Serbia: Urgent need for a swift and thorough investigation into intelligence and police invasive surveillance of journalists and sources - Article

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners join the SafeJournalists Network (SJN), in expressing serious concern over the revelations in Amnesty International's forensic analysis, exposing the invasive use of spyware and other digital tools by Serbian intelligence services and police to hack journalists' phones as part of a covert surveillance campaign

Self-defence against SLAPPs in Serbia - Article

In Serbia, the investigative newspaper KRIK is the target of frequent legal harassment. To counteract it, the editorial team has developed strategies based on civil society solidarity, public denunciation and monitoring of trials

By Massimo Moratti

Originally published by OBCT. Also available in ITA.

Albania, media trapped in a triangle of pressure - Article

Journalists across Europe are often subjected to subtle forms of pressure and intimidation, including vexatious lawsuits frequently initiated by influential politicians or businesspeople. Blerjana Bino, Executive Director of SCiDEV and Researcher at the SafeJournalists Network, provides insight into the situation in the country

By Serena Epis

Originally published by OBCT. Also available in ITA

Montenegro: MFRR partners call for the perpetrators of the attack on journalist Ana Raičković to be held accountable - Article

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners strongly condemn the verbal and physical attack on Ana Raičković, editor of the daily "Pobjeda", as well as the attack on her family members

Addressing Key Challenges to Media Freedom in Albania and Serbia - Article

To contribute to the European Commission’s Rule of Law monitoring, OBCT, in partnership with SCiDEV and IJAS, produced two Shadow Reports outlining the challenges and gaps in media freedom in Albania and Serbia. The main findings were presented during a webinar

By Serena Epis, Sukanya Sengupta

Originally published by OBCT. Also available in ITA

SLAPP in Croatia, a plague - Article

Over a thousand lawsuits filed between 2016 and 2023 against journalists and media outlets, nearly half of which are SLAPPs, or strategic lawsuits against public participation. These are frivolous lawsuits that aim to silence freedom of expression

By Giovanni Vale 

Originally published by OBCT. Also available in ITA

Access to Information Day: Blocking of freedom of information requests must be reported - Article

28 September is International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI), as announced at the UN in 2015. The right to access information is the foundation of all democratic processes and societies. Any obstacle in this field directly impacts the work of journalists and society’s right to be informed. Documentation of violations targeting this right from a media freedom perspective draws attention to this notion and contributes to transparency and journalistic freedom

By Gürkan Özturan, ECPMF Monitoring Officer

Originally published by MFRR

Media freedom groups alarmed by escalating death threats against journalist Murat Ağırel - Article

Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT) and undersigned press freedom and freedom of expression groups strongly condemn the ongoing and intensifying threats against prominent Turkish journalist Murat Ağırel.

MFRR Monitoring Report: January - June 2024 - Article

In the first six months of 2024, the Media Freedom Rapid Response recorded 756 media freedom alerts across Europe 

Turkey: Press freedom and freedom of expression groups condemn court decision upholding prison sentence for journalist Bülent Mumay - Article

The undersigned freedom of the press and expression organizations denounce the decision by Turkish appeals court to uphold the 20-month prison sentence against renowned journalist Bülent Mumay