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Finland: Appeal court verdict on Helsingin Sanomat state secrets…

Finland: Appeal court verdict on Helsingin Sanomat state secrets case sends a chilling message

 

Alarm after journalist given suspended prison sentence for unpublished article.

 

 

02.07.2025

The International Press Institute (IPI) and its Finnish National Committee express alarm over the recent verdict by the Court of Appeal in Finland to uphold the suspended prison sentence and fine handed down to two journalists from leading daily newspaper Helsingin Sanomat over their reporting on the country’s military intelligence services.

 

IPI and its Finnish Committee stress that the verdict by the Helsinki Court of Appeal against Tuomo Pietiläinen and Laura Halminen poses serious questions for the freedom of the press in Finland and the use of national security arguments to restrict public-interest reporting Particularly concerning is that part of the verdict concerned an unpublished article.

 

On 1 July, the appeal court confirmed the 2023 conviction of the two journalists by the lower Helsinki District Court and found them guilty of “revealing a security secret” through their reporting of classified information, which had centred on the Finnish Defence Forces’ Signal Testing Centre and military intelligence operations. Disclosing a security secret is classified as a crime of treason under Finnish law.

 

The appeal court also overturned one element of the lower court’s verdict and additionally found the journalists guilty of “attempting to reveal a security secret”. As the journalists had drafted a follow-up article for publication, they were charged under a clause of Finland’s national security law of “attempting” to reveal classified information – even though it was never actually published by the newspaper.

 

In its verdict, the court upheld the four-month suspended prison sentence handed down to Pietiläinen, who wrote the article, and the fine for Halminen, who had contributed to the piece. Both have since left the newspaper. It also upheld the acquittal of Kalle Silfverberg, the editor of the political department at the time. Prosecutors had demanded prison sentences for all three journalists.

 

“Today’s verdict risks a chilling effect on journalistic reporting on national security in Finland and raises questions about protections for media freedom in Finland”, said IPI Executive Director Scott Griffen. “While courts can be asked to strike a balance between journalistic freedom and national security, in this case the court recognized the public interest nature of the reporting and found no evidence of concrete harm. IPI believes that this criminal sentencing is disproportionate and not justified by the facts of the case.

 

“We are particularly concerned by the fact that a journalist can be given a prison sentence for simply writing – not even publishing – an article which handles classified information, which poses a clear risk to the standard process of investigative journalism.”

 

Anne Leppäjärvi, the chair of IPI’s Finnish National Committee, said: “The key point is that the part of the verdict was based on unpublished drafts and resulted in a suspended prison sentence. The chilling effect on investigative journalism is quite evident.

 

“The verdict raises the question of how unfamiliar the journalistic process is to our legal system. The case also sets a dangerous precedent where journalists can be prosecuted simply for drafting articles based on sensitive information or working on unreleased materials.

 

“Finland has long been proud of its democracy and press freedom, and instead of defending these values, such rulings risk eroding them.”

 

IPI said it supported the appeal of the case to the Finnish Supreme Court.

 

Lengthy criminal trial

The criminal case began in December 2017 when Helsingin Sanomat started to publish a series of articles on plans to give Finland’s security services greater powers to carry out surveillance and covert operations domestically and abroad. The articles – now known as the Viestikoekeskus case – centred on the operations of the Finnish Defence Intelligence Agency. The basis of the reporting was taken from classified information that had been acquired by Helsingin Sanomat.

 

On December 17, 2017, police raided the apartment of Halminen, seizing her computer as well as flash drives. Only four years later did prosecutors first announce the charges for disclosure and attempted disclosure of state secrets. All three journalists faced between four months to four years in prison.

 

The newspaper and the defence lawyers of the two journalists always maintained that the articles did not contain any state secrets, that the information was years old at the time of publication, and that all information that was published in the story was available in public sources. The defendants denied all charges and maintained their innocence throughout the years-long court process.

 

The Finnish Defence Forces was made aware that Helsingin Sanomat was investigating their intelligence operations and were provided detailed information on what the newspaper planned to publish. The intelligence authorities did not reach out to the editorial management of Helsingin Sanomat prior to publication to request the information not be published.

 

In the initial lower court verdict – which IPI criticised at the time – Helsingin Sanomat was ordered to remove the article from their website, which it compiled with. The District Court had initially acquitted all three defendants of “attempting to reveal a security secret”.

 

Though the two journalists who worked on the articles were charged, neither the newspaper’s management team nor the editor-in-chief at the time were charged in relation with the publication. The verdict rules therefore that journalists can be held liable for publishing security secrets, even if the actual publication decision is made by the editorial team’s senior management.

 

In the latest verdict, the appeal court concluded that no evidence of concrete harm or danger to the interests of national defence or state security was identified. However, it adjudged that the article and draft had been aimed simply at revealing security secrets rather than adequately contributing to public debate, and argued the prioritisation of national security justifications did not represent a restriction of freedom of expression.

 

“The disclosure of security secrets or their attempted disclosure had instead posed a concrete threat to freedom of expression and the other fundamental and human rights that Finland’s national security seeks to protect. Thus, Finland’s external security overrode the defendants’ freedom of expression in these circumstances,” the ruling states.

This statement by IPI is part of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.

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Slovakia: Media capture deepens as government tightens grip on…

Slovakia: Media capture deepens as government tightens grip on public and private media

Systematic dismantling of media freedom in Slovakia demands urgent EU action.

 

 

27.06.2025

IPI’s global network today raises alarm over Slovakia’s ongoing and steady decline in media freedom. In recent months, the Slovak government has tightened its grip on the media by intensifying its control over the public broadcaster STVR and enacting the restrictive so-called “anti-NGO” law. Slovakia’s leading commercial broadcaster, TV Markíza, has also come under political influence following the departure of its union leaders.

 

IPI urges the Slovak government to end its undemocratic pressure on independent journalism and to respect the independence of the public broadcaster. Furthermore, we call on the European Union to closely monitor developments on press freedom in Slovakia, and to respond robustly to further threats to free and independent journalism in both public and private media.

