4 October 2024: Slovakia’s Prime Minister launches SLAPP case against leading investigative journalist

4 October 2024: Slovakia’s Prime Minister launches SLAPP case against leading investigative journalist

October 8, 2024 disabled comments

Media freedom groups today condemned the legal action taken by the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, against the editor in chief of Aktuality.sk, Peter Bardy, as well Ringier Slovak Media, the publisher of the book, for the use of a photo of Fico on the cover of the book ‘Fico-Obsessed with Power,’ We call on the court to dismiss the case.

Fico is claiming 100.000 euros from Bardy, and another 100.000 euros from the publisher as compensation for non-material damage caused by the choice of cover photo. Fico’s lawyers claim that Fico has the right to decide how his photograph is used.

The action has all the hallmarks of a SLAPP, or Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation, that is used by the powerful to intimidate journalists and end their investigative reporting.

The book, which charts Fico’s long political career, includes statements by Fico’s colleagues and political opponents.

Aktuality.sk is one of Slovakia’s leading news media with a reputation for hard hitting investigative journalism. It was also the home of Jan Kuciak before he was murdered in February 2018 following his exposures into corruption in the heart of the Slovak state during Fico’s last tenure as Prime Minister. The killing of Jan Kuciak and his fiancée,
Martina Kusnirova, sparked huge public protests, leading to Fico’s eventual resignation. Fico has regularly blamed the media for his departure. He wasted little time in acting against those he described as ‘enemy media’ after returning to power with the 2023 elections.

“We are convinced that we have not violated the law, which we will defend and explain in court. And we believe in a fair trial,” said editor-in-chief Peter Bárdy. “If someone wanted to intimidate me with this lawsuit, if it was meant to trigger self-censorship in me, it didn’t work. I will continue to do what I have been doing for almost three decades in journalism and together with the editors of Aktuality.sk, but also with many great journalists from other Slovak media, we will point out problems in the state, criticize politicians, heads of institutions and publish verified information in the public interest. Because that is our job.”

According to our analysis, the lawsuit fulfills key indicators for a SLAPP. There is an imbalance of power between Fico as the claimant and Bárdy as the defendant, considering Fico’s political influence and the lawsuit targets not only the publisher but also Bárdy in his individualcapacity. The lawsuit does not object to the content or the veracity of the information in the book, and the damages requested, namely EUR
100,000 from each defendant, are highly excessive.

The Council of Europe and the European Union have introduced new instruments to counter SLAPPs, including the EU Anti-SLAPP Directive which member states should implement and transpose. Instead of intimidating journalists with SLAPP legal actions, Fico and his government should focus on implementing these standards at the national
level.

The Media Freedom Rapid Response consortium and its partners will continue to closely monitor the SLAPP case as well as document it on Mapping Media Freedom and the Council of Europe Platform for the Safety of Journalists.

Undersigned Organisations

International Press Institute (IPI)
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
Free Press Unlimited (FPU)
The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
OBC Transeuropa (OBCT)
Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)

19 Jun 2013: IPI and SEEMO condemn repression of journalists in Turkey Numerous media representatives reportedly beaten, detained arbitrarily

October 8, 2024 disabled comments

The International Press Institute (IPI) and the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), today condemned a campaign of repression targeting journalists covering ongoing protests in Turkey.

IPI Press Freedom Manager Barbara Trionfi said: “We are deeply disturbed by accounts of numerous journalists being beaten, detained arbitrarily and forced to delete footage. We are similarly disturbed by reports of outright hostility towards journalists coming from the highest levels of government. We urge Turkey’s government to respect the fundamental role that journalists play in a democracy and to ensure that media representatives are allowed to do their job.”

