Russia: EFJ and IFJ demand release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and their affiliates in Russia, JMWU, and in the United States, NewsGuild-CWA, call on Russian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Wall Street Journal reporter and U.S. citizen Evan Gershkovich, detained on Thursday in Yekaterinburg. He could face up to 20 years in prison as the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) says he was “collecting classified information”. Gershkovich is the first reporter for a US news outlet to be arrested on espionage charges in Russia since the cold war. On 30 March, the FSB stated that it had…

Belarus: Free Pavel Mazheyka and the 35 imprisoned journalists

This article was written by Belarusian journalists The well-known Belarusian journalist and public figure Pavel Mazheika was arrested on August 30, 2022. He was kidnapped just on the street near his house. The security forces detained him very brutally: they put a bag over his head and beat him. Not because he is a dangerous terrorist who poses a threat even with his hands behind his back in handcuffs. But because he is a journalist, and the violence of the security forces and torture in prison have become commonplace today in Belarus. Now Pavel is behind bars in the pre-trial…

Malta: Press freedom groups and journalists organisations urge PM to deliver strong media law reforms

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) today 16 March 2023 joined media freedom organisations in writing to the Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela urging his government to implement recommendations from the recent public consultation into draft media laws and to strengthen the planned legislation in line with international standards. Read the full letter below Dear Prime Minister Robert Abela, The undersigned international press freedom and journalists organisations are today writing to urge your government to follow up on the recent public consultation into media law reforms by implementing changes which will significantly strengthen the draft legislation. As the monthly memorial…

Action needed on the EC Safety of Journalists Recommendation

Today, 16 March 2023, marks 18 months since the adoption by the European Commission of its Recommendation to the Member States on ensuring the protection, safety and empowerment of journalists and other media professionals in the European Union. The European Commission is due to perform an evaluation based on key performance indicators, to take stock of the progress achieved by the Member States. In this context, the partners in the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) call on the European Commission and the Member States to develop comprehensive and regular reporting mechanisms that involve all key stakeholders to effectively measure and…

Slavko Ćuruvija: Cycle of impunity for killing of journalists in Serbia must be broken

Following the start of the retrial last week at the Court of Appeal for the 1999 murder of Serbian editor and publisher Slavko Ćuruvija, the undersigned partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) and the SafeJournalists Network (SJN) today renew our call for justice for his killing to finally be secured. The pending ruling – which will either confirm or dismiss the previous guilty verdicts handed down to four state security agents for carrying out and planning his assassination – will be the most consequential for media freedom and journalism in Serbia’s modern history. Coming nearly 24 years after…

Letter to the Swedish Presidency: Anti-SLAPP compromise proposal raises serious concerns

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) expressed its profound concern with the latest developments regarding the European anti-SLAPP Directive. Members of the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe (CASE) have written to the Swedish Presidency of the EU Council about the worrying draft compromise proposal leaked on 6 March 2023. The Swedish Presidency’s compromise proposal is self-defeating, runs contrary to the purpose of the anti-SLAPP Directive and undermines its spirit. It fails to meet the expectations of the European Parliament, the European Union’s most important democratic body. We call on national governments to act now to ensure that the Council of the EU…

UK: full support for Gary Lineker and BBC local staff preparing to strike

The Steering Committee of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) meeting in Brussels on Monday joined its British affiliate, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), in denouncing the suspension of commentator Gary Lineker. The EFJ also expressed its support to the BBC local staff preparing to strike on Wednesday and Thursday over cuts to local radio. The BBC announced on Monday that Gary Lineker is to return to presenting sport on the BBC after he was taken off air for criticising on Twitter the language used by ministers when discussing the government’s asylum policy. “We note the apology from BBC…

Italy: Prosecutor issues seizure order for article published by newspaper Domani

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) condemns the decision of the Italian prosecutor to issue a seizure order for Domani’s investigative article, following a criminal complaint by the Undersecretary at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the current government. Italian press freedom is seriously threatened by yet another attempt by a member of the current government to silence independent journalism. The undersigned media freedom and civil society organisations strongly condemn the decision of the Italian prosecutor to issue a seizure order for Domani’s investigative article, following a criminal complaint by Claudio Durigon, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Labour and…

BAJ labeled ‘extremist group’ by Lukashenko’s regime

The Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), laureate of the UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize, has been labeled an ‘extremist group’ by Alyaksandr Lukashenko‘s regime, in an obvious act of obstruction to the freedom of the press. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) brings its full support to the association and its members. The Belarusian KGB’s decision, issued on 28 February 2023 and made public this week on 7 March 2023, means that anyone that has taken part in BAJ’s activities could face up to 10 years in prison, according to the country’s Criminal code. The security services stated that BAJ president…

Council of Europe report highlights the need for independent journalism

The Council of Europe Platform to Promote the Protection of Journalism and the Safety of Journalists, with the European and International Federations of Journalists (EFJ/IFJ) and other partner organisations, launched in Brussels on 7 March the 2023 Annual Report: ‘War in Europe and the Fight for the Right to Report‘. The report discusses the impact of the war in Ukraine, and the need for robust and independent journalism. It highlights the need for Member States to harmonise their legislations, and the danger of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), as well as the case of Belarus, impunity, detentions of journalists and…