26.12.2024 – Journalists Arrested in Istanbul, Türkiye / Turkey Following Protest Against Drone Strike Deaths in Syria

On 21 December 2024 Turkish police detained 59 individuals, including journalists, during a protest at Şişhane Square in Istanbul, Türkiye / Turkey. The protest was held in response to the recent deaths of Kurdish journalists Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin, killed in a drone strike in northern Syria on 20 December 2024. Of those detained, nine individuals, including seven journalists, have been formally arrested, while others were released under judicial control or freed after police questioning. Released under judicial control are reporters Zeynep Kuray, Yadigar Aygün, Mahsum Sağlam.

The detained journalists were attempting to read a statement organized by the Dicle Fırat Journalists’ Association (Dicle Fırat Gazeteciler Derneği – DFG – https://diclefiratgazeteciler.org/), Mezopotamya Women Journalists’ Association (Mezopotamya Kadın Gazeteciler Platformu – MKG – https://mkgp.org/), and DİSK Basın-İş (https://www.diskbasinis.org/). Their goal was to honor the slain journalists, who were reportedly targeted while covering the conflict in northern Syria. The statement drew support from political figures and civil society representatives, but police intervened before it could be delivered, placing attendees under tight surveillance and making arrests.

The journalists now facing charges include Gülistan Dursun and Hayri Tunç who are freelance journalists, Enes Sezgin social media manager for the daily Yeni Yaşam (https://yeniyasamgazetesi5.com/), Osman Akın who is news editor for Yeni Yaşam, and Can Papila from Yeni Yaşam Newspaper, along with Pınar Gayıp from Etkin News Agency (ETHA) and Serpil Ünal from Mücadele Birliği Newspaper (https://www.mucadelebirligi23.net/). The authorities have accused them of carrying photographs of Daştan and Bilgin, alleged to be evidence of “propaganda for an illegal organization” and violating Türkiye / Turkey strict laws on public demonstrations.

Following their arrest, the journalists issued a defiant statement through their lawyers, quoting a poetic message: “Reigns and palaces also fall. Only those who resist and the struggles of Nazıms and Cihans will endure. Journalism is not a crime.”

The incident underscores ongoing concerns about press freedom in Türkiye / Turkey.

As the situation develops, press organizations and rights groups remain steadfast in their demand for justice for the detained journalists and accountability for the deaths of Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the arrest of journalists during the protest in Istanbul, organized to honor the memory of Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin, who tragically lost their lives while covering events in northern Syria. The detention and subsequent arrest of media workers for exercising their right to report and participate in peaceful demonstrations represents a serious violation of press freedom and democratic principles. SEEMO calls on Turkish authorities to immediately release the detained journalists and ensure the media can operate without fear of retaliation or censorship. SEEMO will continue to monitor this case closely and advocate for the rights of journalists in Türkiye / Turkey and beyond.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #turkey #instanbul #GülistanDursun #HayriTunç #EnesSezgin #OsmanAkın #CanPapila #PınarGayıp #SerpilÜnal #journalistdetained #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

In a case of Belarus crackdown on independent journalism, video-journalist Yauhen Nikalayevich (Яўген Нікалаевіч), born 1996, has been sentenced to 1.5 years in penal colony. The conviction, handed down by the court in Pinsk (Пінск), Belarus, on 2 October 2024 accused Nikalayevich of participating in mass demonstrations under Article 342, Part 1 of the Belarusian Criminal Code. His appeal to the Brest (Брэст), Belarus, Regional Court was rejected on 3 December 2024 solidifying the sentence. On 6 December 2024 his name was published on the list of “extremist” citizens by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus (Міністэрства ўнутраных спраў Рэспублікі Беларусь).

Nikalayevich’s troubles began in August 2020, when he worked for Media-Polesye (https://media-polesye.com/), an regional news outlet, was covering protests in Pinsk connected to the presidential elections. While reporting, he was detained on 10 August 2024 and allegedly, according to some soureces, beaten in custody. Media-Polesye was initially unable to determine his whereabouts until he was located in a temporary detention facility and later transferred to a correctional facility in Ivatsevichy (Івацэвічы), Belarus.