 

In early May, a 7–2 majority of the current public broadcaster STVR’s oversight Council elected Martina Flašíková, the daughter of a political strategist for the ruling Smer party and a close government ally, as director general in a closed-door vote. Journalists and members of the public were excluded from the election process, despite constitutional guarantees of public access to such hearings.

 

The government’s campaign to take control over public service media began with a 30% budget cut to Radio and Television Slovakia (RTVS) imposed by Parliament at the start of 2024. The Ministry of Culture then pushed through a new media law,which replaced the public broadcaster Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS) with a new entity, Slovak Television and Radio (STVR). The bill, approved by the President in June 2024, represented a clear attempt to restrict the editorial independence of the broadcasters.

 

Under the law, the former public broadcaster RTVS saw its Director General, Luboš Machaj, who was elected by Parliament to serve until 2027, replaced by an interim director nominated by the Speaker of Parliament based on an agreement of the ruling coalition. The RTVS Board was immediately disbanded.

 

IPI warns that Flašíková’s appointment, which lacked transparency, represents a clear step by the ruling coalition to install a political ally to the management of the country’s public broadcaster, with the aim of exerting greater control over editorial policy. This poses a major threat to the independent functioning and professionalism of STVR moving forward, in clear violation of requirements set out under the upcoming European Media Freedom Act (EMFA).

 

In May 2025, Viktor Vincze, a well-known Slovak television presenter, announced that he would no longer be anchoring ‘Televízne noviny’, the evening news programme on TV Markíza — the most-watched news show in Slovakia, and was leaving Markiza.

 

Vincze told IPI that he was forced to resign after management removed him from his anchor role and asked him to move to a new digital channel for many more hours of work, but no more pay. This decision followed months of management pressure on him for his role leading the journalists union formed a year earlier to protect the editorial integrity of the newsroom. Vince said he was taking a case against TV Markiza for constructive dismissal.

 

TV Markiza has been under increasing pressure since the formation of the new government in September 2023. In November, Prime Minister Róbert Fico accused the TV station of being part of the “enemy media” and quickly threatened to cut contracts for state advertising in Markíza’s broadcasting.

 

A few weeks later, the station changed its director of news and introduced tighter editorial procedures for approving news content which led to significant newsroom protests in early 2024. Markiza journalists claimed  that the independence of the newsroom was being curtailed and that political coverage was being stifled in order to appease the government.

 

With the departure of Vincze and other union members, concerns are growing that Markiza is abandoning its critical watchdog reporting on the ruling coalition.

 

Finally, Slovakia’s restrictive law requiring NGOs to prepare transparency reports and disclose information related to the management of public funds was passed in April and took effect on June 1. Under the law, non-profit organisations, foundations and associations with an annual income exceeding €35,000 are required to submit such a report.

 

The law, introduced amid growing hostility toward media and civil society from the government, poses a serious threat due to its restrictive nature, the unnecessary administrative burden it places on NGOs and independent media which operate with an NGO status, and the potential for more repressive amendments in the future.

 

Though the final text of the bill was watered down in the final legislative phase under pressure from the EU, IPI reiterates its condemnation of the law and calls for its repeal.

 

The steady erosion of media freedom, alongside the dismantling of democratic freedoms in Slovakia, cannot be ignored. We urge the European Union to ensure the steady erosion of media freedom in Slovakia by the Fico government does not go under the radar, to directly criticise and address the democratic backsliding, and to use all measures to defend journalists’ rights and media freedom. The EU’s response will be pivotal in preserving media pluralism and reversing media capture in the country.

 

Slovakia is facing not only the effective capture of the public broadcaster but also mounting pressure on private media, in particular, one of the country’s most important news providers, TV Markiza.

This statement by IPI is part of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.

Allgemein

Civil Society Open Letter in Response to Recent Spyware…

Civil Society Open Letter in Response to Recent Spyware Abuse Cases in the EU

On behalf of the Spyware Coordination Group, a coalition of civil society and journalist organisations advocating for transparency, accountability, and the protection of fundamental rights in relation to spyware technologies, we call on European Union (EU) Institutions to take concrete action to respond to the growing threat posed by spyware, to enhance the security and resilience of our digital infrastructure and European cyberspace and address the proliferation of commercial spyware capabilities in the European Internal Market.

26.06.2025

Spyware use and development still unchecked in the EU

Earlier this year, media reports revealed that several Italian journalists and human rights activists had been targeted with Graphite—a spyware developed by Paragon Solutions. According to reports, the victims had become aware of the targeting following an official notification of the intrusion by WhatsApp. This led the Italian authorities to launch an official investigation. In its March and June reports, the Citizen Lab confirmed these allegations and provided further evidence that the Graphite spyware may have been acquired and deployed in several Member States, including Italy, Denmark and Cyprus, likely affecting a higher number of victims than the 90 targets officially notified by WhatsApp. Concerningly, the reports also highlight a pattern of targeting human rights groups, government critics, and journalists, underlining the need for coordinated EU action to address these violations and protect fundamental rights in line with international and regional standards.

 

Several Member States, including Spain, Italy, Cyprus, have reportedly emerged as key hubs for the spyware industry, with a high concentration of vendors operating from these countries. The absence of a regulatory framework at the EU level, combined with the fragmentation of national legislation and varying degrees of regulatory oversight among Member States, has facilitated the establishment of certain jurisdictions as preferred entry points for the spyware industry within the EU Internal Market, as recognised by the European Parliament’s Recommendations of 15 June 2023 and the Commission’s White Paper on export controls published in 2024. This development raises significant concerns regarding the trade and proliferation of commercial spyware within the EU, as well as its potential human rights implications.

