The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in welcoming the release of Australian journalist Julian Assange, after 14 years of judicial harassment and five years in prison. The dropping of 17 of the 18 charges that he faced avoids the criminalisation of the normal journalistic practices of encouraging sources to confidentially share evidence of wrongdoing and criminality. But by forcing Julian Assange to plead guilty to a crime he didn’t commit, the US is keeping up the pressure on any journalist, anywhere in the world, who reveals classified information on US national defense. Julian…

In response to the EU sanctions against Russian media that were approved in June 2024, Russia’s Foreign Ministry has announced that it is banning 81 media outlets from European Union countries from broadcasting in Russia. The International and the European Federations of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) strongly condemn these restrictions, which prevent Russian citizens from freely accessing information from EU media outlets, thereby breaching the public’s right to know. On 25 June, Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced its decision to block access to prominent EU media outlets across Russia and released a list of 81 publications, including  leading EU and pan-European media from…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins the undersigned members of the Media freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) in welcoming the start of the trial, on 26 June, of two suspects accused of the 2021 killing of Greek investigative journalist, Giorgos Karaivaz. We also call on the authorities to redouble efforts to identify those who ordered his murder.  Giorgos Karaivaz was shot dead on 9 April 2021, near his home in Alimos, by professional hitmen who then escaped on a motorbike. The suspects were apprehended in April 2023, and have since been held in pretrial detention. The trial must conclude by…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) coalition partners in expressing serious concerns about the alarming deterioration of media freedom in Italy. A letter has been sent to the President of the European Parliament, Ms Roberta Metsola, and the President of the European Commission, Ms Ursula von der Leyen. We are drawing attention to the findings of our urgent advocacy mission to Rome on 16-17 May.   Dear President of the European Parliament, Ms Roberta Metsola, Dear President of the European Commission, Ms Ursula von der Leyen,   We are writing to express our…

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) coalition partners in standing in solidarity with the Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation, which has unwaveringly campaigned against the continued impunity for the 1999 murder of Serbian journalist Slavko Ćuruvija. New legal action brought by two of the individuals acquitted of Ćuruvija’s murder now threatens to undermine the foundation’s campaign for justice. For over a decade, the Foundation has sought justice for Ćuruvija, an esteemed editor and publisher who was shot in front of his home in Belgrade in 1999. Twenty years later, four former state security officers were…

Just over a month ago, the annual meeting of the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) unanimously adopted a resolution demanding the immediate release of journalist Pablo González Yagüe, who has been held in Poland since February 28, 2022 on vague espionage charges. This Wednesday, the EFJ joins the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), their affiliates in Spain (FAPE, FeSP, FSC-CCOO, ELA, UGT) and other organizations defending journalists, in demonstrating outside the Polish consulate in Madrid, to once again call on the Polish authorities to put an end to the journalist’s interminable pre-trial detention. “It is not tolerable that a country…