You can read Media-Polesye article: https://media-polesye.com/news/stal-izvesten-prigovor-zhurnalistu-media-polesye-evgeniyu-nikolaevichu/

In November 2020, Nikalayevich faced further legal troubles when he was summoned to explain allegations of disrespect toward a local judge. Although those accusations were later dismissed, he was detained again to serve a previously imposed administrative arrest. Following this, he left Belarus and pursued a non-journalism career abroad.

After returning to Belarus in early 2024, Nikalayevich was detained once again. Although the exact date of his arrest is unclear, his trial commenced on 26 September 2024 and the guilty verdict was announced shortly after. The Ministry of Internal Affairs added him to its list of individuals involved in “extremist activities” on 6 December 2024 marking him as an alleged threat.

The targeting of Nikalayevich underscores the dangers faced by journalists operating in authoritarian regimes like Belarus. Despite his absence from journalism after fleeing Belarus in 2020, his decision to return home resulted in harsh punishment.

This latest development serves as a stark reminder of the vital importance of protecting press freedom and holding regimes accountable for human rights abuses.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the sentencing of Belarusian journalist Yauhen Nikalayevich, whose imprisonment is yet another example of the systematic targeting of independent journalists in Belarus. Criminalizing a journalist for carrying out their professional duties documenting public protests is a clear violation of press freedom and international human rights standards. SEEMO urges Belarusian authorities to release Nikalayevich immediately and cease the persecution of media professionals. SEEMO will closely monitor this case and continue to advocate for the protection of journalists and freedom of expression in Belarus.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #belarus #YauhenNikalayevich #Media-Polesye #journalistinjail #journalistarrested #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

On 17 December 2024 the trial against six members of Abzas Media online platform (https://abzas.org/az/), investigative outlet, and freelance journalist Farid Mehralizada (Fərid Mehralızadə) commenced in Crimes Court in Baku (Bakı), Azerbaijan. All where arrested in 2023 and 2024. The journalists are accused of financial crimes, illegal foreign funding, including currency smuggling, tax evasion, and money laundering, charges that could result in lengthy prison sentences of up to 12 years under Azerbaijani law.

Arrested Abzas Media staff are CEO Ulvi Hasanli (Ülvi Həsənli /Ulvi Fakhreddin oglu Hasanov / Hasanli), born 1987,who was in the past also an activist of NIDA Civic Union, editor-in-chief Sevinj Vagifgizi (Abbasova /Sevinc Vaqif qızı Abbasova), born 1989, coordinator for Abzas projects and deputy CEO Mahammad Kekalov (Məhəmməd Kekalov / Mohammad Shamil oglu Kekalov), journalist Hafiz Babali (Hafiz Babalı), journalist Nargiz Absalamova (Nərgiz Absalamova) and journalist Elnara Gasimova (Elnarə Qasımova). Hafiz Babali is also affiliated with Turan Information Agency (https://turan.az/en) as head of the economic department of Turan Agency.

The accusations have been categorically denied by Abzas Media and all involved. They maintain that these charges are a form of retaliation for their investigative work exposing corruption among state officials in Azerbaijan. Mehralizada, an economist and journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Azerbaijani Service (RFE/RL – https://www.rferl.org/), has also denied involvement with Abzas Media, though authorities have linked him to the outlet.

This trial is part of a broader crackdown on independent media in Azerbaijan in the past years.

Access to the courtroom has been restricted, and journalists covering the trial were reportedly barred from entering.

Abzas Media, known for its investigative reporting, has continued its work from abroad. The outlet asserts that the crackdown is a direct result of its reporting on corruption involving high level politicians.

This crackdown represents a concerning escalation in the Azerbaijani government’s efforts to restrict media freedom.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) strongly condemns the arrests, detentions and court cases and will monitor the cases.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation#ngo #journalist #azerbaijan #abzasmedia #FaridMehralizada #UlviHasanli #SevinjVagifgizi #MahammadKekalov #HafizBabali #NargizAbsalamova #ElnaraGasimova #journalistinjail #journalistarrested #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

One member of the Italian government has initiated civil defamation lawsuits against Giulio Cavalli, writer, journalist, actor and playwright working for La Notizia newspaper (https://www.lanotiziagiornale.it/), Nicola Lagioia, writer, and Gaetano Pedullà, La Notizia editor-in-chief. The lawsuits stem from critical comments about social media posts and policies of this government member, as well as an article published in La Notizia.