 

Urgent need of EU action

Given the risk posed by spyware to fundamental rights, including the right to privacy, rule of law, public debate, media freedom and pluralism, and the integrity of civic spaces, we respectfully urge EU Institutions to prioritise immediate policy and regulatory actions to address the challenges of commercial spyware. We are particularly concerned that spyware technologies, which disproportionately interfere with fundamental rights and for which no safeguards are adequate to prevent and redress harms to human rights, are simply too invasive to ever be compliant with International Human Rights Law (IHRL), as underscored by the European Data Protection Supervisor and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism. Hence, European action should include the swift introduction of red lines in order to be aligned with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

 

The Pall Mall Process should be complemented by action at the EU level

The Pall Mall Process, an “iterative multi-stakeholder initiative” launched in 2024 by France and the UK, claims to tackle the threat posed by the proliferation and “irresponsible use” of commercial cyber capabilities. As part of this process, 25 countries, of which 18 are EU Member States have recently adopted a non-binding Code of practice for States through which signatories have committed to collaborate to “prevent irresponsible activity across the global cyber intrusion market and mitigate the threats presented by the proliferation and irresponsible use of” spyware. A similar declaration of intent was led by the U.S. in their Joint Statement on Efforts to Counter the Proliferation and Misuse of Commercial Spyware – endorsed by 23 States, including 10 Member States. While these objectives may outline good intentions and provide a voluntary multi-stakeholder forum in which to discuss the issue of spyware, the approach adopted within the Pall Mall process risks legitimising certain surveillance technologies and uses that are inherently incompatible with international human rights law. Although multilateral action to curb the spyware market is necessary, these initiatives are inadequate to fully prevent the proliferation and use of spyware.

 

Going beyond these initiatives, and echoing the Parliament’s recommendations, we urge the EU Institutions to take a coordinated and transparent regulatory action – particularly in areas that fall squarely within the competence of the EU, such as fundamental rights and rule of law, EU single market regulation, export controls and cybersecurity – during this term, ensuring the protection of the rule of law, and fundamental rights enshrined in the EU Charter and European Convention on Human Rights.

 

The absence of a coordinated EU response is creating critical gaps in relation to the trade of these tools and the management of cybersecurity vulnerabilities that incentivise the proliferation of commercial spyware and their unlawful use by Governments. The EU can provide the necessary political momentum, regulatory coherence, and oversight to turn national pledges made by Member States through the Pall Mall Code of Practice into an effective, union-wide response that upholds democratic values and fundamental rights.

 

To address these pressing concerns and safeguard fundamental rights, we call for the following immediate actions:

● the publication of the long-overdue Commission communication to clarify the boundaries between EU law, in particular the data protection, privacy and rule of law acquis, and national security.
● the Commission’s formal engagement in the Pall Mall process and participation in all international and regional efforts to address the threat posed by commercial spyware.
● the full implementation of the PEGA Committee’s recommendations, including those pertaining to areas falling under EU competence such as internal market regulation, cybersecurity vulnerability management, export controls, EU cybersecurity and resilience and ensuring that Member States provide effective remedies for victims.
● continued commitment from the EU Parliament to advance the work of the PEGA Committee within the relevant Committees and leverage all available resources to further policy development in this area.

 

We stand ready to engage in a constructive dialogue with you and offer our expertise to support the development of policies that will effectively combat spyware use and strengthen the EU digital infrastructure. We are confident that under your leadership, the European Union can take decisive action to respect and protect fundamental rights, uphold the rule of law, and address the challenges posed by the use of spyware technologies.

Signed by:

  • Access Now
  • Amnesty International
  • ARTICLE 19
  • Centre for Democracy and Technology Europe
  • Civil Liberties Union for Europe (Liberties)
  • Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
  • Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC)
  • Epicenter.works – for digital rights
  • European Digital Rights (EDRi)
  • European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
  • European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
  • Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)
  • Privacy International

This statement was coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.

Allgemein

Kosovo: Steadfast support for Flutura Kusari as she seeks…

Kosovo: Steadfast support for Flutura Kusari as she seeks justice against Mentor Llugaliu’s harassment

The undersigned Media Freedom Rapid Response partners and Council of Europe Safety of Journalists Platform members express support for their colleague Flutura Kusari, Senior Legal Advisor at the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), ahead of her forthcoming legal action against Mentor Llugaliu. We call on the Basic Prosecution of Prishtina in Kosovo to conduct a swift, impartial, and thorough investigation into the case.

Në gjuhën shqipe më poshtë

20.06.2025

On March 21, 2025, Kusari filed a criminal report against Mentor Llugaliu, an online activist and supporter of Kosovo’s ruling party, the Vetevendosje Movement, accusing him of harassment and intimidation directed at her and her family.

 

The harassment spanned three years, from December 2021 to February 2025, during which Llugaliu published at least 101 Facebook posts that attracted widespread public attention, accumulating over 42,000 likes, 700 shares, and 2,200 comments. Llugaliu’s social media activity, marked by derogatory language, have caused significant distress to Kusari and her family.

 

The harassment began in 2021 after Kusari monitored, on behalf of the ECPMF, the election of board members for Kosovo’s public broadcaster (RTK) by Kosovo Assembly, advocating for the selection of politically independent members. Llugaliu, a supporter of the ruling party, had applied for a position but was unsuccessful. While Kusari never specifically mentioned Llugaliu in her remarks, his posts suggest that he blames her for his failure. Many of his posts were derogatory and inflammatory, targeting Kusari, accusing her of influencing political decisions.

 

The Kosovo Law Institute has assisted Kusari in drafting the criminal complaint. Drawing from the past rulings in similar cases, they believe this represents one of the most severe instances of online harassment against female activists in Kosovo.

 

According to Ms. Kusari, the three-year-long and obsessive online harassment and stalking by the political activist and defendant Llugaliu has been carried out as an act of revenge for her activism in monitoring RTK. His aim is to dehumanize her and drive her and other active women out of public life.

 

In his posts, Llugaliu refers to Kusari using the derogatory term “Mickoja”, meaning “Mosquito”, seemingly to evade account suspensions by Facebook. The abuse escalated as he began targeting members of Kusari’s family, including her husband and mother, with the most disturbing comment being of sexual nature.

