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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

Turkey: Press freedom and journalist organisations call for the…

Turkey: Press freedom and journalist organisations call for the release of journalist Fatih Altaylı

The undersigned press freedom, freedom of expression and journalists’ organisations today strongly condemn the arrest of Turkish journalist Fatih Altaylı over his political commentary during a YouTube live broadcast and call for his immediate release.

Türkçe açıklama aşağıdadır…

25.06.2025

Fatih Altaylı, a prominent journalist and columnist, was taken into custody and arrested on June 21, 2025, hours after a segment of his YouTube broadcast went viral on social media. In the video, Altaylı offered critical political commentary in response to a poll suggesting that 70 percent of the Turkish public would oppose a proposal to allow the Turkish President to remain in power indefinitely.

 

Following this, some social media accounts began spreading edited clips from his broadcast that mischaracterised his comments as threatening speech. Shortly afterward, Oktay Saral, a senior advisor to the Turkish President, publicly targeted Altaylı on social media, writing that he was “in hot water already”. Within ten hours, Altaylı had been detained.

 

Under Turkish law, if a person is under investigation for a crime that carries a maximum prison sentence of two years or less, they typically cannot be held in pretrial detention. Initially, Altaylı was held on suspicion of making a criminal threat—an offense that is applicable to threats against any individual, and falls into this category. Prosecutors later reinterpreted the case and invoked a provision that increases penalties for offenses in which the president is the victim. This provision, which mandates a minimum five-year sentence, allowed authorities to place Altaylı in pretrial detention. However, legal experts argue that this provision applies only to direct physical acts—not verbal statements made through the press—and warn that its use in this case exceeds its intended legal scope.

 

The Istanbul 10th Criminal Court of Peace approved the prosecutor’s request to jail Altaylı pending trial, citing the “severity of the offense” and a purported “risk of flight”.

 

Following his arrest, Turkey’s Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) issued a warning on June 23 announcing that Altaylı’s YouTube channel must apply for an internet broadcasting license within 72 hours, submit the required documents, and pay a three-month licensing fee in advance, or be closed down.

 

The undersigned organisations regard this arrest as a clear abuse of criminal law to silence critical political commentary. The decision to interpret Altaylı’s remarks as incitement to assassination is a dangerous expansion of criminal liability, one that threatens to further erode freedom of expression in Türkiye.

 

We jointly call for the immediate release of Fatih Altaylı and urge Turkish authorities to cease exploiting vague legal provisions to persecute journalists. A free press must include the right to freedom of expression and critique political leaders without fear of reprisal.

Signed by:

  • International Press Institute (IPI)
  • ARTICLE 19 Europe
  • Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
  • European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
  • European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
  • Foreign Media Association (FMA Turkey)
  • Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA)
  • Progressive Journalists Association (PJA)
  • Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
  • South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)

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.

Türkiye: Basın ve ifade özgürlüğü ile basın meslek kuruluşları gazeteci Fatih Altaylı’nın serbest bırakılmasını talep ediyor

 

Aşağıda imzası bulunan basın özgürlüğü, ifade hürriyeti ve basın meslek kuruluşları olarak gazeteci Fatih Altaylı’nın YouTube’daki canlı yayınında yaptığı siyasi yorumları nedeniyle tutuklanmasını şiddetle kınıyor, derhal serbest bırakılmasını talep ediyoruz.

 

Gazeteci ve köşe yazarı Fatih Altaylı, sosyal medyada çokça paylaşılan YouTube yayınından birkaç saat sonra 21 Haziran’da önce gözaltına alındı, sonra da tutuklandı. Söz konusu videoda Altaylı, Türkiye halkının yüzde 70’inin devlet başkanlarının süresiz görevde kalmasına karşı olduğunu gösteren bir anketi değerlendiriyordu.

 

Yayının ardından bazı sosyal medya hesapları, Altaylı’nın sözlerini bağlamından koparıp tehdit içerikliymiş gibi yansıtan video kesitlerini yaymaya başladı. Kısa süre içinde Cumhurbaşkanı Başdanışmanı Oktay Saral da sosyal medya hesabından videoyu paylaşıp, “Altaylıııı! Suyun ısınmaya başladı” ifadelerini kullandı. Saral’ın paylaşımından yaklaşık 10 saat sonra Altaylı gözaltına alındı.

