Press freedom partners call for release of Mzia Amaglobeli, end to crackdown on free press - Article

OBCT joins press freedom and human rights organizations in calling for the immediate release of Georgian journalist Amaglobeli, an end to media repression, and an investigation into her mistreatment

Georgia, threats against the media - Article

Physical attacks, insults, obstacles at work, damage to equipment, arrests. In Georgia journalists have become a target of police violence during the street protests, while state broadcasters are accused of disinformation

By Federico Baccini

Originally published by OBCT. Also available in ITA

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

Croatia: Brutal assault on Dario Topić must be punished, swift activation of police safety protocols a positive step forward - Article

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners and the SafeJournalists Network (SJN) strongly condemn the brutal attack on Dario Topić, editor-in-chief of the local media portal Komarilos.com. The consortium calls for the perpetrator to be held accountable without delay, in line with the Croatian Penal Code which prescribes higher penalties for attacks on journalists

The Role of Justice Actors Combatting SLAPPs - Reports

A webinar co-hosted by the American Bar Association Centre for Human Rights and the UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers focusing on the role of justice actors – whether prosecutors, judges, lawyers or law firms – in countering or enabling SLAPPs

Bosnia and Herzegovina: MFRR and SafeJournalists urgently call for stronger protection for journalist Nataša Miljanović Zubac - Article

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners together with the SafeJournalists Network (SJN) firmly call for thorough and swift investigations into numerous threats against Nataša Miljanović Zubac, journalist for the Radio Television of Republika Srpska (RTRS)

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

Country Report: Albania - Article

The media sector in Albania is rather unstable. While certain areas have seen progress, the state of media freedom and protection for journalists remains precarious and needs stronger safeguards

By Sukanya Sengupta 

Belgium: Serious concerns over cases of preventive censorship involving four media outlets - Article

OBCT joins Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners in strongly condemning the numerous judicial decisions aimed at preventing the publication of information by four Belgian media outlets. The return of preventive censorship, which the Belgian Constitution prohibits, marks an alarming deterioration of press freedom in the country

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