 

According to Ms. Kusari, the three-year-long and obsessive online harassment and stalking by Llugaliu has been carried out as an act of revenge for her activism in monitoring Kosovo Public Broadcaster. His goal is to dehumanize her and to push her and other active women out of public life. She has requested the Basic Prosecution Office in Pristina to criminally prosecute Llugaliu for harassment, as provided in Article 182 of the Kosovo Criminal Code.

 

Our organisations stand in solidarity with Flutura Kusari and urge the Chief Prosecutor of the Prishtina Prosecution, Zejnullah Gashi and the responsible prosecutor, to ensure this case is investigated swiftly and impartially. As a crucial case for combating online harassment of free expression advocates, especially women activists, the undersigned MFRR partners and Council of Europe Platform members will closely monitor the proceedings. We hope the case will proceed to court promptly and lead to an outcome which will mark an important step in the fight against online abuse targeting women.

Signed by:

  • European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
  • Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
  • International Press Institute (IPI)
  • Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)
  • ARTICLE 19 Europe
  • European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
  • International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
  • PEN International
  • Index on Censorship
  • Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
  • Association of European Journalists (AEJ)
  • Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
  • Justice for Journalists Foundation

This statement was coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.

Kosovë: Mbështetje e palëkundur për Flutura Kusarin ndërsa ajo po kërkon drejtësi për ngacmimin nga Mentor Llugaliu

 

Ne, organizatat e poshtënënshkruara, pjesë e Media Freedom Rapid Response dhe të Platformës së Këshillit të Europës për Sigurinë e Gazetarëve, shprehim mbështetjen tonë të plotë për kolegen tonë Flutura Kusari, këshilltaren e lartë ligjore në Qendrën Evropiane për Lirinë e Shtypit dhe të Medias (ECPMF), në prag të fillimit të procedurave penale kundër të pandehurit Mentor Llugaliu.

 

Ne i bëjmë thirrje Prokurorisë Themelore në Prishtinë që të ndërmarrë dhe garantojë hetim të shpejtë, të paanshëm dhe të plotë të këtij rasti.

 

Më 21 mars 2025, znj. Kusari ka ushtruar pranë Prokurorisë Themelore në Prishtinë kallëzim penal kundër të pandehurit Mentor Llugaliu, një aktivisti në rrjete sociale dhe përkrahësi të partisë në pushtet, Lëvizjes Vetëvendosje. Ajo e akuzon atë për ngacmim dhe frikësim sistematik ndaj saj dhe familjes së saj.

 

Ngacmimi ka zgjatur për tre vjet, nga dhjetori 2021 deri në shkurt 2025, gjatë së cilës periudhë Llugaliu ka publikuar të paktën 101 postime në facebook, të cilat tërhoqën vëmendje të gjerë publike, duke mbledhur mbi 42,000 pëlqime, 700 shpërndarje dhe 2,200 komente. Aktiviteti i tij në rrjete sociale, i shoqëruar me gjuhë denigruese ndaj saj, ka shkaktuar shqetësim të thellë për znj. Kusari dhe familjen e saj.

 

Në postimet e tij, Llugaliu i referohet Kusarit me termin përçmues “Mickoja” në mënyrë që t’i ikë bllokimit të llogarisë së tij nga ana e facebook-ut.

 

Ngacmimi është përshkallëzuar më tej kur ai filloi të shënjestrojë anëtarët e familjes së saj, përfshirë bashkëshortin dhe nënën e saj, me një koment veçanërisht shqetësues me përmbajtje të natyrës seksuale.

 

Ngacmimi ka filluar në vitin 2021, pasi znj. Kusari, në emër të ECPMF-së, kishte monitoruar procesin e përzgjedhjes së anëtarëve të bordit të Transmetuesit Publik të Kosovës (RTK) nga Kuvendi i Kosovës, duke mbështetur dhe avokuar për përzgjedhjen e anëtarëve të pavarur politikisht.

 

Llugaliu, një përkrahës i partisë në pushtet, kishte aplikuar për një vend në bord, por nuk ishte përzgjedhur. Edhe pse znj. Kusari nuk e ka përmendur ndonjëherë të pandehurin Llugaliu me emër, në bazë të postimeve të tij, ai e fajëson atë për dështimin e tij që të bëhet anëtar i bordit.

 

Shumë nga postimet e tij janë poshtëruese dhe nxitëse, duke e targetuar vazhdimisht znj. Kusari dhe duke e akuzuar për ndikim në vendime politike.

 

Instituti i Kosovës për Drejtësi (IKD) e ka ndihmuar znj. Kusari për përgatitjen e kallëzimit penal kundër të pandehurit Llugaliu. Sipas IKD-së, bazuar në vendime të tjera që kanë të bëjnë me veprën penale të ngacmimit, ky është një nga rastet më të rënda dhe më të mëdha të ngacmimit online ndaj një aktivisteje grua në Kosovë.

 

Sipas znj. Kusari, ngacmimi dhe përndjekja trevjeçare online dhe në mënyrë obsesive nga aktivisti politik dhe i pandehuri Llugaliu është bërë në shenjë hakmarrjeje për aktivizmin e saj në monitorimin e RTK-së. Ai synon dehumanizimin dhe largimin e saj dhe të grave tjera aktive nga jeta publike.

 

Ajo ka kërkuar nga Prokuroria Themelore e Prishtinës që të ndjekë penalisht të pandehurin Llugaliu për veprën e ngacmimit, siç parashikohet në nenin 182 të Kodit Penal të Kosovës.

 

Ne shprehim solidaritet me Flutura Kusarin dhe i bëjmë thirrje kryeprokurorit të Prokurorisë Themelore në Prishtinë, z. Zejnullah Gashi, si dhe prokurorit përgjegjës, që të garantojnë një hetim të shpejtë dhe të paanshëm të këtij rasti.