 

Türkiye’deki yasalar, azami cezası iki yıl olan suçlarla ilgili soruşturmalarda şüphelilerin tutuklu yargılanamayacağını belirtiyor. Altaylı da ilk olarak bu kapsamda değerlendirilmesi gereken tehdit suçu şüphesiyle gözaltına alınmıştı. Ancak savcılık daha sonra dosyayı yeniden değerlendirerek mağdurun Cumhurbaşkanı olması durumunda cezayı artıran maddeyi devreye soktu. En az beş yıl hapis cezası talep edilebilmesinin önünü açan bu madde uyarınca Altaylı’nın tutuklu yargılanmasının yolu açıldı. Ancak hukukçular, bu maddenin sadece fiziki müdahaleler için geçerli olduğunu, basın yoluyla yapılan sözlü açıklamalara uygulanamayacağını belirterek yasanın kapsamının aşıldığını ifade ediyor.

 

İstanbul 10. Sulh Ceza Hakimliği, savcılığın tutuklama talebini “suçun vasıf ve mahiyeti” ve “kaçma ihtimalinin yüksek olduğu” gerekçesiyle kabul etti.

 

Altaylı’nın tutuklanmasının ardından 23 Haziran’da Radyo ve Televizyon Üst Kurulu (RTÜK) ise gazetecinin YouTube kanalı için 72 saat içinde internet yayın lisansına başvuruda bulunması, gerekli belgeleri sunması ve üç aylık lisans ücretini peşin ödemesi gerektiğini, aksi takdirde kanalın kapatılacağını duyurdu.

 

Aşağıda imzası bulunan kuruluşlar olarak bu tutuklamayı, cezai yasaların açıkça suistimal edilmesi sonucu siyasi eleştirinin bastırılması olarak değerlendiriyoruz. Altaylı’nın sözlerinin suikast suçu kapsamında yorumlanması cezai sorumluluğu tehlikeli biçimde genişletmekte ve Türkiye’de ifade özgürlüğünü daha da zayıflatmaktadır.

 

Fatih Altaylı’nın derhal serbest bırakılmasını ve yetkililerin gazetecileri cezalandırmak için muğlak yasal düzenlemelere başvurmaktan vazgeçmesini talep ediyoruz. Özgür basın, misilleme korkusu yaşamadan siyasi liderleri eleştirme ve fikirlerini ifade edebilme hakkına sahip olmalıdır.

İmzalayanlar:

  • Uluslararası Basın Enstitüsü (IPI)
  • ARTICLE 19 Europe
  • Avrupa Basın ve Medya Özgürlüğü Merkezi (ECPMF)
  • Avrupa Gazeteciler Federasyonu (EFJ)
  • Çağdaş Gazeteciler Derneği (ÇGD)
  • Gazetecileri Koruma Komitesi (CPJ)
  • Güney Doğu Avrupa Medya Örgütü (SEEMO)
  • Medya ve Hukuk Çalışmaları Derneği (MLSA)
  • Sınır Tanımayan Gazeteciler (RSF)
  • Yabancı Medya Derneği (FMA)

Bu açıklama, AB üye ülkeleri ve aday ülkelerde basın ve medya özgürlüğünün ihlallerini takip eden, izleyen ve bunlara müdahale eden Avrupa çapında bir mekanizma olan Medya Özgürlüğü Acil Müdahale (MFRR) tarafından koordine edildi.

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.

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Serbia: Media regulator election again made a mockery of…

Serbia: Media regulator election again made a mockery of EU-required reforms

Process to appoint new members of media regulator council was again conducted in non-transparent and discriminatory manner

19.06.2025

The process for the appointment of new members to the council of Serbia’s media regulator has again been conducted in a non-transparent and discriminatory manner, in clear violation of Serbian legislation, making a mockery of democratic media reforms demanded by the European Union, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) and SafeJournalists Network said today.

 

Last week, candidates and nominator organisations which are independent of the government pulled out of the process for appointing new members of the Council of the Regulatory Body for Electronic Media (REM), Serbia’s most important media regulator.

 

The independent groups cited numerous serious violations of legal requirements and manipulation of the election process by the government majority in the Committee for Culture and Information of the National Assembly. Many of the proposed candidates did not satisfy professional requirements, while multiple organisations permitted to nominate candidates displayed clear government bias or were formed in murky circumstances.

 

Efforts to address these concerns were rejected by the government majority in the Committee earlier this month after they voted against a proposal by the opposition to individually consider each application and the organisation proposing candidates to address serious allegations of bias or non compliance with criteria.

 

Our organisations conclude that the appointment process to the REM Council was again conducted in a non-transparent, non-independent and arbitrary manner, favouring candidates and organisations supportive of the ruling administration, in violation of Article 10 of the Law on Electronic Media. This makes a mockery of actual democratic reform called for by the EU.

 

Our organisations note with further concern that this is the second time that independent candidates have withdrawn from the process, after the initial procedure was abandoned in January 2025 due to widespread complaints of the same procedural irregularities.