The first lawsuit targets Cavalli and Pedullà over a piece published in April 2024.

The second case involves Lagioia and a case from March 2024. Lagioia highlighted that many foreigners speak better Italian than the member of the government himself.

The member of the government is asking in total 30,000 EUR as demanded in compensation for damages. Critics argue that his actions contradict the constitutional guarantees of free speech and equality, particularly Articles 3 and 21, which safeguard these fundamental rights.

These lawsuits come amidst growing concern over the government’s broader pattern of targeting critical voices. Earlier, disciplinary action was taken against writer and teacher Christian Raimo for his criticism of the administration. Observers note a troubling trend of using legal threats to stifle critique, creating what Lagioia described as a “climate of fear.”

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) calls on all authorities in Italy to respect and uphold the right to free expression, and SEEMO will closely monitor the developments connected to this cases.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation#ngo #journalist #italy #GiulioCavalli #NicolaLagioia #GaetanoPedullà #LaNotizia #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

A male individual on 17 December 2024 assaulted journalist Sanja Kosović from N1 TV (https://n1info.rs/) outside the Vojvodina Assembly in Novi Sad, Serbia, by hitting her microphone twice. The attack occurred after Kosović questioned him about allegedly pushing a woman, causing her to fall. He said after this incident to Nova.rs “I didn’t attack any journalist. She pushed the microphone at me. I’m going my own way, I have my own business. I didn’t physically attack anyone, I didn’t even touch anyone, I hit the microphone. They attacked me, surrounded me while I was making my way through the crowd”.

You can see the video that N1 posted here: https://n1info.rs/vesti/ispred-skupstine-vojvodine-napadnuta-novinarka-n1/

Several students who participated in a protest tried to calm the man down, but he angrily demanded to pass and walked away, reportedly frustrated by the student protest blocking his path.

The students had gathered outside the assembly building, making noise as an ongoing session inside focused on the province’s 2025 budget. The session has drawn criticism, with the proposed budget passing without any debate. Earlier, journalists were forcibly removed from the assembly hall by security, barring them from covering the proceedings.

Meanwhile, opposition parties in Serbia expressed dissatisfaction, calling for discussions on the demolition of a shelter at the train station that happened on 1 November 2024 in Novi Sad, Serbia, and the ongoing student protests that are happening all around Serbia. Their requests to add these issues, as well as the dismissal of Assembly President, to the agenda were denied.

The situation highlights growing tensions around governance, press freedom, and public dissent in the province of Vojvodina, with protesters and opposition leaders voicing frustration at the lack of accountability and open debate.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns this incident and the removal of journalists from the session. SEEMO stands in solidarity with Kosović and all media professionals facing intimidation and violence, and SEEMO will be closely monitoring the situation to ensure accountability and the protection of journalists in the region.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #serbia #novisad #n1 #sanjakosovic #journalistattack #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

A recent report published on 16 December 2024 by Amnesty International (https://www.amnesty.org/en/) has revealed the alleged systemic use of spyware and digital surveillance technologies against activists, journalists, and members of civil society by Serbian security agencies and law enforcement. The findings point to the alleged abuse of invasive tools, including a new spyware dubbed NoviSpy, in combination with forensic extraction technologies.

You can read the Amnesty International article here: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur70/8813/2024/en/

The ordeal for activists from the literary and civil rights organization KROKODIL (https://www.krokodil.rs/) began on 20 September 2024 when a group of men entered their offices, forcibly removed a Ukrainian flag, and issued threats. The intruders reportedly spoke Russian and wore t-shirts bearing the likeness of convicted Serbian war criminal Ratko Mladić. Following this incident, a representative from KROKODIL contacted Serbia’s Security Intelligence Agency (Bezbednosno Informativna Agencija – BIA) to report the attack and seek protection.