 

Si një rast thelbësor në luftën kundër ngacmimit online ndaj mbrojtësve të fjalës së lirë, sidomos atyre gra, ne organizatat ndërkombëtare që e kemi nënshkruar këtë letër do të monitorojmë nga afër këtë rast.

 

Shpresojmë që kallëzimi penal do të çojë në një rezultat që do të shënojë një hap të rëndësishëm në luftën kundër abuzimit online të grave.

Organizatat nënshkruese të letrës mbështetëse:

  • Qendra Evropiane për Lirinë e Shtypit dhe të Medias (ECPMF)
  • Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
  • Instituti Ndërkombëtar i Shtypit (IPI)
  • Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)
  • ARTICLE 19 Europe
  • Federata Evropiane e Gazetarëve (EFJ)
  • Federata Ndërkombëtare e Gazetarëve (IFJ)
  • PEN International
  • Index on Censorship
  • Reporterët pa Kufij (RSF)
  • Shoqata e Gazetarëve Evropianë (AEJ)
  • Komiteti për Mbrojtjen e Gazetarëve (CPJ)
  • Justice for Journalists Foundation

This statement was coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.

Allgemein

Reforms without Protection: The Shrinking Space for Journalism in…

Reforms without Protection: The Shrinking Space for Journalism in Croatia 

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium today publishes an updated report on the state of media freedom in Croatia following an advocacy mission to Zagreb between 19 to 21 May 2025.

11 June 2025

The purpose of the mission was to assess the government’s progress in implementing recommendations made following the MFRR online fact-finding mission in September 2024, and to identify new and emerging threats to media freedom and independent journalism.

 

During the three-day visit, the delegation engaged with a diverse range of stakeholders, including journalists, publishers, media leaders, representatives from journalist associations and unions, and key institutional actors such as the Ministry of Culture and Media, the Ministries of Justice and Internal Affairs, and the Agency for Electronic Media, among others. 

 

As outlined in the mission press conference in Zagreb, the advocacy mission to Croatia revealed a gap in perceptions between government representatives and journalists on the ground. The mission observed that progress has been made in transposing the Anti-SLAPP directive and establishing a database for the transparency of media ownership, alongside the implementation of government safety protocols for journalists and training within newsrooms, as emphasised by the government. 

 

Journalists reported ongoing threats, a lack of adequate protection, poor working conditions, and significant political and economic pressures, including media capture, editorial interference, smear campaigns and financial instability. Strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), anti-media rhetoric, and delays in implementing the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) continue to undermine press freedom. 

 

The political landscape, characterised by efforts to defund critical media such as Novosti and the weakening of independent outlets like N1, has exacerbated concerns. The government’s use of state advertising to reward favourable coverage and its control over the public broadcaster were identified as key tools of media manipulation. 

 

The mission concludes that while the government has made some progress, the measures to protect media freedom are insufficient and at times inconsistent. Unless comprehensive reforms are promptly enacted, including proper implementation of EU legislation, stronger legal protections, actions ensuring the continued existence of public interest journalism, and consistent enforcement of journalist safety protocols, the space for free and independent journalism in Croatia will continue to deteriorate. 

 

The Media Freedom Rapid Response stands ready to participate in any public consultations or initiatives aimed at reinforcing media freedom in Croatia.

 

The mission was led by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), and joined by representatives from ARTICLE 19 Europe, Free Press Unlimited (FPU), the International Press Institute (IPI), and OBC Transeuropa (OBCT).

Download the report
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Malta: Guilty verdicts in Daphne Caruana Galizia case mark…

Malta: Guilty verdicts in Daphne Caruana Galizia case mark another step towards full justice

Media freedom groups welcome conviction of two gang members who supplied car bomb which killed Maltese journalist.

06.06.2025

Guilty verdicts handed down to two gang members who supplied the car bomb which killed Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia mark another vital step forward in the fight for full justice, the undersigned media freedom organisations said today.

 

We jointly hail the convictions of Robert Agius and Jamie Vella, reached via a jury in Valletta on June 5, as a crucial development in the fight against impunity which we hope will strengthen the case against the alleged mastermind of the assassination.

 

The long-awaited ruling was reached yesterday evening following a six-week trial in the Maltese capital, during which the two men, who were part of the Maltese criminal underworld, were found guilty of procuring the military grade explosives and providing them to the hitmen who executed the murder.

 

The convictions come eight years after the car bombing on 16 October 2017 and ensures two more people involved in the plot to kill Caruana Galizia over her investigative journalism will be behind bars. Agius and Vella, part of the Maltese Ta’ Maksar gang, will be sentenced shortly.

 

Five individuals have now been found guilty of participating in the hit. Brothers Alfred and George Degiorgio are serving 40-year prison sentences for planting and detonating the bomb. Vincent Muscat, another involved in planning and executing the hit, is serving 15 years. Melvin Theuma, the self-confessed middleman, was given a pardon on condition for testifying in several criminal proceedings, including against the alleged mastermind.

 

The alleged mastermind, Yorgen Fenech, a powerful Maltese businessman, is currently awaiting trial. Fenech was released on bail in February 2025 and successfully argued for a court order banning reporting on his legal proceedings.

 

Following the verdict, we hail the dedication and professionalism of the legal team representing Caruana Galizia’s family throughout this process and stand with the family as the fight for justice continues. While these latest convictions are a vital step forward, we stress that full justice remains the only acceptable outcome.

 

While progress is being made on securing convictions, our organisations stress that wider institutional reform outlined in the recommendations of the Public Inquiry into Daphne’s assassination have not been implemented and Maltese authorities are not demonstrating the political will required to address the culture of impunity and widespread institutional failures that allowed this killing to happen in the first place.

 

Moving forward, our organisations will continue to push for the Maltese authorities to implement the recommendations of the Public Inquiry and take concrete steps to improve the wider environment for press freedom, to ensure that no other journalists are ever silenced for carrying out their watchdog role in Malta.

 

Daphne deserves no less.