 

The result is that the new election of the REM Council – a key EU-mandated measure outlined in both EU Rule of Law and Enlargement reports – is now again in a state of limbo, stalling wider reform of the Serbian media ecosystem.

 

The MFRR, which recently undertook a media freedom mission to Serbia, has repeatedly highlighted the need for urgent reform of the REM, which has long been stacked with government loyalists and undermined by political capture, resulting in an underregulated media ecosystem rife with propaganda and disinformation.

 

As pointed out in our recent mission report, the REM has long represented a key element of media capture in Serbia. Under the control of government loyalists, the previous REM Council, which is responsible for issuing television and radio broadcasting licences, made controversial decisions which undermined media pluralism by boosting pro-government broadcasters at the expense of independent broadcasting houses.

 

The REM repeatedly failed to uphold its mandate. It has failed to oversee fair and balanced election coverage; it has failed to address violent rhetoric and hate speech by tabloid media, as well as the spread of pro-Russian disinformation, and it has failed to sanction targeted smear campaigns by certain tabloid media on critics of the ruling party and its leadership.

 

As the REM Council is also tasked with appointing the Boards of Directors of Serbia’s state broadcaster Radio Television of Serbia (RTS), the appointment of government aligned individuals to the Council remains fundamental to maintaining overall control by the ruling Serbian Progressive Party over the country’s media landscape and broader public discourse.

 

If it is to be assessed as credible, legitimate and lawful by the European Union, the REM Council election process must be held in a fair, transparent and democratic manner, free from irregularities, and resulting in a pluralistic and professional body able to carry out its mandate without obstruction. This must be accompanied by a detailed assessment of conflicts of interests, with any candidate or organisation displaying clear bias disqualified. 

 

It is highly regrettable that these democratic procedures and rule of law requirements were wilfully disregarded by the Committee for Culture and Information during this selection process.

 

Moving forward, the EU should be clear eyed about the disingenuous and compromised approach displayed by Serbian authorities in implementing EU-mandated reform of the REM Council. The legally unviable and politically motivated manner in which the recent election procedure was carried out should mean that progress on media reforms under Chapter 23 of the EU accession process remain stalled until true democratic reform is completed.

 

We warn finally that the situation at the REM Council is illustrative of the wider state of emergency for press and media freedom in Serbia, where attacks on independent journalism in recent months have reached levels not seen for decades, deepening a long-standing media freedom crisis that requires urgent attention and vigilance from the EU.

Signed by:

Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) 

  • International Press Institute (IPI)
  • ARTICLE 19 Europe
  • European Centre for Press and media Freedom (ECPMF)
  • European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
  • Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
  • Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)

SafeJournalists Network 

  • Association of Journalists of Kosovo
  • Association of Journalists of Macedonia
  • BH Journalists Association
  • Croatian Journalists’ Association
  • Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia
  • Trade Union of Media of Montenegro

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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Georgia: Independent media face new wave of repression as…

Georgia: Independent media face new wave of repression as new laws come into effect

Laws on foreign funding and broadcast content empower authorities to censor, prosecute and close media which provide vital sources of news and information to the public. 

17.06.2025

As the ruling Georgian Dream party intensifies efforts to consolidate authoritarian rule, independent media face unprecedented pressure and are now on the brink of survival. Journalists are increasingly subjected to detentions, physical attacks, arbitrary fines, censorship, as well as financial and institutional repression.

 

We, the undersigned international media freedom, journalists’, and human rights organisations, renew our call on the international community, especially the European Union (EU), to exert effective pressure on the Georgian Dream ruling party to end the suppression of independent journalism and to uphold democratic principles and media freedom. We further reiterate our full solidarity with Georgian journalists, who, despite mounting pressure, refuse to be silenced.

 

In recent months, the Georgian Dream party has enacted several repressive pieces of legislation, including the new Foreign Agents Registration Act, as well as amendments to the Law on Grants and the Law of Broadcasting.

 

As a result, directors of media and CSOs now risk criminal prosecution if the state alleges they acted on behalf of “foreign principals” [1] and deliberately failed to register. Furthermore, NGOs and media organisations are required to obtain “the consent of the government or an authorised person/body designated by the government” before receiving any grants from outside Georgia. Even the provision of free training to journalists by international organisations is expected to be ruled a breach of the law.

 

Independent media in Georgia may only have months left before they are forced to close, depriving the public of independent news.

 

Using the new amendments to the law on broadcasting, the authorities have already filed complaints against Formula TV and TV Pirveli with the Georgian National Communications Commission (GNCC).

 

These complaints object to the broadcasters’ use of terms such as “illegitimate Parliament,” “illegitimate government,” “oligarchic regime,” or “regime prisoners”. Formula TV and TV Pirveli now face possible sanctions ranging from public or written warnings and content correction, to imposing fines or ultimately removing licences.

