Allgemein

Serbia: Media freedom continues to decline at alarming speed,…

Serbia: Media freedom continues to decline at alarming speed, EU must take action

The undersigned journalists and media freedom organisations are profoundly appalled by the new attacks against journalists across Serbia, many of which are perpetrated by state representatives and law enforcement authorities. The situation of emergency of media freedom in Serbia – as assessed by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) during its April solidarity mission – has not only persisted but significantly deteriorated at alarming speed, despite our repeated warnings and recommendations. 

11.07.2025

As of 11 July, the Mapping Media Freedom platform, has documented a total of 95 cases of press freedom violations against 184 journalists, media outlets, and journalists associations in the last six months. This is an unprecedented figure compared to previous years.

 

The entire media system is affected: individual journalists have been physically assaulted, publicly smeared, threatened, dismissed, or pressured to resign. At the same time, the ongoing process to elect new members of the Council of the Regulatory Body for Electronic Media (REM) has flagged significant concerns regarding the impartiality of the process and the risk of political capture skewing how the media sector is regulated. In this context, the undersigned journalists and media freedom organisations sound the alarm: the time for warning is over, international action is urgently needed.

 

As regards the latest European Commission’s Rule of Law report on Serbia, it falls considerably short of capturing the severity of the situation. The undersigned organisations urge that persistent intimidation and violence can no longer be observed as business as usual.

 

Violence during protests coverage by law enforcement officers

 

The role of the police is a growing concern, as law enforcement authorities have shifted from inaction to direct confrontation with protesters and journalists, routinely resorting to excessive force, including physical assaults and arbitrary arrests.

 

Over the past weeks, at least 11 media workers covering ongoing student-led protests have been physically assaulted despite being identified as press. During the large protest of 28 June, which was defined by disproportionate use of force by the police against protesters, numerous journalists were injured by the police, who used batons, riot shields, and tear gas. As most incidents are not investigated, most perpetrators are never brought to justice. To address this climate of impunity, we urge state authorities to conduct swift, independent, and thorough investigations into each of these assaults.

 

While the EU has called for the protection of fundamental rights, including the right to free assembly and the right to free expression, as it relates to the protests and policing, it has so far failed to specifically address the alarming rise in violence against journalists.

 

Regarding the EC’s 2025 Rule of Law Report on Serbia, the undersigned organisations express alarm at the very limited attention given to the safety of journalists, which, in the light of escalating threats, warrants far greater scrutiny and prioritization. The current approach risks downplaying the gravity of the situation.

 

President Aleksandar Vučić’s dangerous rhetoric against the independent press

 

Since the 1 November tragedy, Vučić has repeatedly targeted the independent press. By labelling N1 and Nova S reporting as “pure terrorism,” and attempting to prompt the Prosecutor’s Office into action, the President’s behaviour puts independent voices, already at risk due to their critical reporting, at further risk. This followed both channels being removed from the satellite television service EON SAT (Total TV), which had recently been sold to Telekom Srbija, which is partly owned by the Serbian state. While the President denied the removal, he stated that both channels could be shut down within “five minutes.” As a result of Vučić’s statements about the channels, N1 was the target of further online death threats.

 

The undersigned organisations further condemn the recent smear campaign launched by the newly formed pro-government Association of Journalists of Serbia (ANS) against the EFJ affiliate and MFRR partner, the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS). That a journalist organisation can be weaponised to direct such abuse undermines the tireless efforts of media representatives in supporting independent journalists and their reporting of the protests.

 

Purge in several media outlets of journalists defending the profession

 

Against this backdrop, the dismissal of journalists and media workers in a number of publications and outlets who have been reportedly targeted with threats, acts of censorship, and warnings of dismissal for their defence of their profession or for voicing support for the ongoing protests is of significant concern. We are worried that political motives may have informed the dismissal decisions at publications such as Euronews Serbia, ELLE Serbia, Večernje Novosti, and Politika. Calls for appropriate compensation for those dismissed and inquiries into the publications’ handling of these dismissals were requested via the CoE platform for the Safety of Journalists. The situation at the public broadcaster RTS continues to be a matter of concern. Contracts were not renewed for at least temporary workers at the public broadcaster who, along with numerous other employees, signed an open letter advocating for objective reporting.

 

REM election process fails to follow EU-required reform

 

The appointment process to the Council of the Regulatory Body for Electronic Media (REM), Serbia’s most important media regulator, was again conducted in a flawed manner, defined by many as lacking the necessary transparency and independence. Twice this year, independent candidates and nominating organisations withdrew from the process due to widespread complaints of procedural irregularities that have benefited those affiliated with the Government. This not only violates Article 10 of the Law on Electronic Media but also demonstrates once again how Serbian authorities continue to ignore EU-mandated reforms of the REM Council.