During the subsequent meeting with BIA in October 2024, the activist was asked to unlock the phone under the pretext of ensuring the conversation wasn’t being recorded. After leaving the device unattended in another room, the activist noticed an unusual notification stating that the contact list had been copied. Amnesty International’s forensic analysis later confirmed that NoviSpy had been installed on the device.

According to Amnesty’s report, NoviSpy is a sophisticated spyware developed to infect devices and collect sensitive data, such as contact lists and screenshots taken every few seconds. These data are then uploaded to a server allegedly connected to the BIA. This spyware has been in use since late 2023 and has become a tool for suppressing dissent.

The use of NoviSpy is not an isolated case. Amnesty International documented similar instances involving Nikola Ristić, a member of the activist group Sviće (https://svice.rs/), Ivan Bjelić, an activist from the initiative Marš sa Drine (https://marssadrine.org/en/), Slaviša Milanov, a journalist from Dimitrovgrad, Serbia, Ivan Milosavljević (Buki), an environmental activist. All these individuals reported that their phones were tampered with during detentions or so-called “informative meetings” with law enforcement or BIA.

The report highlights the misuse of Cellebrite’s digital forensic tools, which were originally provided to Serbia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs (Ministarstvo Unutrašnjih Poslova – MUP) as part of international aid programs. Cellebrite’s UFED (Universal Forensic Extraction Device), donated to Serbia 2019, was intended for criminal investigations but has been weaponized against civil society.

Both BIA and MUP have denied the allegations. In statements, BIA dismissed the report as “nonsensical,” accusing Amnesty International of working on behalf of “foreign interests.” MUP insisted that Cellebrite technology is used strictly in compliance with Serbian criminal procedure laws.

Local Serbian civil rights organizations, including the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (Nezavisno Udruženje Novinara Srbije – NUNS – IJAS – https://nuns.rs/), have called for thorough investigations into these abuses.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is alarmed about the information of possible use of spyware and digital surveillance technologies against journalists and activists in Serbia, as detailed in Amnesty International’s recent report. Such practices are not only a blatant violation of privacy rights but also a direct attack on press freedom and democracy. The deployment of spyware like NoviSpy, coupled with the misuse of forensic tools like Cellebrite’s UFED, is deeply disturbing and poses a serious threat to civil society. SEEMO is committed to monitoring this situation closely and urges Serbian authorities to immediately cease these abuses, conduct a transparent investigation, and uphold the rights and freedoms of all citizens.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #serbia #amnestyinternation #journalistattacked #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, nine radio transmitters operated by Hromadske Radio (Громадське радіо – https://hromadske.radio/)) have been allegedly destroyed or taken over by Russian forces, rendering them unusable. Victoria Yermolayeva (Вікторія Єрмолаєва), the outlet’s editor-in-chief, shared this on 11 December 2024 in a interview with Ukraine’s Institute of Mass Information (Інститут масової інформації – IMI – https://imi.org.ua/en). The lost transmitters were crucial for maintaining communication with audiences in contested regions. These transmitters were located in Ukraine in Zorynivka (Зоринівка), Lysychansk (Лисичанськ), Volnovakha (Волноваха), Mariupol (Маріуполь), Bilolutsk (Білолуцьк), Bilovodsk (Біловодськ), Starobilsk (Старобільськ), Bakhmutivka (Бахмутівка), and Pokrovsk (Покровськ), areas now under occupation or close to active conflict in Ukraine’s Luhansk (Луганськ) and Donetsk (Донецьк) regions.

You can read Victoria interview for IMI here: https://imi.org.ua/monitorings/golovredka-gromadskogo-radio-my-ne-podayemo-informatsiyu-isterychno-i-ne-podayemo-yiyi-obnadijlyvo-i65374

Yermolayeva emphasized that the loss of these facilities goes beyond financial setbacks, representing a significant blow to maintaining a vital dialogue with Ukrainian citizens trapped in territories exposed to Russian propaganda. She noted the immense value of Hromadske Radio’s content, which often delivers life-saving information. Despite the challenges, the station has managed to maintain a presence in occupied territories through innovative solutions, such as broadcasting via the Android-based Ceno browser, which bypasses censorship without requiring a special virtual private network (VPN).