Turkish news website Bianet reported yesterday that police conducted early-morning raids on the offices of Ozgur Radio, the Etkin News Agency and the newspaper Atilim, detaining numerous individuals. The raids followed reports Monday by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) cataloguing approximately 20 instances in recent weeks in which foreign and domestic journalists were beaten, hit by tear gas canisters or rubber bullets, or detained, particularly on Saturday night as police evicted demonstrators from Gezi
Park near Taksim Square in central Istanbul.

The reported targeting of journalists has come amid a climate of intolerance for news coverage of protests emanating directly from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s office. The prime minister on Sunday accused foreign media outlets such as CNN, the BBC and Reuters of “fabricating news” about the protests that have wracked Turkey for
weeks, alleging that the outlets were “conspiring against Turkey”.

USA Today reported that Erdogan yesterday, in a meeting with legislators from his Justice and Development Party (AKP), praised the conduct of security forces and said he would seek to expand their powers to give them more leeway in dealing with protests. The daily also said that Turkey’s justice ministry was putting together legislation on “Internet crime” that would regulate and restrict the use of social media platforms such as Twitter.

“We are working on a series of regulations for Facebook and Twitter against those who provoke the public, manipulate people with fake news, or forwards [sic] individuals to social turmoils and incidents jeopardizing property and human security”, Turkish news website Bianet quoted Interior Minister Muammer Guler as saying earlier this week.

Echoing Erdogan’s comments about foreign media, the pro-government daily Takvim yesterday published a fabricated interview with senior CNN anchor Christiane Amanpour alleging that she said she was ordered to cover the ongoing protests in order to destabilise the country on behalf of international business interests.

Amanpour took to Twitter yesterday to condemn the defamatory article, posting: “Shame on you @Takvim for publishing FAKE interview with me.”

Takvim is part of the Turkuaz Media Group, which also includes the major daily Sabah. The group is owned by Calik Holding, whose CEO, Ahmet Calik, is Erdogan’s son-in-law.

The Turkish public initially was forced to rely on social media platforms and foreign news outlets to obtain news of the protests after they erupted in late May following the brutal police treatment of demonstrators seeking to prevent the demolition of Gezi Park. Many domestic media outlets gave little to no coverage to the story in its early days and some of those that did cover protests have been subject to official sanctions.

Last week, Turkey’s High Council of Radio and Television (RTUK) fined four television networks – Ulusal TV, Halk TV, Cem TV and EM TV – reasoning that their coverage of protests encouraged violence and was “harming the physical, moral and mental development of children and young people”.

Also last week, Hurriyet reported Sunday, a court in Ankara banned daily newspaper Taraf from publishing claims that Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) illegally spied on Turkish businessmen with alleged ties to opposition parties. Taraf claimed that the surveillance occurred in order to use information collected to prevent
those individuals from bidding in public tenders.

The court in Ankara concluded that the reports were “targeting the institution”, Hurriyet said, and Taraf on Sunday protested the ruling by publishing a graphic depicting a number of penguins. The birds have become a symbol of the reported failure by media outlets to cover the protests in their early stages, reportedly in reference to CNN Turk’s
broadcast of a wildlife documentary on penguins rather than coverage of the initial police action against demonstrators.

Journalist and media scholar Prof. Haluk Sahin, a member of the board of IPI’s Turkish National Committee, was critical of domestic media outlets’ early coverage in an interview published by online magazine Jadaliyya last week.

“Of course we should not generalize to the media as a whole, but the mainstream big media performed dismally which was another manifestation of its moral bankruptcy because the big media have not been doing their job for quite a while,” he said. “The media bosses and tycoons have decided that doing business with the government is more profitable than doing their job, which is informing the people about what is going on.
So this Gezi Park uprising has show[n] very clearly that these media are not in the news business. And one of the good things that will come out of this event is the realization that a new media is badly needed in Turkey.”

The recent violence against journalists in Turkey represents a troubling new nadir in the state of press freedom in Turkey, which has continued to decline in recent years. Nearly 60 journalists remain imprisoned in Turkey – reportedly more than in any other country in the world. The vast majority of those journalists are being held on as-yet unproven allegations of links to terrorist groups, but supporters maintain that the journalists have been detained in retaliation for coverage that shed a critical light on government actions.