 

Therefore, these new alarming developments require a strong reaction from the European Commission to address attacks on public interest journalism and freedoms in Serbia. The Commission should reaffirm its rule of law requirements through clear demands, statements, and concrete action to de-escalate this situation of emergency before press freedom falls entirely under repression.

 

The European Commission should ensure that achieving tangible progress on human rights is at the center of any decisions to disburse EU funding under IPA III and the Growth and Reform Facility. Further EU funding should also be directed to promoting civil society and independent media. The EU should insist on the meaningful involvement of civil society and journalists’ organisations in the monitoring and tracking of Serbia’s delivery on these commitments.

 

Finally, we would like to express once again our solidarity with journalists and media workers across Serbia who, despite an increasingly challenging work environment, continue to inform the public.

Signed by:

  • European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
  • European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
  • Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)
  • Free Press Unlimited (FPU) 
  • International Press Institute (IPI) 
  • ARTICLE 19 Europe
  • Association of European Journalists (AEJ)
  • International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
  • Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
  • Index on Censorship
  • PEN International

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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Turkey: MFRR partners alarmed by state-backed attacks on Leman…

Turkey: MFRR partners alarmed by state-backed attacks on Leman magazine

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners strongly condemn the arrest of four staff members of Leman, one of Türkiye’s leading satirical magazines, and express deep concern over the ongoing judicial, economic, and physical pressure targeting the publication following the release of a cartoon deemed offensive by religious and conservative groups.

08.07.2025

Türkçe açıklama aşağıdadır…

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners strongly condemn the arrest of four staff members of Leman, one of Türkiye’s leading satirical magazines, and express deep concern over the ongoing judicial, economic, and physical pressure targeting the publication following the release of a cartoon deemed offensive by religious and conservative groups.

 

The cartoon, published in Leman’s June 26 issue, depicted two men named Muhammad and Moses greeting each other above a bombed city. The magazine clarified that the cartoon was intended as a criticism of Israel’s ongoing attacks on Gaza, and did not represent religious figures, and denied any intent to insult sacred values. Despite this explanation, a massive backlash ensued, including official condemnation, violent protests, legal actions, and threats of closure.

 

On June 26, Leman published the cartoon in its weekly edition. Over the next three days, online outrage spread with over 345,000 social media posts on X using the hashtag #LemanDergisiKapatılsın. Senior political and religious figures — including the President, Minister of Interior, Minister of Justice, and Governor of Istanbul — publicly denounced the magazine.

 

On July 1, hundreds of angry protesters gathered outside Leman’s Istanbul headquarters, attacking the building and prompting police intervention with rubber bullets and tear gas. Protesters chanted: “We will do anything for our Prophet. We will die, we will kill!”

A criminal investigation was launched under Article 216 of the Turkish Penal Code for incitement to hatred and enmity and openly insulting religious values, and four staff—Zafer Aknar (editor-in-chief), Cebrail Okçu (graphic designer), Doğan Pehlevan (cartoonist), and Ali Yavuz (manager)— were detained, with the aggressive use of rear-handcuffing.

 

On July 2, all four were formally arrested, facing charges including “inciting public hatred and enmity” and “insulting religious values”, and in Dogan Pehlevan’s case, an additional accusation of insulting the President was reported.

A financial investigation was also initiated against Leman, and arrest warrants were issued for the owner, currently based in France, as well as another senior manager. Authorities are investigating potential foreign financial support, aligning with the controversial “agent of influence” bill targeting foreign-funded entities.

 

In parallel, a court ordered the confiscation of the June 26 print issue and imposed a nationwide access ban on Leman’s official website, further escalating censorship against the outlet.

 

Another concerning development is the July 3 decision of Turkey’s broadcast regulator to impose an administrative fine and suspend five programs for “violation of national and moral values” against Sözcü TV for a commentary on the LeMan cartoon by economics expert Dr. Murat Kubilay. RTÜK justified this decision by explaining that Kubilay’s statement “divides society into enlightened and reactionary groups” and “fuels polarisation”.

 

This campaign of judicial harassment represents a grave violation of press freedom and demonstrates how Turkish authorities continue to weaponise criminal and administrative law to silence independent media.

 

This case is emblematic of the broader decline of press freedom in Turkey, where authorities have consistently used politically motivated prosecutions, economic pressure, and public smear campaigns to target critical and independent voices.