Signed by:

  • International Press Institute (IPI)
  • Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
  • European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
  • European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
  • Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)
  • Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
  • Article 19 Europe

This statement was coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.

Library

Poland: New president urged to commit to press freedom…

Poland: New president urged to commit to press freedom reforms

Following the victory of Karol Nawrocki in Poland’s presidential election on 1 June, the undersigned media freedom organisations today call on the president elect to commit to building a cross-party consensus required to bolster press freedom and strengthen Polish democracy.

06.06.2025

Though the election of the Nawrocki, an ally of the Law and Justice (PiS) party, pits him in opposition to the government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, our organisations jointly stress the need for genuine and effective cooperation to drive forward much needed reforms to the media ecosystem, including on Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) and the democratisation of the country’s public media.

 

Media reform plans should bring Polish legislation in line with requirements set out by the European Union’s European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), which is due to come into effect in August this year, and EU anti-SLAPP Directive and Recommendation adopted in 2024.

 

A lack of cooperation and compromise between the new president and government ultimately risks undermining the prospects for comprehensive reform of the Polish media landscape, hindering efforts to strengthen the resilience and independence of public media, and negatively impacting citizen’s right to information.

 

Since its election in October 2023, the current Civic Coalition-led ruling majority has been working on reform proposals in this direction. However, the process has proven more difficult than initially expected, with politicians citing the complexity of large scale reform as progress slowed to a halt. In addition, the government has tried to justify the drawn-out timeline for reforms by the risk of being blocked by President Andrzej Duda, who is politically affiliated with PiS. For instance, a presidential veto in late 2023 deprived the public media of funding.

 

Under the former PiS-led government, the country’s public media and key broadcast media regulator suffered from political capture and the erosion of their independence, while politicians and figures connected to the government abused the legal system to try and silence the media with vexatious lawsuits.

 

Poland’s National Broadcasting Council (KRRiT) was politically captured by PiS. Since 2022, it has been led by the PiS-appointed Maciej Świrski, who uses his position to withhold funds to the public media – whom he accuses of being controlled by the new government – and to issue fines to broadcasters critical of PiS.

 

The public broadcasters Telewizja Polska (TVP) and Polskie Radio remain in a state of legal limbo following the 2023 elections, when the new government bypassed established procedures to remove pro-PiS leadership and journalists from their positions. While TVP is no longer the same propaganda machine it was under PiS, it is not a fully independent public broadcaster either. Critics, including media watchdogs and journalists, have pointed to a clear bias in favor of the current ruling coalition – though less blatant than under the previous government.

 

Systemic reform, outlined in recommendations formulated by Reporters Without Borders’ (RSF) and the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) following their missions to the country, remain essential to ensuring that stronger safeguards are established, to prevent all forms of political interference in editorial decision making and managerial appointments, as well as to ensure that state propaganda that defined TVP under PiS cannot return.

 

As highlighted in a recent report published by IPI and the Media and Journalism Research Centre (MJRC), the new government’s reform package aims in part to address the situation at TVP, ensure the independence of KRRiT and improve media ownership transparency. New media legislation would also help improve protections of editorial independence and media pluralism, as well as ensure the fair and transparent distribution of state advertising.

 

Moving forward, we therefore urge the president elect Nawrocki to play a positive role in developing the political consensus necessary to drive through long-term protections for media freedom in Poland, and to approve the aforementioned proposals if they are passed in parliament.

 

To do so, we call on president elect Nawrocki to cooperate with both chambers of parliament in the coming months to accelerate the implementation of the guiding principles of EMFA and the EU anti-SLAPP initiative into national law. This should include improving legal safeguards for the editorial independence of private media, bolstering the independence of the public broadcaster and of KRRiT, as well as shielding media from vexatious lawsuits.

 

Doing so will increase the protection of media freedom and independent journalism as essential pillars of a free and democratic Polish society.

Signed by:

  • International Press Institute (IPI)
  • ARTICLE 19 Europe
  • European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
  • European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
  • Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
  • Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
  • Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)

This statement was coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.

Allgemein

Assessing Hungary’s foreign funding bill

Assessing Hungary’s foreign funding bill

26 May, 14:00 CET.

On May 13, the Fidesz party of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán presented a draft of a new foreign funding bill which represents the most serious attack on Hungarian media in years and is the latest step in a more than decade-long campaign by the government to stigmatise independent journalism, undermine its business model and systematically erode media pluralism.

 

If passed, this legislation would effectively represent the first foreign agent-style law in the European Union, marking another milestone in Hungary’s democratic decline and deepening the crackdown in what has long been the EU’s worst country for media freedom.

 

Hungary has already developed the most advanced model of media capture in the EU, using a wide range of tools to capture public media and regulatory bodies, punish government critics, and silence independent voices. The Sovereignty Protection Office, established in late 2023, has conducted smear campaigns against leading independent investigative outlets.

 

Now, with the newly proposed law, which includes heavy sanctions and poses a severe threat to the viability of independent media, how can Hungary’s free press survive?

 

Join us on 26 May at 14.00 CET for a briefing from renowned Hungarian journalists and media experts to examine the proposed law in detail, explore its likely impact on Hungary’s embattled independent media, and hear how journalists are preparing to fight back. 

 

In this one hour session, we will analyse the bill’s implications for media funding, its role in accelerating democratic backsliding, the economic challenges it poses, and what journalistic solidarity means in the climate of fear and uncertainty. We will also discuss the role the EU should play in countering Hungary’s crackdown on press freedom, ahead of an EU Council debate on the rule of law in Hungary on May 27.

Register here

Moderator

Jamie Wiseman

Europe Advocacy Officer at International Press Institute (IPI) 

Speakers

Eva Bognar

Coordinating Director at Mediaforum Association 

Marton Karpati

CEO at Telex.hu

Andras Petho

Co-founder and Director of Direkt36

Veronika Munk

Director of Innovation and New Markets at Dennik N

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Hungary: Foreign funding bill poses most serious threat to…

Hungary: Foreign funding bill poses most serious threat to independent media in years

A newly introduced bill which would allow for the blacklisting, financial restriction and potential closure of media outlets and civil society organisations receiving foreign funds poses a severe threat to independent journalism and press freedom and should be immediately challenged under EU law, the undersigned partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) said today.