07.10.2024 – Ban on Press Photographers in Malta at Forensic Year Ceremony Sparks Backlash

October 7, 2024 disabled comments

On 1 October 2024, photographers and video/camera-repoters were unexpectedly barred from the Law Courts in the Malta capital Valletta (Il-Belt Valletta), during the ceremony marking the start of the forensic year. Despite this being one of the rare occasions where the media is granted access to take photos inside the courts, photojournalists who arrived were allegedly informed by security personnel that only official photographers from the Department of Information, as well as allegedly those from the offices of the Prime Minister and President, were allowed to cover the event. The press ban came without prior notice, leaving many photojournalists surprised and excluded from documenting this significant occasion. No photos were sent to the media as was usually the practice over the official government channels.

The Institute of Maltese Journalists (Istitut tal-Ġurnalisti Maltin – IĠM – https://igm.mt/) quickly condemned the move, arguing that it violated the constitutional protection of freedom of expression. The IĠM emphasized that while concerns about publishing the faces of judges exist, this should not justify restricting media access, noting that the judiciary should not operate in secrecy.

In response, the Chief Justice of Malta Mark Chetcuti, born 1958, who was appointed as Chief Justice in 2020, issued an apology later in the day, explaining that the situation arose from a “lack of communication” and was not an intentional move to restrict press freedom. He further clarified that no such ban had been enacted during his previous years as Chief Justice. Nonetheless, the incident sparked concerns about transparency and access to public judicial events.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the decision to allegedly ban press photographers and videographers from covering the opening of the forensic year at the Law Courts in Valletta, Malta. This move undermines press freedom and transparency, crucial elements in democratic societies. SEEMO urges the Maltese judiciary to ensure that such incidents do not recur, and calls on the government to safeguard media access to public events. SEEMO will continue to monitor the situation to ensure the rights of journalists and photo / video reporters are upheld.

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 #malta #valletta #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

04.10.2024 – Serbian Journalists Face Death Threats for Reporting Kosovo

October 4, 2024 disabled comments

On 30 September 2024, a disturbing email containing death threats was sent to the news agency Tanjug (https://www.tanjug.rs/) in Belgrade, Serbia, targeting its journalists. The sender explicitly warned that any Tanjug journalist entering Kosovo would be “shot in the back of the head.”

The email went on to state that the sender was closely following the Tanjug reporting, particularly its coverage of Kosovo and Albanian-related news, accusing Tanjug of spreading “lies.” The chilling message added that the movements of Tanjug journalists within Kosovo were being monitored, and they would face deadly consequences if they returned to Kosovo. This serious threat was immediately reported to the Serbian authorities, prompting a wider call for protection of the media workers involved.

In response, the Serbian Ministry of Information acted quickly, initiating contact with the High-Tech Crime Department within the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade, Serbia, to investigate the origins of the email.

According to latest information from Belgrade, the threat that arrived on the editorial email of the Tanjug agency was sent from the territory of Kosovo, the Association of Journalists of Serbia (Udruženju novinara Srbije) was told by the Special Prosecutor’s Office for High-Tech Crime (VTK). It has been proven that the sender’s IP address belongs to those used by internet providers in Kosovo.

On the other side, authorities in Kosovo responded to these accusations by denying the claims of threats and asserting that Kosovo remains a democratic nation committed to press freedom. The Ministry of Internal Affairs in Kosovo stated that no such official report had been filed with their institutions regarding the alleged threats. The Kosovo Police also confirmed that, as of their latest updates, no reports of threats against Tanjug journalists had been received.