 

The MFRR partners call for the immediate release of all detained Leman staff and for all charges related to the cartoon to be dropped. We urge Turkish authorities to end the political, legal, and financial harassment of the magazine and to uphold their obligation to ensure the safety of its journalists and staff.

Signed by:

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

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.

IPI ve MFRR paydaşları, Leman Dergisi’nin hedef alınmasını kınıyor

 

Medya Özgürlüğü Acil Müdahale (MFRR) paydaşları olarak Türkiye’nin önde gelen mizah dergilerinden Leman’ın dört çalışanının tutuklanmasını şiddetle kınıyoruz. Muhafazakâr grupların rahatsız edici olduğunu iddia ettiği bir karikatürün yayımlanmasının ardından dergiye yönelik hukuki, mali ve fiziki baskılar fazlasıyla endişe verici.

 

Leman’ın 26 Haziran tarihli sayısında yayımlanan karikatürde Muhammed ve Musa adında iki kişi, bombalanan bir şehrin üzerinde birbirlerine selam veriyor. Leman’ın açıklamasında karikatürün, İsrail’in Gazze saldırılarını eleştirmek üzere çizildiği, dini figürleri temsil ya da kutsal değerleri aşağılama amacı güdülmediği belirtildi. Açıklamaya rağmen büyümeye devam eden tepkiler bakanların sosyal medya paylaşımlarıyla başladı; şiddet içerikli protestolar, yasal işlem yapılması ve derginin kapatılması tehditleriyle devam etti.

 

Leman, sonraki üç gün boyunca sosyal medyada yoğun bir öfkenin hedefi haline geldi ve X platformunda #LemanDergisiKapatılsın etiketiyle 345 binden fazla paylaşım yapıldı. Cumhurbaşkanı, İçişleri Bakanı, Adalet Bakanı ve İstanbul Valisi gibi üst düzey siyasi isimlerin yanı sıra dini yetkililer de dergiyi alenen kınadı.

 

1 Temmuz’da ise yüzlerce öfkeli protestocu, Leman’ın İstanbul’daki binası önünde toplandı. Binaya saldırıların başlamasının ardından polis plastik mermi ve biber gazıyla müdahale etti. Protestocular, “Peygamberimiz için her şeyi yaparız. Ölürüz, öldürürüz!” sloganları attı.

 

Olayların ardından “halkı kin ve düşmanlığa tahrik” ve “dini değerleri alenen aşağılama” suçlamalarıyla dergi hakkında adli soruşturma başlatıldı. Yazı işleri müdürü Zafer Aknar, grafiker Cebrail Okçu, karikatürist Doğan Pehlevan ve müessese müdürü Ali Yavuz, ters kelepçeyle gözaltına alındı.

 

2 Temmuz’da ise dört çalışan da “halkı kin ve düşmanlığa tahrik” ve “dini değerleri aşağılama” suçlamalarıyla tutuklandı. Doğan Pehlevan ayrıca “cumhurbaşkanına hakaret” ile de suçlandı.

 

Ayrıca, dergi hakkında bir mali soruşturma da başlatıldı. Leman’ın Fransa’da yaşayan sahibi ve bir üst düzey yöneticisi hakkında yakalama kararı çıkarıldı. Karikatür dergisinin yabancı kaynaklardan mali destek alıp almadığının araştırılması, yurt dışından fon alan kuruluşlara yönelik yönelik tartışmalı “etki ajanlığı” yasa tasarısıyla da paralellikler taşıyor.

 

Aynı gün İstanbul Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığı Leman’ın 26 Haziran tarihli sayının toplatılmasına karar verdi.  Ayrıca İstanbul 5. Sulh Ceza Hakimliği, derginin internet sitesine Türkiye genelinde erişim engeli getirerek dergiyi sansürlemeye yönelik girişimlere bir yenisini ekledi.

 

Endişe verici bir diğer gelişmeyse, 3 Temmuz’da yayın denetleme kurumu RTÜK’ün, ekonomist Dr. Murat Kubilay’ın karikatürle ilgili yorumları nedeniyle Sözcü TV’ye idari para cezası ve beş programlık yayın durdurma cezası vermesi oldu. RTÜK, “toplumu aydınlanmacılar ve gericiler diye ikiye ayırma” ve “kutuplaşmayı körükleme” gerekçeleriyle bu kararı aldığını açıkladı.

 

Yargının suistimal edildiği bu tür kampanyalar, ağır basın özgürlüğü ihlali sayılır ve Türkiye’deki yetkililerin bağımsız medyayı susturmak amacıyla cezai ve idari hukuku bir silah olarak kullanmaya devam ettiğini gösteriyor.