16 May 2025

Draft legislation submitted on May 13 by the Fidesz party of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán represents the most serious attack on Hungarian media in years and is the latest step in a more than decade-long campaign by the government to stigmatise independent journalism, undermine its business model and systematically erode media pluralism.

 

If passed, this legislation would effectively represent the first foreign agent-style law in the European Union, marking another milestone in Hungary’s democratic decline and deepening the crackdown in what has long been the EU’s worst country for media freedom.

 

The proposed law poses a direct threat to core EU values of media freedom and media pluralism as set forth in the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights. In targeting funding for media from within the EU, it stands in direct contrast to the vision of the EU as a shared community and single market. This autocratic legislation would grant a foothold for Russian-style strangling of independent media from within the bloc itself.

 

With the bill likely to become law in the coming weeks, our organisations today urge the European leaders and the EU Council to recognise the serious threat posed by this law for both Hungary and the EU and to discuss all possible measures to address the Orban’s government’s fundamental threat to democracy of both the Member State and the bloc itself.

 

The bill, entitled “On the Transparency of Public Life”, would grant the Sovereignty Protection Office (SPO) powers to recommend that any foreign funded legal entity, including media outlets or NGOs, be added to a government blacklist if it deems they pose a threat to the country’s sovereignty.

 

A media outlet added to the list would be blocked from receiving any form of grant or donation or financial transfer from any foreign entity or state. This would include any grants from the European Union or any EU Member State, as well as countries outside the bloc. A media outlet would only be able to receive an exemption for foreign funding with the permission of the Hungarian anti-money laundering authority.

 

If a media outlet does not comply with these rules, the money laundering authority would have powers to impose a fine of 25 times the amount of funding they received, payable within 15 days, which could financially destroy a smaller media company. If blacklisted media is deemed to have committed a repeat funding offence it could face closure, opening the door for the government to legally shut down independent media houses. The bill also includes a provision which would permit the money laundering authority to retroactively assess whether a media outlet served the agenda of a foreign donor and then order the funds to be returned.

 

The SPO would also be handed new powers to conduct searches of newsrooms and access documents or computer files, with the assistance of police. Banks would be obliged to monitor the financial activity of blacklisted media houses, provide information on their transactions. They would be barred from citing banking secrecy to refuse to comply with these orders. Meanwhile, the executives, founders and potentially the editors of a blacklisted media outlet would be forced to declare their assets to the national tax office, in the same way as a public figure or politician.

 

In a further threat to the funding model for independent journalism in Hungary, any entity added to the blacklist would lose its eligibility to receive a 1% annual tax donation from citizens as is currently the case in Hungary. The voluntary donation from readers to media houses which run a charitable foundation currently represents a financial lifeline for many media critical of the government, which have been systematically excluded from state advertising budgets and other state funds. This tax rule would come into effect one year after the law is adopted. All other rules would come into effect three days after adoption of the law.

 

While the bill does not mention media directly, its scope involves any legal entity registered in Hungary which carries out activities capable of influencing public opinion or democratic debate, meaning it is essentially targeted at news media and civil society organisations. Broad criteria possible for blacklisting could include any reporting which the SPO deems as “undermining Hungary’s independent, democratic and rule-of-law-based character”, violating Hungary’s constitutional identity or Christian culture or challenging the primacy of marriage, the family and biological sexes. This could lead to increased self-censorship of media covering these topics.

 

These powers would be handled by the Sovereignty Protection Office, a body established in 2023 and headed by a Fidesz loyalist. Our organisations have previously documented the body’s discriminatory and politically motivated stigmatisation of media receiving foreign funds. The SPO is currently being challenged in front of the European Court of Justice but continues its operations. The current bill represents a major strengthening of its powers and broadens its ability to harass and potentially even close media outlets based on its arbitrary assessments.

 

In practical terms, if adopted the impact of the bill on the financial sustainability of a major segment of Hungarian independent media would be severe. A number of predominantly online media which receive European grants for different projects such as cross border investigative reporting could be badly affected. Other media which cover LGBTQ topics would likely be forced to self-censor to avoid retaliation. The impact on other remaining bastions of free press in Hungary which have foreign ownership or foreign subscriptions, remains unclear. Blacklisting could realistically drive media or individual journalists into exile. Overall, the bill contains even more damaging provisions than our organisations had previously feared.

 

The response of the EU to such a direct violation of European law and the threat to fundamental rights and treaty values must be swift and forceful. Given the likely implementation of the law in a rapid parliamentary process, we call on the European Commission to immediately begin assessing the non-compliance of the draft bill with EU law in preparation for an immediate investigation and challenge at the ECJ, if the bill is adopted. This process should be carried out in an expedited time frame to limit the potential damage to what remains of the country’s independent media landscape. Until the Court is able to rule, the Commission should also be ready to apply immediate interim measures against Hungary.

 

It should also be noted that the proposed law is also much harsher than Hungary’s 2017 Law on Transparency, which was subsequently condemned by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in a 2020 ruling as a breach of EU law for its restrictions in free movement of capital, failure to protect right to private and family life and restrictions on the right to freedom of association. The European Council is also due to discuss the Rule of Law Procedure against Hungary at its forthcoming meeting on 27 May, where under Article 7(1) Hungary is deemed as being at risk of a serious breach of EU values. EU leaders should condemn the draft bill and signal the strongest possible opposition to the bill and its impact on Hungarian and EU democracy.

