The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) has backed its affiliate in Poland, the Association of Polish Journalists (SDP)’s call for investigation and preventative measures following the wiretapping scandal on journalists and leading political figures in Poland. A recent internal audit has revealed that around 80 individuals were under surveillance by two secret police units in Poland, including journalists and lawyers reporting on the affair, as well as their family members. According to media reports, one of the units oversaw the tapping and infiltrating the journalists and their contacts while the second looked into whether secret services (ABW and CBA agencies)…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) has joined the Association of Professional Journalists in Albania and the Union of Journalists of Albania condemning the attack of television journalist, Eni Shehu, by the Director of the National Theater, Hervin Çuli, on 15 January in Tirana. The attack took place on Friday when Shehu and his collegues went to the premiere of a play shown in the National Theater. It was not known why Çuli attacked Shehu. Following the attack, Shehu has reported the attack to the police. He suffered from minor injuries. The two journalists’ organisations was outraged by the attack and have demanded the Prime Minister, Edi Rama, and the Minister of Culture, Mirela…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) has backed a case of a Portuguese freelance journalist whose contract with Time Out Lisboa was terminated because he stood up for his rights to claim payment for his work. The journalist who is also a member of the board at the Portuguese Union of Journalists (SJ) has been working for the last eight years as a freelance journalist Time Out Lisboa. However, the journalist was recently informed by the management of Time Out Lisboa that they will not continue working with him.  The journalist believed that the reason for the termination was due to…

Belarus continues its bad practice by handing over the first fine of the year on 13 January to freelance journalist, Larysa Shchyrakova, for working with “foreign media”.Following the ruling, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) have called for an immediate appeal of the ruling and urged the government to scrap the existing law. Shchyrakova, was fined 4 620 000 Belarusian rubles (around 225 EUR) by the Homiel District Court for breaking Article 22.9 of Belarusian Code on Administrative Offenses which forbids freelance journalists in the country from working with foreign media outlets. With…

Journalists, broadcasters and media freedom organisations have gathered this morning (13/01/2016) in front of the Polish Embassy in Brussels protesting against new attempt by the Polish government to control the media while the European Commission was discussing possible action against Poland. The EFJ has been heavily criticising the new law in the past weeks accusing Poland of violating European law on media freedom. It has written to the European Commission calling for prompt action against Poland. Today, the European Commission has discussed the first time at its college meeting the case of Poland and decided to launch action against Poland under…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) strongly condemns an attack that occurred yesterday, 12 January, in the capital city of Georgia, Tbilisi. The three journalists, Levan Sutidze, Irakli Kiknavelidze, Nino Macharashvili, and Avto Koridz, working for the Georgian TV and website Tabula were attacked at a restaurant. The journalists suffered from minor injuries. Following the attack, Sutidze issued a statement on his Facebook page claiming that three unknown individuals attacked him and his colleagues. He believed that the reason for the assault was motivated by the critical view of Georgian TV towards the Georgian Church. Allegedly, one of the attackers was…