Influence of Political Clientelism on Media Freedom under Vucic and the Progressive Party - Reports

Aleksandra Dragojlov's article examines how political clientelism has systematically shaped Serbia's media landscape under the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) since 2012. Despite formal legislative reforms in 2014 and 2023 that ostensibly aimed to reduce state involvement in media operations, the government has employed more subtle, indirect mechanisms of control.

Steadfast support for Massimo Moratti, MFRR researcher, as he is facing an expulsion order from Serbian authorities - Article

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), press freedom and free expression partners express our firm support for our colleague Massimo Moratti, the Senior Research Affiliate for the Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT), as he faces expulsion from Serbia in apparent connection with his human rights work.

Albania: Social media platforms must protect media and public-interest accounts from coordinated manipulation - Article

The partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), the SafeJournalists Network (SJN), and other partner organizations are concerned about recent incidents in Albania in which media, journalists, civic initiatives and other public-interest accounts have faced unexplained restrictions, removals and apparent attempts to manipulate social-media enforcement systems.

A dangerous spiral of violence against journalists in Serbia - Reports

OBCT, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners and the Council of Europe’s Safety of Journalists Platform present a report which outlines the deteriorating situation for media freedom and safety of journalists in Serbia. The report is a result of an international mission to Belgrade that took place in March 2026.

Poland: MFRR welcomes passing of Anti-SLAPP Act as victory for media freedom - Article

OBCT joins MFRR partners in welcoming the signature of the Presidential Act that officially transposes the EU anti-SLAPP Directive into Polish legislation

Serbia: Solidarity with Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation following another setback in its quest for justice - Article

Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT) joined the undersigned media freedom and journalist organisations in standing in full solidarity with the Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation, which has been ordered to pay over one million dinars (€8,812) in damages in a defamation case brought by those acquitted of the murder of the Serbian editor and newspaper founder, Slavko Ćuruvija.

Italy: Landmark ruling in press freedom case - Article

The Media Freedom Rapid Response consortium welcomes the acquittal of Roberto Saviano in a case brought by Minister Matteo Salvini, a landmark ruling for press freedom in Italy

Fist published by OBCT, also available in Italian

Serbian authorities must stop the spiral of violence against journalists - Article

Media freedom in Serbia remains trapped in a downward spiral amidst record levels of physical violence against journalists, death threats and online smear campaigns, alarming levels of impunity, and tight political control over the media landscape, a coalition of media freedom organisations concluded.

Albania: Constitutional Court ruling on TikTok ban reinforces freedom of expression protections - Article

The SafeJournalists Network (SJN), the undersigned partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) welcome the ruling by the Constitutional Court of Albania, which found that the Council of Ministers decision suspending nationwide access to the social media platform TikTok for one year constituted a violation of freedom of expression and freedom of the press

Open letter: alarm over political pressure against Novosti - Article

Open letter to Croatian Prime Minister Plenković: MFRR raises alarm over unlawful political pressure against weekly Novosti