 

Yaşananlar, Türkiye’de basın özgürlüğünün nasıl gerilediğinin sembolik bir örneği. Yetkililer siyasi soruşturma, mali baskı ve kuruluşları kamuoyu önünde karalayan kampanyalarla eleştirel ve bağımsız sesleri hedef almaya devam ediyor.

 

MFRR paydaşları, tutuklanan tüm Leman çalışanlarının derhal serbest bırakılmasını ve karikatürle ilgili tüm suçlamaların düşürülmesini talep ediyor. Yetkilileri dergiye yönelik siyasi, hukuki ve mali tacizlere son vermeye, gazete ve çalışanlarının güvenliğini sağlama yükümlülüklerini yerine getirmeye davet ediyoruz.

İmzalayanlar:

  • Uluslararası Basın Enstitüsü (IPI)
  • ARTICLE 19
  • Avrupa Basın ve Medya Özgürlüğü Merkezi (ECPMF)
  • Avrupa Gazeteciler Federasyonu (EFJ)
  • Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)

Bu açıklama, Avrupa Komisyonu tarafından finanse edilen ve AB Üye Devletleri ile aday ülkelerdeki basın ve medya özgürlüğü ihlâllerini belgeleyen Avrupa çapında bir mekanizma olan Medya Özgürlüğü Acil Müdahale (MFRR) kapsamında Uluslararası Basın Enstitüsü (IPI) tarafından hazırlanmıştır.

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Finland: Appeal court verdict on Helsingin Sanomat state secrets…

Finland: Appeal court verdict on Helsingin Sanomat state secrets case sends a chilling message

 

Alarm after journalist given suspended prison sentence for unpublished article.

 

 

02.07.2025

The International Press Institute (IPI) and its Finnish National Committee express alarm over the recent verdict by the Court of Appeal in Finland to uphold the suspended prison sentence and fine handed down to two journalists from leading daily newspaper Helsingin Sanomat over their reporting on the country’s military intelligence services.

 

IPI and its Finnish Committee stress that the verdict by the Helsinki Court of Appeal against Tuomo Pietiläinen and Laura Halminen poses serious questions for the freedom of the press in Finland and the use of national security arguments to restrict public-interest reporting Particularly concerning is that part of the verdict concerned an unpublished article.

 

On 1 July, the appeal court confirmed the 2023 conviction of the two journalists by the lower Helsinki District Court and found them guilty of “revealing a security secret” through their reporting of classified information, which had centred on the Finnish Defence Forces’ Signal Testing Centre and military intelligence operations. Disclosing a security secret is classified as a crime of treason under Finnish law.

 

The appeal court also overturned one element of the lower court’s verdict and additionally found the journalists guilty of “attempting to reveal a security secret”. As the journalists had drafted a follow-up article for publication, they were charged under a clause of Finland’s national security law of “attempting” to reveal classified information – even though it was never actually published by the newspaper.

 

In its verdict, the court upheld the four-month suspended prison sentence handed down to Pietiläinen, who wrote the article, and the fine for Halminen, who had contributed to the piece. Both have since left the newspaper. It also upheld the acquittal of Kalle Silfverberg, the editor of the political department at the time. Prosecutors had demanded prison sentences for all three journalists.

 

“Today’s verdict risks a chilling effect on journalistic reporting on national security in Finland and raises questions about protections for media freedom in Finland”, said IPI Executive Director Scott Griffen. “While courts can be asked to strike a balance between journalistic freedom and national security, in this case the court recognized the public interest nature of the reporting and found no evidence of concrete harm. IPI believes that this criminal sentencing is disproportionate and not justified by the facts of the case.

 

“We are particularly concerned by the fact that a journalist can be given a prison sentence for simply writing – not even publishing – an article which handles classified information, which poses a clear risk to the standard process of investigative journalism.”

 

Anne Leppäjärvi, the chair of IPI’s Finnish National Committee, said: “The key point is that the part of the verdict was based on unpublished drafts and resulted in a suspended prison sentence. The chilling effect on investigative journalism is quite evident.

 

“The verdict raises the question of how unfamiliar the journalistic process is to our legal system. The case also sets a dangerous precedent where journalists can be prosecuted simply for drafting articles based on sensitive information or working on unreleased materials.

 

“Finland has long been proud of its democracy and press freedom, and instead of defending these values, such rulings risk eroding them.”

 

IPI said it supported the appeal of the case to the Finnish Supreme Court.

 

Lengthy criminal trial

The criminal case began in December 2017 when Helsingin Sanomat started to publish a series of articles on plans to give Finland’s security services greater powers to carry out surveillance and covert operations domestically and abroad. The articles – now known as the Viestikoekeskus case – centred on the operations of the Finnish Defence Intelligence Agency. The basis of the reporting was taken from classified information that had been acquired by Helsingin Sanomat.