The organization has also undertaken measures to adapt and grow despite the crisis. Over the past year, Hromadske Radio has significantly expanded its digital reach, particularly on YouTube, achieving a sevenfold increase in viewership and more than quadrupling its subscriber base compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, the outlet continues to foster young talent, implement AI-driven tools, and strengthen its internal operations. These efforts have earned Hromadske Radio many international recognition, including certification from the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI – https://www.journalismtrustinitiative.org/) and inclusion in Ukraine’s “White List” of transparent and responsible media. In total, the Hromadske Radio team consists today of about 60 staff members in total, about 45 people work in the newsroom.

Reflecting on her experience living under occupation in Crimea (Крим), Yermolayeva stressed the critical importance of communication with people in occupied areas. She recalled the sense of isolation many felt in 2014 and called for stronger outreach from media and authorities alike. Despite immense risks, Hromadske Radio remains committed to expanding its network, including plans to secure new frequencies in frontline areas such as Zaporizhzhia (Запоріжжя), Ukraine, ensuring that even those in the most challenging circumstances have access to reliable information.

Hromadske Radio’s mission is clear, to bridge the gap between Ukrainians, whether in occupied territories or on the frontlines, and the broader national conversation. Through innovation, resilience, and commitment, the station continues to stand as a beacon of truth amid an ongoing struggle for freedom and information.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the destruction and seizure of nine Hromadske Radio broadcasting towers since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. These actions not only undermine press freedom but also sever vital communication lines to audiences in conflict-affected and occupied territories, further isolating communities already living under oppressive conditions. SEEMO views this as a grave violation of media and democratic rights and will continue to monitor the situation closely.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #ukraine #hromadskeradio #VictoriaYermolayeva #journalistattack #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

The Court of Appeals in Belgrade, Serbia, has upheld a ruling requiring Filip Švarm, editor-in-chief of the weekly Vreme (https://vreme.com/), and journalist Nemanja Rujević to pay 80,000 RSD (683 EUR) to one individual for allegedly damaging her reputation. This stems from Vreme’s article “Anatomy of a Dissertation,” (Anatomija Jedne Disertacije) published five years ago on 27 November 2019 which claimed that at least 15% of this person’s doctoral thesis was copied without proper attribution.

While the court did not dispute the accuracy of the article’s claims, it emphasized that only qualified experts, not journalists, can officially determine whether a piece of work is plagiarized. As such, it ruled that journalists are not entitled to publicly label academic work as plagiarism. The judgment has also ordered Vreme to publish the court’s decision, which the publication has already done.

The court decision is strange, because journalists have the right to investigate all cases, including cases of plagiarism, and to present the results of their research to the public, including presenting their conclusions related to a research. If journalists are denied the ability to report on evident wrongdoing without waiting for official certifications, the public’s right to transparency and accountability may be seriously undermined.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) views this ruling as a dangerous precedent that pressures media into self-censorship. SEEMO stands in solidarity with the Vreme team and will closely monitor this case to ensure the protection of media freedom and the right to report on issues of public interest.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #serbia #vreme #filipsvarm #nemanjarujevic #journalistontrial #jorunalistattack #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

In a troubling escalation of Belarus crackdown on dissent, journalist and political prisoner Ihar /Igar Karnei (Ігар Карней) has been sentenced to an additional eight months in prison for alleged “persistent disobedience” to the prison administration’s rules. This new sentence, handed down on 13 December 2024 by Judge of the District Court in Shklou (Шклов), Belarus, adds to Karnei’s existing three-year sentence for alleged “participation in an extremist formation.” The journalist will now remain behind bars until October 2026 instead of February 2026.

Karnei, 56, has been in prison since July 2023 following a raid on his home. First he was detained on 17 July 2023 and sentenced to 10 days of arrest and on 28 July same year a criminal case was brought against Karnei. Authorities accused him of collaborating with the Belarusian Association of Journalists (Беларуская асацыяцыя журналістаў – BAJ – https://baj.media/en/), leading media advocacy organization from Belarus that was labeled an “extremist formation” by the government in February 2023. His original conviction on 22 March 2024 was widely condemned as part of a broader campaign to stifle press freedom in Belarus. He was charged under Article 361-1 /3 of the Criminal Code for being a member of an extremist organization.

