European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)

In 2023, Russia became the country that imprisons most journalists in Europe (40); Belarus was the second worst offender, with 32. In Azerbaijan, the number of journalists detained almost quadrupled.

A recent report shows that France, Italy, Malta, Greece, Cyprus, Sweden, and Finland want to legalise spying on journalists in the event of a threat to national security.

“The proposed law would effectively open the door to state-sponsored pressure on those media which receive foreign funding and produce journalism critical of the government” – MFRR partners

As the EU’s trialogue negotiations draw to a close, rights groups say that – in the absence of certain key provisions – the anti-SLAPP Directive will fail to counteract the growing problem of SLAPPs in the region.

Joint press freedom mission to Greece concludes with a call on the government to show political courage and take specific measures to improve the climate for independent journalism.

Recent media freedom mission finds press and journalists in Poland facing legal threats, financial precarity, political pressure, regulatory capture and growing polarisation.

“Deliberately targeting journalists, shelling their facilities, and engaging in arbitrary detentions and torture clearly violate international humanitarian law and press freedom.”

Pehlivan was told to turn himself over to the Marmara Low Security Correctional Institution between August 1-15, 2023. He has already been incarcerated four times for his journalism.