 

On December 17, 2017, police raided the apartment of Halminen, seizing her computer as well as flash drives. Only four years later did prosecutors first announce the charges for disclosure and attempted disclosure of state secrets. All three journalists faced between four months to four years in prison.

 

The newspaper and the defence lawyers of the two journalists always maintained that the articles did not contain any state secrets, that the information was years old at the time of publication, and that all information that was published in the story was available in public sources. The defendants denied all charges and maintained their innocence throughout the years-long court process.

 

The Finnish Defence Forces was made aware that Helsingin Sanomat was investigating their intelligence operations and were provided detailed information on what the newspaper planned to publish. The intelligence authorities did not reach out to the editorial management of Helsingin Sanomat prior to publication to request the information not be published.

 

In the initial lower court verdict – which IPI criticised at the time – Helsingin Sanomat was ordered to remove the article from their website, which it compiled with. The District Court had initially acquitted all three defendants of “attempting to reveal a security secret”.

 

Though the two journalists who worked on the articles were charged, neither the newspaper’s management team nor the editor-in-chief at the time were charged in relation with the publication. The verdict rules therefore that journalists can be held liable for publishing security secrets, even if the actual publication decision is made by the editorial team’s senior management.

 

In the latest verdict, the appeal court concluded that no evidence of concrete harm or danger to the interests of national defence or state security was identified. However, it adjudged that the article and draft had been aimed simply at revealing security secrets rather than adequately contributing to public debate, and argued the prioritisation of national security justifications did not represent a restriction of freedom of expression.

 

“The disclosure of security secrets or their attempted disclosure had instead posed a concrete threat to freedom of expression and the other fundamental and human rights that Finland’s national security seeks to protect. Thus, Finland’s external security overrode the defendants’ freedom of expression in these circumstances,” the ruling states.

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.

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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.

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Slovakia: Media capture deepens as government tightens grip on…

Slovakia: Media capture deepens as government tightens grip on public and private media

Systematic dismantling of media freedom in Slovakia demands urgent EU action.

 

 

27.06.2025

IPI’s global network today raises alarm over Slovakia’s ongoing and steady decline in media freedom. In recent months, the Slovak government has tightened its grip on the media by intensifying its control over the public broadcaster STVR and enacting the restrictive so-called “anti-NGO” law. Slovakia’s leading commercial broadcaster, TV Markíza, has also come under political influence following the departure of its union leaders.

 

IPI urges the Slovak government to end its undemocratic pressure on independent journalism and to respect the independence of the public broadcaster. Furthermore, we call on the European Union to closely monitor developments on press freedom in Slovakia, and to respond robustly to further threats to free and independent journalism in both public and private media.

 

In early May, a 7–2 majority of the current public broadcaster STVR’s oversight Council elected Martina Flašíková, the daughter of a political strategist for the ruling Smer party and a close government ally, as director general in a closed-door vote. Journalists and members of the public were excluded from the election process, despite constitutional guarantees of public access to such hearings.

 

The government’s campaign to take control over public service media began with a 30% budget cut to Radio and Television Slovakia (RTVS) imposed by Parliament at the start of 2024. The Ministry of Culture then pushed through a new media law,which replaced the public broadcaster Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS) with a new entity, Slovak Television and Radio (STVR). The bill, approved by the President in June 2024, represented a clear attempt to restrict the editorial independence of the broadcasters.

 

Under the law, the former public broadcaster RTVS saw its Director General, Luboš Machaj, who was elected by Parliament to serve until 2027, replaced by an interim director nominated by the Speaker of Parliament based on an agreement of the ruling coalition. The RTVS Board was immediately disbanded.

 

IPI warns that Flašíková’s appointment, which lacked transparency, represents a clear step by the ruling coalition to install a political ally to the management of the country’s public broadcaster, with the aim of exerting greater control over editorial policy. This poses a major threat to the independent functioning and professionalism of STVR moving forward, in clear violation of requirements set out under the upcoming European Media Freedom Act (EMFA).

 

In May 2025, Viktor Vincze, a well-known Slovak television presenter, announced that he would no longer be anchoring ‘Televízne noviny’, the evening news programme on TV Markíza — the most-watched news show in Slovakia, and was leaving Markiza.

 

Vincze told IPI that he was forced to resign after management removed him from his anchor role and asked him to move to a new digital channel for many more hours of work, but no more pay. This decision followed months of management pressure on him for his role leading the journalists union formed a year earlier to protect the editorial integrity of the newsroom. Vince said he was taking a case against TV Markiza for constructive dismissal.

