News

Bulgaria: the end of a legal harassment

06/07/2020

On 28 June the independent publisher and businessman Ivo Prokopiev was finally acquitted, thus confirming that the charges against him can be considered retaliatory and intended to stifle investigative reporting. The Media Freedom Rapid Response partners are relieved but ask to stop all further legal harassment against him and Economedia. Here the statement that was issued before the trial

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New attacks against journalists during protests and demonstrations

03/07/2020

IPI drafts an overview of the attacks suffered by reporters and media workers in the first six months of 2020: the situation is alarming and the MFRR partners raise further concerns inviting authorities to protect journalists working during protests and demonstrations. Recommendations for States and police officers include the invitation to develop cooperation schemes

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Montenegro: retrial of investigative journalist Jovo Martinović

02/07/2020

The MFRR partners call on Montenegro authorities to acquit the investigative journalist and drop all charges against Martinović, a specialist in covering organised crime for leading international media, who was convicted to an 18-month prison sentence by the High Court of Montenegro, on 15 January 2019 despite overwhelming evidence that his only links with organised crime were those of a reporter. After the Appeal Court overturned the verdict, on Monday 6th July the retrial continues

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Safety of Journalists: Recommendations to the UK Government

29/06/2020

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) outlines examples of good practice from across EU Member States and Candidate caountries that can be incorporated into the approach of the UK National Committee and Action Paln for the Safety of Journalists. Here the full text

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The Vice-President of the EU Commission confirms the engagement against SLAPP

29/06/2020

In an aswer to a Parliamentary Question submitted by MEPs Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel, David Casa and Stelios Kouloglou, the Vice-President Vera Jourová confirms the Commission's commitment to tackle strategic lawsuits against public participation

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Legal threats against EUobserver: an international call for solidarity to stop the use of SLAPPs

25/06/2020

We join Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners, journalist bodies, free expression and journalist support organisations in expressing our concern about the legal threats made against EUobserver in Luxembourg and Belgium. We call to stop the use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) actions across Europe. Left unreformed, such legal threats will be sufficient to silence media workers and outlets. We stand in solidarity with EUobserver and will continue to monitor developments around the case

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Turkey must end the harassment of journalist Can Dündar and lift the block of his online radio

22/06/2020

We join PEN International and other 37 civil society organisations in deploring the decision to block Özgürüz, the online radio station headed by Can Dündar, a Turkish journalist living in exile in Germany, whom OBCT interviewed during a festival in Italy. Here the text of the call

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IPI: Latest Media Freedom Violations in Europe, a summary for June

22/06/2020

As lockdowns lift and Covid-related violations drop, spike in arrests and physical attacks on journalists covering protests in European states. Within its activity in the Media Freedom Rapid Response, the International Press Institute is giving an overview of violations of freedom of expression and threats to media workers

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SLAPP: positive steps announced by Věra Jourová, Vice-President of the European Commission

19/06/2020

In answering to a letter sent by several MEPs, the Vice-President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency stresses the importance of an EU action about strategic lawsuits against public participation and announces several initiatives and responses, included in the European Democracy Action Plan

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Open letter ahead of Germany’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union

18/06/2020

Several media freedom organisations urge German leaders to proactively lead the Member States in the Council towards effective solutions that will bring about real progress in the challenges faced by freedom of expression and journalism

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