Condemnation of legal threats against Danwatch by Ingosstrakh and ELWI - Article

OBCT joins free expression organizations in denouncing legal threats issued by a Moscow-based law firm against the Danish investigative media outlet Danwatch

MFRR Monitoring Report 2024 - Article

The latest annual Monitoring Report analyses the press freedom situation in 35 European countries, including the 27 EU Member States and nine countries with EU candidate status. Between January and December 2024, Mapping Media Freedom documented 1,548 press freedom violations targeting 2,567 media-related persons or entities – an alarming increase compared to the 1,153 violations recorded in 2023

Media Freedom organisations call for action as press freedom violations surge in Turkey in 2025 - Article

The undersigned press freedom, freedom of expression, human rights, and journalists’ organisations, and media outlets, express serious concern over the recent escalation of press freedom violations in Turkey, marking a troubling start to the new year. The frequent use of arbitrary arrests, detentions, judicial control measures, and convictions poses an existential threat to independent media, democratic discourse, and fundamental human rights in the country

The EU’s Anti-SLAPP Directive: A Partial Victory for Rule of Law Advocacy in Europe - Reports

A critical overview of the Directive encompassing its background, development, impacts and shortcomings, highlighting that, although it does constitute a milestone in legal mobilisation, more robust legal frameworks are required on the national level for proper protection against SLAPPs

"A digital prison": surveillance and the supression of civil society in Serbia - Reports

The report exposes the systemic use of surveillance technologies by the Serbian government to keep civil society activities under control and intimidate journalists and dissenters

Urgent call on the European Union to react to the critical press freedom situation in Georgia - Article

OBCT and partner organisations express deep concern about the ongoing violence against journalists in Tbilisi in a joint letter to EU institutions 

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.

Joint letter to European Commission President: EU should oppose Türkiye’s “agent of influence” bill - Article

In a joint letter, 55 international and local press freedom and human rights organisations urge the EU Commission to call for full withdrawal of the "agent of influence" bill in Turkey.

Georgia: Press freedom partners condemn assault on journalists during demonstrations in Tbilisi - Article

International community must pressure Georgia to end violent attacks on media 

Serbian journalism, stronger EU support is needed - Article

Amid a systematic erosion of editorial independence by the government, stronger international support is needed to uphold media freedom in the country. An interview with Igor Božić, news director of the independent N1 TV

By Serena Epis and Sava Mirković

Originally published by OBCT. Also available in ITA