Although the Kosovo Ministry of Internal Affairs reports that the case was not reported to them, with the fact that the information about the threat was published, it is the obligation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kosovo and the State Prosecutor of Kosovo to investigate the case. Bearing in mind the conflicting relationship between Belgrade and Pristina, it is important to examine all details. Considering that there is no direct cooperation between the police in Belgrade and Pristina, it is crucial that the information obtained by the Serbian police, including the details about the IP address, will be delivered to the police in Kosovo in order to carry out further investigations.

This case shows the necessity of urgent police cooperation between Belgrade and Pristina.

Journalists play a crucial role in providing independent reporting from Kosovo and their safety must be guaranteed to ensure that they can operate without fear of intimidation or violence. This incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by journalists in the Western Balkans and the importance of safeguarding press freedom in regions with political and ethnic tensions.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the death threats made against Tanjug journalists for their reporting on Kosovo, which included explicit threats of violence. Such acts of intimidation against media workers are unacceptable and undermine press freedom in the region. SEEMO urges the Kosovo government to take immediate action to investigate these threats, ensure the safety of journalists, and uphold media freedom.

SEEMO will be closely monitoring the situation and expects swift and decisive measures to prevent further threats or attacks on journalists.

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 #kosovo #tanjug #journalistattack #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) supports the Coalition for Media Freedom in Serbia

October 3, 2024 disabled comments

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) supports the Coalition for Media Freedom in Serbia. The Serbian goverment must extend the public debate on the Law on Advertising.

On Monday, September 30, 2024, the Ministry of Internal and Foreign Trade in the Government of the Republic of Serbia launched a public debate on the Law on Advertising, with a minimum legal deadline of 20 days.

The Coalition for Media Freedom has already warned that the Ministry of Internal and Foreign Trade established a Working Group for Amendments to the Law on Advertising, without media associations and without the notification of the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications, which is responsible for implementing the Media Strategy, and in which four activities are linked for the field of advertising.

The Coalition particularly emphasized that it had repeatedly received a “promise” from the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the Prime Minister at the time, Ana Brnabić, that coordination would be established among the working groups, established precisely because of the amendments to the media and other relevant laws mentioned in the Media Strategy. Part of the promise was that representatives of media associations, the Association of Media and Local Press, would be co-opted into the membership of the working group.

One year and four months later, i.e. one year and six months after the formation of the working group and the release of the Law on Advertising into public discussion, the status is the same as at the beginning: without transparency of the process, without coordination with the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications, and of course without new representatives of media associations … The process itself was conducted informally, therefore, without minutes from all sessions, without an agreed agenda – just as it does not befit serious institutions and serious tasks!

Among the omissions, it should be noted that the Law does not include the creation of a regulatory framework in the areas of public information and advertising by public authorities and political advertising, and in the process of e-consultations, not a single proposal of the Coalition for Media Freedom and Crta was adopted. Due to all of the above, and many more doubts, it is necessary to start with extending the deadline for the public discussion, so that together we can reach acceptable solutions, which imply professional, serious and thorough work, and in the end, a compromise of all actors in an important process for the future of the Serbian media scene.

The Coalition for Media Freedom: the Association of Media, the Association of Online Media (AOM), the Independent Association of Journalists of Vojvodina (NDNV), the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS), the Business Association of Local and Independent Media “Local Press”, the Slavko Curuvija Foundation and Branch Trade Union of Culture, Arts and Media ‘Nezavisnost’

03.10.2024 – SEEMO Condemns Threatening Acts Against Croatian Journalist Ana Brakus and Faktograf Team

October 3, 2024 disabled comments

On 25 September 2024, Ana Brakus, the executive director of Croatia’s fact-checking portal Faktograf.hr (https://faktograf.hr/author/ana-brakus/), received a disturbing letter at her office in Zagreb, Croatia. The letter, addressed to both Brakus and the editor-in-chief of the Climate portal, contained a note stating, “Please check the information I’m sending you,” alongside a piece of soiled toilet paper with what appeared to be human feces. Brakus shared this unsettling experience in an online post on LinkedIn. She wrote: “I’d love to say that this is the worst thing we ever received, but it’s far from it. It does take the title of the most disgusting one.“

