News

Call on President von der Leyen to address media freedom crisis in the Western Balkans

13/10/2025

Against the backdrop of a rapidly worsening media freedom crisis across the region, most prominently in Serbia, a coalition of international media freedom, journalists’ and freedom of expression organizations calls on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to raise the threats to the protection of journalists and media pluralism with the respective authorities during her visit to the Western Balkans this week (13-16 October)

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Georgia: urgent action to safeguard independent journalism

10/10/2025

The undersigned media freedom, journalists’, and freedom of expression organisations strongly condemn the intensifying crackdown on Georgian journalists and press freedom defenders who continue to face institutional repression and physical attacks.

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A call for to key EU member states to suspend EU-Israel Association Agreement

30/09/2025

OBCT joined other free expression organizations in addressing leaders in Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic, calling for the suspension of the EU–Israel Association Agreement

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MFRR condemns police interference with journalistic work in Germany and calls for protection of all journalists

26/09/2025

Germany: OBCT and MFRR partners stress that police must safeguard journalists’ work at all times, especially during protests

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Bulgaria: Press Freedom Undermined by Political Polarisation and Delayed Reforms

26/09/2025

Media freedom in Bulgaria faces entrenched challenges in a climate of political polarisation and legislative inertia, with urgent action needed by government and public authorities to push forward both domestic and EU-mandated reforms, a coalition of international press freedom organisations said today

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France: MFRR condemn new resurgence of police violence against journalists

25/09/2025

MFRR partners condemn police violence against journalists covering protests over France’s 2026 budget plan. They urge French authorities to ensure journalists’ safety and uphold press freedom during demonstrations

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Bulgaria: Mission to examine media freedom and independent journalism

23/09/2025

OBCT joins international coalition for media freedom mission to Bulgaria

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Denmark: MFRR partners oppose introduction of new state-funded media Ombudsperson

19/09/2025

MFRR partners urge the Danish government to reject the proposed state-funded Media Ombudsperson, warning it risks undermining press freedom

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Open Letter on Improving Journalists’ Access to the Albanian Parliament

19/09/2025

MFRR partners and free expression organizations urge the Albanian Parliament to drop plans restricting journalists’ access and to protect media freedom

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Ukraine: Demand for justice from Russia one year after death of Victoria Roshchyna

19/09/2025

September 19 marks one year since the death of Victoria Roshchyna, a Ukrainian journalist who had been held for over a year in Russian captivity. On this day, MFRR partners remember Victoria and demand justice for her death from Russian authorities

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