 

This represents a clear attempt by the Georgian Dream party to impose strict censorship and silence independent media.

 

Additionally, journalists covering protests have been subjected to heavy fines in recent months. Mapping Media Freedom data records 28 journalists fined 5,000 Lari (approximately EUR 1,600) for “blocking the road” since November 28, while covering pro-European rallies in Tbilisi.  Some journalists have been fined multiple times.

 

The Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) has long served as an instrument of the Georgian Dream government, suppressing efforts by journalists seeking to report free of political control. Recently, the GPB management fired journalists Vasil Ivanov Chikovani and Nino Zautashvili after they spoke out about political interference at the broadcaster, and subsequently shut down “The Real Space,” the talk show hosted by Zautashvili.

 

Meanwhile, Mzia Amaglobeli, a veteran Georgian journalist and the founder and director of two of the country’s most prominent independent media organisations, has been unjustly held in pre-trial detention since her arrest in early January. According to Mapping Media Freedom data, at least 13 journalists have been detained since November 28 on various charges. Since that date, 246 journalists have been subjected to attacks including physical harassment, smear campaigns, obstruction of work, legal harassment, and fines.

 

The crackdown on media freedom is unfolding against the backdrop of a rapid and systematic dismantling of the rule of law and democratic freedoms.

 

Without sustained international pressure on both Georgian Dream officials and the leaders of institutions responsible for the media crackdown, independent journalism in Georgia cannot survive.

 

This dismantling of media freedom, democratic freedoms and journalists rights in Georgia, amid rising authoritarianism and a shift in Georgia’s geopolitical direction has wider implications for democracy in the region. We urge the international community to place effective pressure on Georgia and to support independent journalism in the country. We call on the Georgian Dream ruling party to end its assault on the media, repeal repressive legislation and immediately release Mzia Amaglobeli.

 

[1]: The list of those who can qualify as “foreign principals” ranges from foreign governments, organisations, and companies to foreign individuals or Georgian citizens who are not permanently residing in Georgia. 

Signed by:

  • International Press Institute (IPI)
  • European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
  • European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
  • Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa
  • ARTICLE 19 Europe
  • Index on Censorship
  • Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP)
  • Society of Journalists (Warsaw)
  • South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)
  • Media Diversity Institute
  • Media Diversity Institute Global
  • Justice for Journalists Foundation
  • RNW Media
  • Ossigeno.info
  • Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
  • IFEX
  • Association of European Journalists in Belgium (AEJ Belgium)
  • IMS (International Media Support)
  • Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD)
  • Democracy Reporting International (DRI)
  • Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety (IRFS)
  • PEN International
  • Public Media Alliance (PMA)
  • Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

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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Under pressure: protecting media freedom in the EU and…

Under Pressure:

Protecting media freedom in the EU and beyond.

24 June, 2025, 15:00 CET

Hilton Warsaw City, Warsaw, Poland

As part of the World Justice Forum, taking place from 23 to 27 June 2025 in Warsaw, OBCT organises a panel to discuss the state of media freedom in Europe and how the decline of the rule of law is affecting the media’s ability to serve as public watchdogs in defense of the public interest.

 

In recent years, even countries traditionally regarded as stable democracies have faced growing threats to the rule of law. Within the European Union, some member states are witnessing a rapid and troubling decline in democratic standards, raising serious concerns about the EU’s capacity to uphold its fundamental values.

 

This panel will focus on media freedom, often one of the first pillars to come under attack in times of democratic decline. We will examine how the weakening or collapse of the rule of law negatively affects journalists’ rights and the media’s ability to operate independently and safely. Topics will include the growing use of vexatious lawsuits (SLAPPs), the failure of justice systems to properly respond to violence against journalists, the abuse of state power to impose financial or regulatory pressure on critical media outlets, and the growing use of restrictive regulations to obstruct civic watchdogs.

 

The panel will also highlight the work of civil society organizations actively defending media freedom on the ground. We will discuss both their successes and the obstacles they face, with particular attention to their engagement with EU instruments such as the Rule of Law Mechanism, and its potential to foster transnational support and accountability.

 

The discussion will bring together perspectives from both EU member states and candidate countries, where the decline of media freedom is a particularly urgent concern.

Register here

Moderator

Luisa Chiodi

OBC Transeuropa (OBCT)

Speakers

Jonathan Day

Civil Liberties Union for Europe

Oliver Money-Kyrle

International Press Institute (IPI)

Ena Bavčić

European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)

Joanna Szymanska

Article 19 Europe

Serena Epis

OBC Transeuropa (OBCT)

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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.

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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.