This incident is part of a troubling pattern of intimidation targeting Faktograf’s journalists in 2024, which has included a smear campaign and even physical attacks. Earlier this year, journalist Melita Vrsaljko and a cameraman faced violent attacks over climate reporting. Such threats against media professionals raise significant concerns about press freedom and safety in Croatia. It’s imperative that authorities take these incidents seriously, ensuring protection for journalists and holding those responsible accountable. The continued targeting of Faktograf’s staff is an unacceptable assault on media freedom and must be addressed promptly.

You can read previous SEEMO article on Melita Vrsaljko case here: https://seemo.org/ressources/19-07-2024-seemo-condemns-attacks-on-journalists-melita-vrsaljko/

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the recent threat and harassment directed towards Ana Brakus, executive director of Faktograf.hr, which included a vile letter containing a piece of used toilet paper. This disturbing act of intimidation is part of a broader pattern of attacks on Faktograf’s journalists, including smear campaigns and physical assaults on journalists like Melita Vrsaljko. Such acts are not only unacceptable but also a direct attack on media freedom. SEEMO calls on Croatian authorities to thoroughly investigate these incidents, ensure the safety of all journalists, and take firm action against those responsible. SEEMO will be closely monitoring the situation to ensure that press freedom is protected and upheld in Croatia.

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 #faktograf #anabrakus #melitavrsaljko #journalistattack #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

02.10.2024 – Albanian Politician’s Threats to Journalists Draw Widespread Condemnation

October 2, 2024 disabled comments

According to Albanian media reports, on 18 September 2024 Albanian former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, allegedly made accusations against Albanian journalists, claiming they were being manipulated and used by the Special Prosecutor’s Office against Corruption and Organised Crime (Struktura e Posaçme Kundër Korrupsionit – SPAK). Berisa is also chairman and co-founder of the Democratic Party of Albania (Partia Demokratike e Shqipërisë)

He went as far as allegedly threatening to treat journalists as “members of a criminal organization” after a 500-page investigative document on corruption was released to the media. This document implicated the politician and his son-in-law in an alleged passive corruption case involving one Albanian sports club.

During a press conference, Berisha condemned the media’s coverage of the investigative file, labeling it as politically motivated. Berisha called the SPAK accusation “untrue” and described the case as politically motivated.

Back in January this year, when questioned about corruption, he similarly accused a journalist of being a “spokesperson” for his political adversaries as a means of dodging questions.

This pattern of targeting journalists is not new for politicians in Albania; political representatives in the power and in the opposition are very often verbally attacking journalists who are critical reporting.

The Association of Journalists (Asociacioni i Gazetarëve të Shqipërisë- AGSH) also reacted and asked Berisha to restrain himself, to stop attacks on journalists and to allow the media to freely report the criminal process against him, his family members and those related to them, just like any other process.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the recent threats made against Albanian journalists. Such rhetoric is unacceptable and constitutes an attack on press freedom, which is a fundamental pillar of democracy. Journalists must be allowed to report freely and without intimidation, especially on matters of public interest and accountability. SEEMO urges political leaders to respect the vital role of the media and refrain from inciting hostility. SEEMO will be closely monitoring this situation and stand in solidarity with the journalists who are facing such threats.

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 #albania #tirana #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

01.10.2024 – Serious Threats and Harassment Against Journalist Jelena S. Spasić Spark Outrage and Legal Action

October 1, 2024 disabled comments

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the use of inappropriate and offensive language against Jelena S. Spasić, a journalist from Kurir (https://www.kurir.rs/), on an Instagram and Facebook page. The Kurir editorial team has rightfully sought protection from state authorities after two individuals, who shared Spasić’s photo on social media while issuing insults and threats. Consequently, Kurir’s publisher filed a criminal complaint against them.

