News

Montenegro: the unusual protest of a photojournalist under threat

03/11/2026

Dismayed by a court decision to reduce a sentence — already considered lenient — handed down to someone who had threatened his life, Boris Pejović, a photojournalist for the Podgorica-based newspaper Vijesti, took an action that caught many by surprise: he turned himself in to the authorities, intending to sound the alarm about the inadequate protection afforded to media professionals

read more

Serbia, journalists under pressure

29/10/2026

Ljubomir Stefanović, a journalist and founder of the portal Slavija Info, has left Serbia and requested asylum in Montenegro. He claims to be the target of systematic persecution by the Serbian security services — including wiretapping, the confiscation of his professional equipment, and various forms of pressure — which he says have intensified ahead of the elections in Serbia

read more

Serbia’s elections could mark a turning point for media freedom and pluralism

27/10/2026

Joint statement by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners

read more

Serbia, Europe is watching: media freedom is a cornerstone of democratic election

21/10/2026

The undersigned partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) and Safe Journalists Network (SJN) ahead of the parliamentary elections on 25 October are alarmed by the spiral of violence against journalists and by the overall situation surrounding media freedom. We call on the Serbian authorities to guarantee the safety of media workers during the electoral period. All attacks must be thoroughly investigated and their perpetrators held accountable. Political figures, including state officials, must stop targeting media professionals.

read more

Albania: open letter to protect journalists, media workers and public watchdogs

16/10/2026

During the recent violent protests in Tirana on 13 October, several journalists reported being physically assaulted and obstructed by police officers, and three media workers required hospital treatment. An open letter calls on the Albanian authorities to intervene without hesitation to safeguard the work of the media

read more

The severe escalation of internet censorship in Türkiye

12/10/2026

ARTICLE 19, Freedom of Expression Association (İFÖD), Human Rights Watch and the undersigned human rights and media freedom organisations are deeply concerned by the severe escalation of internet censorship in Türkiye in the past month. We urge social media platforms to take meaningful steps immediately to uphold their human rights responsibilities and avoid contributing to the suppression of independent media and violations of the right to freedom of expression.

read more

MFRR condemns cyberattack on Mapping Media Freedom

09/10/2026

Partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) condemn the distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack against the Mapping Media Freedom platform on 30 September and 1 October 2026 and express their solidarity with the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) which operates it.

read more

Open letter on Albania's draft anti-SLAPP legislative package

06/10/2026

European and regional media freedom organizations and Albanian civil society organisations welcome the draft anti-SLAPP law and the progress made towards establishing stronger safeguards for journalists, media workers, civil society and others engaged in public participation

read more

Slovenia: Authorities urged to refrain from adopting changes that would weaken public media

06/10/2026

On October 11, Slovenians will vote on a referendum on whether to abolish the licence fee that funds their public broadcaster, while a draft law is moving forward that would give the government decisive influence over the body responsible for appointing the broadcaster’s management.

read more

Ukraine: One year after Antoni Lallican was killed in the field, MFRR partners demand justice

02/10/2026

One year after a targeted Russian drone strike killed French freelance photojournalist Antoni Lallican in Ukraine, MFRR partners mark the anniversary by renewing their call for effective cooperation between French and Ukrainian investigations to ensure that justice is secured. The MFRR also extends its condolences to Lallican’s family and stands in solidarity with all journalists working under extraordinary risk in Ukraine.

read more