 

Any failure by the EU to urgently address this law as a flagrant attack on media freedom and media pluralism would inspire allies in Slovakia and elsewhere to develop similar attacks on independent media which receive foreign grants. While the European Media Freedom Act due to come into effect in August 2025 represents a much-needed initiative to safeguard free and pluralistic media across the bloc, the EU Commission has not always utilised all tools at its disposal to push back against the steady erosion of media pluralism in Hungary, most glaringly the failure to take up multiple state aid complaints over the government’s abuse of EU money to subsidise pro-government media. The same mistake must not be made again.

 

Moving forward, our MFRR partner organisations continue to stand by all independent media and civil society organisations in Hungary and will be conducting advocacy at the EU and other international bodies.

Signed by:

  • International Press Institute (IPI)
  • European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
  • European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
  • Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
  • Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)

This statement was coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries.

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Croatia: MFRR Media Freedom Mission to Visit Zagreb to…

Croatia: MFRR Media Freedom Mission to Visit Zagreb to Highlight the Importance of EU legislation and Protection of Journalists

Between 19 and 21 May, Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partner organisations will conduct a press freedom mission to Zagreb, Croatia. The mission aims to engage with public authorities and media representatives on key recommendations from the MFRR monitoring mission report and stress the urgent need for Croatia to fully implement the EU Anti-SLAPP Directive and ensure the effective application of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA). 

16 May 2025

The report “Precarity and political pressures: addressing challenges undermining media freedom in Croatia,” published in February 2025, underscores the critical importance  of addressing legal threats to journalists in Croatia – including criminal defamation, restrictions on judicial transparency, weak labour protections, and the proper and timely application of the EMFA.

 

Since January 2024 to May 16, 2025 Mapping Media Freedom (MapMF) has recorded 31 alerts involving 39 journalists and media workers in Croatia. Approximately 67% incidents involved verbal attacks, including around 41% cases of intimidation. Three incidents were linked to election coverage, and five to environmental reporting, with the latest example from May 10, 2025 when a Nova TV reporter and crew member were attacked while covering the environmental degradation along the Una River.

 

The delegation will assess press freedom in Croatia, review progress on recommendations, evaluate state responses to media violations, and verify reported delays in implementing EMFA. The MFRR will meet with government officials, judicial representatives, the Ombudsperson’s office, local publishers, and journalists. The mission will conclude with a meeting with the EU representation in Zagreb.

 

The mission will be led by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and joined by representatives from ARTICLE 19 Europe, Free Press Unlimited (FPU), the International Press Institute (IPI), and OBC Transeuropa (OBCT).

 

A mission report detailing updates of previous findings and recommendations will be published following the visit. The report will then be shared with EU institutions and relevant international bodies. The mission aims to foster accountability, improve protection mechanisms for journalists, and support Croatia’s alignment with European media freedom standards.

 

A press conference will be held in Zagreb, Wednesday, May 21 at 13:30h in the premises of the Croatian Journalists’ Association. For more information, or to schedule interviews with mission participants, please contact mfrr@ecpmf.eu.

Hrvatska: MFRR misija za slobodu medija posjetit će Zagreb kako bi istaknula važnost EU zakonodavstva i zaštite novinara

Od 19. do 21. svibnja, partnerske organizacije inicijative Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) provest će misiju za slobodu medija u Zagrebu, Hrvatska. Cilj misije je razgovarati s javnim vlastima i predstavnicima medija o ključnim preporukama iz izvješća promatračke misije MFRR-a te naglasiti hitnu potrebu da Hrvatska u potpunosti provede EU Direktivu protiv SLAPP tužbi i osigura učinkovitu primjenu Europskog zakona o slobodi medija (EMFA).

 

Izvješće pod nazivom „Prekarnost i politički pritisci: suočavanje s izazovima koji narušavaju slobodu medija u Hrvatskoj”, objavljeno u veljači 2025., ističe koliko je ključno rješavati pravne prijetnje novinarima u Hrvatskoj – uključujući kazneno djelo klevete, ograničenja u transparentnosti pravosuđa, slabu radnu zaštitu te pravilnu i pravovremenu primjenu EMFA-e.

 

Od siječnja 2024. do 16. svibnja 2025., Mapping Media Freedom (MapMF) zabilježio je 31 upozorenje koje uključuje 39 novinara i medijskih djelatnika u Hrvatskoj. Oko 67 posto incidenata uključivalo je verbalne napade, a približno 41 posto odnosilo se na zastrašivanje. Tri incidenta bila su povezana s izvještavanjem o izborima, a pet s ekološkim temama. Posljednji slučaj zabilježen je 10. svibnja 2025., kada su novinarka i snimatelj Nove TV napadnuti dok su izvještavali o uzurpaciji i ekocidu državnog zemljišta uz rijeku Unu.

 

Delegacija će procijeniti stanje slobode medija u Hrvatskoj, razmotriti napredak u provedbi preporuka, evaluirati reakcije države na kršenja medijskih prava te provjeriti prijavljena kašnjenja u provedbi EMFA-e. MFRR će se sastati s predstavnicima vlasti, pravosuđa, Ureda pučke pravobraniteljice, lokalnih izdavača i novinara. Misija će završiti sastankom s predstavništvom EU-a u Zagrebu.

 

Misiju će predvoditi Europski centar za slobodu tiska i medija (ECPMF) i Europska federacija novinara (EFJ), a pridružit će im se predstavnici organizacija ARTICLE 19 Europe, Free Press Unlimited (FPU), Međunarodnog instituta za medije (IPI) i OBC Transeuropa (OBCT).

 

Izvješće o misiji s ažuriranim nalazima i preporukama bit će objavljeno nakon posjeta, a zatim će se podijeliti s institucijama EU-a i relevantnim međunarodnim tijelima. Cilj misije je potaknuti odgovornost, unaprijediti mehanizme zaštite novinara i podržati usklađivanje Hrvatske s europskim standardima slobode medija.

 

Konferencija za medije održat će se u Zagrebu, u srijedu 21. svibnja u 13:30 sati u prostorijama Hrvatskog novinarskog društva.
 Za više informacija ili dogovor o intervjuima s članovima misije, kontaktirajte: mfrr@ecpmf.eu.