The Serbian Ministry of Information and Telecommunications expressed deep concern about this incident, as well as another case involving journalist Nikola Stevanović of Bujanovačke (https://bujanovacke.co.rs/), who received anonymous threats. The ministry emphasized that while everyone has the right to criticize journalistic work, the targeting, insults, and any actions compromising journalists’ dignity and safety are entirely unacceptable.

You can read SEEMO article about Nikola Stevanović case here: https://seemo.org/ressources/23-09-2024-journalist-nikola-stevanovic-threatened-on-facebook-for-comment-on-mandatory-military-service-in-serbia/

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the harassment and threats directed at journalist Jelena S. Spasić. SEEMO will be closely monitoring this situation to ensure that the safety of the journalist is protected.

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 #russia #serbia #kurir #jelenasspasic #journalistattack #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom

30.09.2024 – Russia Opens Criminal Cases Against Foreign Journalists for Reporting from Conflict Zone in Kursk, Russia

September 30, 2024 disabled comments

Russia’s Federal Security Service (Федеральная служба безопасности Российской Федерации – FSB – ФСБ) on Friday 27 September 2024 announced opening criminal cases against Romanian journalist Mircea Barbu, a correspondent for HotNews.ro (https://hotnews.ro/), and Australian journalists, Catherine Diss and Fletcher Young from ABC News (https://abcnews.go.com/), for allegedly illegally crossing the Russian border while reporting from the Kursk region (Курская область), Russia. The journalists covered the war in the Ukrainian-controlled parts of Kursk region in Russia where the Ukrainian army launched an incursion in early August.

The charges against them are based on Article 322 of the Russian Penal Code, which prohibits illegal border crossings and can carry a penalty of up to five years in prison. This development is part of a broader crackdown on foreign journalists, with Russia having opened 12 similar cases against international reporters since 17 August 2024 for covering the situation in Kursk.

The report from Mircea Barbu is visible online on: https://hotnews.ro/exclusiv-videoreportaj-in-kursk-cum-se-simt-rusii-cand-razboiul-de-pe-canapea-a-ajuns-acasa-la-ei-si-cum-arata-discutiile-dintre-soldatii-ucraineni-si-localnicii-rusi-1779323.

After HotNews published his coverage in Kursk, Barbu also received death threats from allegedly Russian propagandists on Telegram on the “Dva Majora” (Два майора) Telegram channel, which, according to its own description, belongs to “real soldiers” and has over 1.18 million followers. The channel published following threat: “It is obvious that such reports already have a demonstrative character and are intended to cause reputational damage to Russia. Criminal cases are no longer as effective as the Iskander missile defense system or the FAB-500 from the UMPK. The Reuters “journalists” who strayed into the DNR last week have already appreciated the effect of the inevitability of punishment. In fact, they are not journalists. They are information mercenaries”. FAB-500 is a 500-kilogram aviation bomb from Soviet time with a high-explosive warhead. UMPK are Universal planning and correction module that is used for old Soviet bombs.

Russian authorities claim Barbu entered the country illegally and have demanded that HotNews.ro condemn the Ukrainian military’s actions.

Mircea Barbu stated that this action raises serious questions about press freedom and journalists’ fundamental rights, arguing that the move represents a direct attack on freedom of expression. He emphasized that journalists, according to the Geneva Convention, should be protected while performing their duties, and any attack against them is a clear violation of their rights. HotNews.ro acknowledged that its journalist crossed the border without Russia’s permission but argued that such incidents are part of the journalistic duty to provide independent information from conflict zones. This stance echoes the actions of journalists from other countries who have crossed borders during significant conflicts, reporting from areas where their presence serves the public interest. Romania’s National Audiovisual Council (CNA) reacted and is seeking protection for journalist Mircea Barbu. CNA said that Mircea Barbu’s reports, are penned with professionalism.