 

TV Markiza has been under increasing pressure since the formation of the new government in September 2023. In November, Prime Minister Róbert Fico accused the TV station of being part of the “enemy media” and quickly threatened to cut contracts for state advertising in Markíza’s broadcasting.

 

A few weeks later, the station changed its director of news and introduced tighter editorial procedures for approving news content which led to significant newsroom protests in early 2024. Markiza journalists claimed  that the independence of the newsroom was being curtailed and that political coverage was being stifled in order to appease the government.

 

With the departure of Vincze and other union members, concerns are growing that Markiza is abandoning its critical watchdog reporting on the ruling coalition.

 

Finally, Slovakia’s restrictive law requiring NGOs to prepare transparency reports and disclose information related to the management of public funds was passed in April and took effect on June 1. Under the law, non-profit organisations, foundations and associations with an annual income exceeding €35,000 are required to submit such a report.

 

The law, introduced amid growing hostility toward media and civil society from the government, poses a serious threat due to its restrictive nature, the unnecessary administrative burden it places on NGOs and independent media which operate with an NGO status, and the potential for more repressive amendments in the future.

 

Though the final text of the bill was watered down in the final legislative phase under pressure from the EU, IPI reiterates its condemnation of the law and calls for its repeal.

 

The steady erosion of media freedom, alongside the dismantling of democratic freedoms in Slovakia, cannot be ignored. We urge the European Union to ensure the steady erosion of media freedom in Slovakia by the Fico government does not go under the radar, to directly criticise and address the democratic backsliding, and to use all measures to defend journalists’ rights and media freedom. The EU’s response will be pivotal in preserving media pluralism and reversing media capture in the country.

 

Slovakia is facing not only the effective capture of the public broadcaster but also mounting pressure on private media, in particular, one of the country’s most important news providers, TV Markiza.

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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Kosovo: Steadfast support for Flutura Kusari as she seeks…

Kosovo: Steadfast support for Flutura Kusari as she seeks justice against Mentor Llugaliu’s harassment

The undersigned Media Freedom Rapid Response partners and Council of Europe Safety of Journalists Platform members express support for their colleague Flutura Kusari, Senior Legal Advisor at the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), ahead of her forthcoming legal action against Mentor Llugaliu. We call on the Basic Prosecution of Prishtina in Kosovo to conduct a swift, impartial, and thorough investigation into the case.

Në gjuhën shqipe më poshtë

20.06.2025

On March 21, 2025, Kusari filed a criminal report against Mentor Llugaliu, an online activist and supporter of Kosovo’s ruling party, the Vetevendosje Movement, accusing him of harassment and intimidation directed at her and her family.

 

The harassment spanned three years, from December 2021 to February 2025, during which Llugaliu published at least 101 Facebook posts that attracted widespread public attention, accumulating over 42,000 likes, 700 shares, and 2,200 comments. Llugaliu’s social media activity, marked by derogatory language, have caused significant distress to Kusari and her family.

 

The harassment began in 2021 after Kusari monitored, on behalf of the ECPMF, the election of board members for Kosovo’s public broadcaster (RTK) by Kosovo Assembly, advocating for the selection of politically independent members. Llugaliu, a supporter of the ruling party, had applied for a position but was unsuccessful. While Kusari never specifically mentioned Llugaliu in her remarks, his posts suggest that he blames her for his failure. Many of his posts were derogatory and inflammatory, targeting Kusari, accusing her of influencing political decisions.

 

The Kosovo Law Institute has assisted Kusari in drafting the criminal complaint. Drawing from the past rulings in similar cases, they believe this represents one of the most severe instances of online harassment against female activists in Kosovo.

 

According to Ms. Kusari, the three-year-long and obsessive online harassment and stalking by the political activist and defendant Llugaliu has been carried out as an act of revenge for her activism in monitoring RTK. His aim is to dehumanize her and drive her and other active women out of public life.

 

In his posts, Llugaliu refers to Kusari using the derogatory term “Mickoja”, meaning “Mosquito”, seemingly to evade account suspensions by Facebook. The abuse escalated as he began targeting members of Kusari’s family, including her husband and mother, with the most disturbing comment being of sexual nature.

 

According to Ms. Kusari, the three-year-long and obsessive online harassment and stalking by Llugaliu has been carried out as an act of revenge for her activism in monitoring Kosovo Public Broadcaster. His goal is to dehumanize her and to push her and other active women out of public life. She has requested the Basic Prosecution Office in Pristina to criminally prosecute Llugaliu for harassment, as provided in Article 182 of the Kosovo Criminal Code.