Since being transferred to Correctional Facility No. 17 in Shklou in June 2024, Karnei has faced harsh treatment, including extended solitary confinement and restrictions on communication. He has been allegedly isolated from other inmates since July and prohibited from receiving parcels or making phone calls. His family reported receiving only a fraction of his letters.

Details surrounding the new charges remain unclear. Authorities have not disclosed specific instances of disobedience, but reports suggest that minor infractions or fabricated accusations are often used to justify additional penalties against political detainees. Belarusian law allows prisoners to be charged under Article 411(1) of the criminal code if they receive multiple reprimands, a common practice in political cases.

Karnei’s long career in journalism began during his university years in the 1980s. He co-founded an independent youth newspaper and later contributed to prominent publications such as Komsomolskaya Pravda (Комсомольская правда – https://www.kp.ru/) and Zvyazda (Звязда – https://zviazda.by/be). He spent two decades with Radio Svaboda (https://www.svoboda.org/ – https://www.svoboda.org/), the Belarusian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (https://www.rferl.org/). More recently, he focused on local history and blogging for the website Kreva.Travel (Крэва – -https://kreva.travel/). In 2020 he was arrested after reporting from a demonstration.

This latest sentence highlights the dire state of press freedom and human rights in Belarus, where journalists face persecution for their commitment to truth and accountability. Calls for Karnei’s immediate release, along with all jailed journalists in Belarus, continue to grow from international advocacy groups.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the sentencing of journalist Ihar Karnei to an additional eight months in prison on unclear charges. This unjust decision, compounded by Karnei’s ongoing mistreatment in detention, is a blatant attempt to silence independent journalism in Belarus and violates fundamental principles of human rights and press freedom. SEEMO calls for Karnei’s immediate release, along with all other journalists imprisoned for their work. SEEMO will continue to closely monitor his case and the broader repression of media professionals in Belarus.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #belarus #IharKarnei #rferl #KomsomolskayaPravda #Zvyazda #journalistdetained #journalistinjail #jailedjournalist #journalistinprison #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

Journalist Dario Topić, 56 years old and editor-in-chief of the local news portal Komarilos.com (https://komarilos.com/), was the victim of a premeditated attack in Osijek, Croatia, on 4 December 2024. The attack occurred while Topić was investigating the City of Osijek’s decision not to renew one company’s parking concession after 26 years. The attacker allegedly assaulted him, inflicting multiple blows. Topić sought medical care and reported the incident to the police and prosecutors.

The Croatian Journalists’ Association (Hrvatsko Novinarsko Društvo – HND – https://www.hnd.hr/) expressed outrage, condemning the attack as a deliberate effort to intimidate a journalist performing public-interest work. HND called for legal consequences under Croatia’s Penal Code against the attacker, which designates attacks on journalists as severe offenses punishable by up to three years in prison. Dario Topić is member of HND.

You can read HND article here: https://www.hnd.hr/hnd-vlasnik-tvrtke-elektromodul-brutalno-pretukao-novinara-darija-topica

On 7 December 2024 the Osijek police detained the attacker charging him with “Coercion against a person performing tasks of public interest.” Authorities acted under the established protocol for addressing crimes against journalists. However, on 10 December 2024 the Osijek State Attorney’s Office released the attacker from pre-trial detention, imposing restrictions requiring him to remain at least 100 meters away from Topić and forbidding any contact. Violating these measures could lead to his re-arrest.

As this case unfolds, organizations and advocates for press freedom emphasize that journalists must be able to investigate matters of public interest without fear of violence or retribution. The resolution of this incident will serve as a test of Croatia’s commitment to safeguarding media freedom.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the brutal attack on journalist Dario Topić, editor-in-chief of Komarilos.com, in Osijek, Croatia. This violent act, targeting a journalist investigating issues of public interest, is an unacceptable assault on press freedom and the safety of media professionals. SEEMO calls on Croatian authorities to ensure a thorough and swift investigation. SEEMO will be closely monitoring the progress of this case to ensure accountability and to advocate for stronger measures to safeguard journalists across the region.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #croatia #dariotopic #komarilos #osijek #journalistattacked #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia