides the authorities with a powerful tool to discredit, pressure, and eventually silence independent voices, thereby threatening press freedom and freedom of expression. The law would not only force independent media and NGOs to be labeled as “organisations pursuing the interests of foreign powers,” it would also empower the Ministry of Justice to conduct monitoring and investigations of these organizations solely on the basis of a written application alleging ties to a “foreign power”, or a decision of the responsible authority within the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Justice would have the power to request personal “and confidential” information enabling it to interfere in the activities of independent media outlets and NGOs, disrupt their operations, and undermine their watchdog role. According to the latest changes made by Parliament, the law has been extended to enable the fining organization and of individuals for not submitting the requested data, including personal and confidential information. This comes notwithstanding the GD’s promises that the law would not concern any individuals.

Shortly after the Bill’s reintroduction, journalists have faced intimidation through phone calls, physical and verbal assaults, injuries, and vandalism of their personal items, apartment buildings, offices, and cars. Journalists from online outlets were further barred from Parliament preventing them from reporting the parliamentary debates on the bill. Based on our data, at least 20 media workers have been physically assaulted, verbally harassed, or detained while covering demonstrations, and we call on you to ensure the incidents are fully investigated and the perpetrators are held accountable. The rise in violent incidents against journalists and the growing hostility against the media indicate the government’s intolerance of criticism and dissent in the country.

The state of press freedom in Georgia has been deteriorating in recent years. Authorities have led smear campaigns against journalists from donor-funded independent media outlets before the reintroduction of this Bill, as well as detained and imprisoned journalists and media workers.

Given the overall sharp democratic decline, increasing hostility of the authorities towards critical voices, and the highly partisan and polarised media scene in Georgia, where a large portion of independent publishers have to rely on donor funding, the enactment of the foreign agent bill could be the final straw for Georgia’s embattled independent media and civil society.

We urge you to call on the Georgian government to fully and unconditionally withdraw this Bill. Furthermore, we urge you to publicly call on the Georgian government to respect the right of journalists to report on the ongoing demonstrations without fear for their safety. Media freedom and freedom of expression are essential pillars of democracy and European values, and should be placed at the center of Georgia’s relationship with the EU.