 

Our organisations stand in solidarity with Flutura Kusari and urge the Chief Prosecutor of the Prishtina Prosecution, Zejnullah Gashi and the responsible prosecutor, to ensure this case is investigated swiftly and impartially. As a crucial case for combating online harassment of free expression advocates, especially women activists, the undersigned MFRR partners and Council of Europe Platform members will closely monitor the proceedings. We hope the case will proceed to court promptly and lead to an outcome which will mark an important step in the fight against online abuse targeting women.

Signed by:

  • European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
  • Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
  • International Press Institute (IPI)
  • Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)
  • ARTICLE 19 Europe
  • European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
  • International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
  • PEN International
  • Index on Censorship
  • Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
  • Association of European Journalists (AEJ)
  • Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
  • Justice for Journalists Foundation

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.

Kosovë: Mbështetje e palëkundur për Flutura Kusarin ndërsa ajo po kërkon drejtësi për ngacmimin nga Mentor Llugaliu

 

Ne, organizatat e poshtënënshkruara, pjesë e Media Freedom Rapid Response dhe të Platformës së Këshillit të Europës për Sigurinë e Gazetarëve, shprehim mbështetjen tonë të plotë për kolegen tonë Flutura Kusari, këshilltaren e lartë ligjore në Qendrën Evropiane për Lirinë e Shtypit dhe të Medias (ECPMF), në prag të fillimit të procedurave penale kundër të pandehurit Mentor Llugaliu.

 

Ne i bëjmë thirrje Prokurorisë Themelore në Prishtinë që të ndërmarrë dhe garantojë hetim të shpejtë, të paanshëm dhe të plotë të këtij rasti.

 

Më 21 mars 2025, znj. Kusari ka ushtruar pranë Prokurorisë Themelore në Prishtinë kallëzim penal kundër të pandehurit Mentor Llugaliu, një aktivisti në rrjete sociale dhe përkrahësi të partisë në pushtet, Lëvizjes Vetëvendosje. Ajo e akuzon atë për ngacmim dhe frikësim sistematik ndaj saj dhe familjes së saj.

 

Ngacmimi ka zgjatur për tre vjet, nga dhjetori 2021 deri në shkurt 2025, gjatë së cilës periudhë Llugaliu ka publikuar të paktën 101 postime në facebook, të cilat tërhoqën vëmendje të gjerë publike, duke mbledhur mbi 42,000 pëlqime, 700 shpërndarje dhe 2,200 komente. Aktiviteti i tij në rrjete sociale, i shoqëruar me gjuhë denigruese ndaj saj, ka shkaktuar shqetësim të thellë për znj. Kusari dhe familjen e saj.

 

Në postimet e tij, Llugaliu i referohet Kusarit me termin përçmues “Mickoja” në mënyrë që t’i ikë bllokimit të llogarisë së tij nga ana e facebook-ut.

 

Ngacmimi është përshkallëzuar më tej kur ai filloi të shënjestrojë anëtarët e familjes së saj, përfshirë bashkëshortin dhe nënën e saj, me një koment veçanërisht shqetësues me përmbajtje të natyrës seksuale.

 

Ngacmimi ka filluar në vitin 2021, pasi znj. Kusari, në emër të ECPMF-së, kishte monitoruar procesin e përzgjedhjes së anëtarëve të bordit të Transmetuesit Publik të Kosovës (RTK) nga Kuvendi i Kosovës, duke mbështetur dhe avokuar për përzgjedhjen e anëtarëve të pavarur politikisht.

 

Llugaliu, një përkrahës i partisë në pushtet, kishte aplikuar për një vend në bord, por nuk ishte përzgjedhur. Edhe pse znj. Kusari nuk e ka përmendur ndonjëherë të pandehurin Llugaliu me emër, në bazë të postimeve të tij, ai e fajëson atë për dështimin e tij që të bëhet anëtar i bordit.

 

Shumë nga postimet e tij janë poshtëruese dhe nxitëse, duke e targetuar vazhdimisht znj. Kusari dhe duke e akuzuar për ndikim në vendime politike.

 

Instituti i Kosovës për Drejtësi (IKD) e ka ndihmuar znj. Kusari për përgatitjen e kallëzimit penal kundër të pandehurit Llugaliu. Sipas IKD-së, bazuar në vendime të tjera që kanë të bëjnë me veprën penale të ngacmimit, ky është një nga rastet më të rënda dhe më të mëdha të ngacmimit online ndaj një aktivisteje grua në Kosovë.

 

Sipas znj. Kusari, ngacmimi dhe përndjekja trevjeçare online dhe në mënyrë obsesive nga aktivisti politik dhe i pandehuri Llugaliu është bërë në shenjë hakmarrjeje për aktivizmin e saj në monitorimin e RTK-së. Ai synon dehumanizimin dhe largimin e saj dhe të grave tjera aktive nga jeta publike.

 

Ajo ka kërkuar nga Prokuroria Themelore e Prishtinës që të ndjekë penalisht të pandehurin Llugaliu për veprën e ngacmimit, siç parashikohet në nenin 182 të Kodit Penal të Kosovës.

 

Ne shprehim solidaritet me Flutura Kusarin dhe i bëjmë thirrje kryeprokurorit të Prokurorisë Themelore në Prishtinë, z. Zejnullah Gashi, si dhe prokurorit përgjegjës, që të garantojnë një hetim të shpejtë dhe të paanshëm të këtij rasti.

 

Si një rast thelbësor në luftën kundër ngacmimit online ndaj mbrojtësve të fjalës së lirë, sidomos atyre gra, ne organizatat ndërkombëtare që e kemi nënshkruar këtë letër do të monitorojmë nga afër këtë rast.

 

Shpresojmë që kallëzimi penal do të çojë në një rezultat që do të shënojë një hap të rëndësishëm në luftën kundër abuzimit online të grave.

Organizatat nënshkruese të letrës mbështetëse:

  • Qendra Evropiane për Lirinë e Shtypit dhe të Medias (ECPMF)
  • Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
  • Instituti Ndërkombëtar i Shtypit (IPI)
  • Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)
  • ARTICLE 19 Europe
  • Federata Evropiane e Gazetarëve (EFJ)
  • Federata Ndërkombëtare e Gazetarëve (IFJ)
  • PEN International
  • Index on Censorship
  • Reporterët pa Kufij (RSF)
  • Shoqata e Gazetarëve Evropianë (AEJ)
  • Komiteti për Mbrojtjen e Gazetarëve (CPJ)
  • Justice for Journalists Foundation

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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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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Malta: Guilty verdicts in Daphne Caruana Galizia case mark…

Malta: Guilty verdicts in Daphne Caruana Galizia case mark another step towards full justice

Media freedom groups welcome conviction of two gang members who supplied car bomb which killed Maltese journalist.

06.06.2025

Guilty verdicts handed down to two gang members who supplied the car bomb which killed Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia mark another vital step forward in the fight for full justice, the undersigned media freedom organisations said today.

 

We jointly hail the convictions of Robert Agius and Jamie Vella, reached via a jury in Valletta on June 5, as a crucial development in the fight against impunity which we hope will strengthen the case against the alleged mastermind of the assassination.

 

The long-awaited ruling was reached yesterday evening following a six-week trial in the Maltese capital, during which the two men, who were part of the Maltese criminal underworld, were found guilty of procuring the military grade explosives and providing them to the hitmen who executed the murder.

 

The convictions come eight years after the car bombing on 16 October 2017 and ensures two more people involved in the plot to kill Caruana Galizia over her investigative journalism will be behind bars. Agius and Vella, part of the Maltese Ta’ Maksar gang, will be sentenced shortly.

 

Five individuals have now been found guilty of participating in the hit. Brothers Alfred and George Degiorgio are serving 40-year prison sentences for planting and detonating the bomb. Vincent Muscat, another involved in planning and executing the hit, is serving 15 years. Melvin Theuma, the self-confessed middleman, was given a pardon on condition for testifying in several criminal proceedings, including against the alleged mastermind.

 

The alleged mastermind, Yorgen Fenech, a powerful Maltese businessman, is currently awaiting trial. Fenech was released on bail in February 2025 and successfully argued for a court order banning reporting on his legal proceedings.

 

Following the verdict, we hail the dedication and professionalism of the legal team representing Caruana Galizia’s family throughout this process and stand with the family as the fight for justice continues. While these latest convictions are a vital step forward, we stress that full justice remains the only acceptable outcome.

 

While progress is being made on securing convictions, our organisations stress that wider institutional reform outlined in the recommendations of the Public Inquiry into Daphne’s assassination have not been implemented and Maltese authorities are not demonstrating the political will required to address the culture of impunity and widespread institutional failures that allowed this killing to happen in the first place.

 

Moving forward, our organisations will continue to push for the Maltese authorities to implement the recommendations of the Public Inquiry and take concrete steps to improve the wider environment for press freedom, to ensure that no other journalists are ever silenced for carrying out their watchdog role in Malta.

 

Daphne deserves no less.

Signed by:

  • International Press Institute (IPI)
  • Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
  • European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
  • European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
  • Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)
  • Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
  • Article 19 Europe

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.