The FSB’s actions have sparked concerns over Russia’s efforts to limit independent journalism and professional reporting in conflict areas, and represent another instance of how the Kremlin is exerting pressure on the media to control narratives around the conflict in Ukraine. Despite the risks, journalists like Barbu remain committed to delivering factual reporting from conflict zones, underscoring the essential role of the press in bringing truth to the public.

he South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the Russian Federal Security Service’s (FSB) recent opening of criminal cases against journalists, including Romanian journalist Mircea Barbu and Australian journalists Fletcher Young and Catherine Diss, for their reporting in the Kursk region. This act is a clear violation of press freedom and an attempt to intimidate journalists who are committed to bringing the truth to light, even in challenging conflict zones. SEEMO calls on the Russian authorities to respect the rights of journalists to report independently and without fear of persecution. SEEMO will closely monitor this situation and stands in solidarity with all journalists facing threats and harassment for their work.

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 #russia #ukraine #romania #australia #hotnews.ro #abcnews #MirceaBarbu #FletcherYoung #CatherineDiss #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

27.09.2024 – Bulgarian Investigative Journalist Targeted by Coordinated Disinformation Campaign Following Emmy Nomination

September 27, 2024 disabled comments

An orchestrated smear campaign has been launched against Marieta Nikolaeva (Мариета Николаева), a Bulgarian journalist with Nova TV (НОВА – https://nova.bg/) in Bulgaria, through the use of a manipulated photo that was widely distributed online. This effort to discredit Nikolaeva emerged shortly after she became the first Bulgarian journalist to be nominated for an Emmy Award for her significant achievement in the field of investigative journalism.

The campaign began with a fabricated image of Nikolaeva that appeared on a website and reportedly originated in a closed Telegram group. From there, the image was allegedly further disseminated by other websites.

This smear campaign has raised concerns about the spread of disinformation through networks of interconnected websites, which can amplify false narratives and damage the reputation of targeted individuals. The case involving Nikolaeva is a prime example of how disinformation can quickly gain traction, especially when shared by multiple outlets simultaneously. Adding to the concern is the fact that more established media outlets have republished the manipulated content, giving it further credibility.

Nova TV investigative journalist Marieta Nikolaeva and cameraman Tassi Asenov (Таси Асенов) have made history by becoming the first Bulgarian journalists to be nominated for an Emmy Award in the News & Current Affairs category. Their nominated coverage shed light on Bulgaria’s worst refugee tragedy near Lokorsko (Локорско), Bulgaria where 18 migrants were found dead in a truck used for human trafficking. Six survivors, who were escaping from Afghanistan, shared their harrowing experience with Marieta and Tassi, detailing their struggle to survive the journey. This story, under the name Tragediata v lokorsko covered with great depth and empathy, earned them this prestigious nomination for 2024 for the International Emmy Awards.

The campaign against Nikolaeva has sparked wider discussions about the need for transparency in media ownership and the challenges of combating disinformation in Bulgaria’s online media landscape. There are also ongoing calls for authorities to investigate the dissemination of false information and to hold accountable those responsible for targeting journalists and other public figures with disinformation campaigns.

Nikolaeva (ety_nikolaeva ) has over 24 years of experience in criminal and investigative journalism. In 2002, she joined the Nova TV team. From 2010 to August 2022, he was engaged at bTV. In 2022 she returned to Nova TV. She is the author of many investigative reports in almost all fields. An Nova TV interview with Nikolaeva (in Bulgarian langauge) where she speaks about this photo manipulation is online visible:
https://www.vbox7.com/play:eb07e10f89&start=187

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the recent coordinated attempt to discredit investigative journalist Marieta Nikolaeva from Nova TV. This attack represents a dangerous escalation of harassment against journalists who perform their duties with integrity and courage, particularly following her prestigious Emmy Award nomination. SEEMO stands in solidarity with Nikolaeva and reiterates that it will be closely monitoring this case, urging the relevant authorities in Bulgaria to investigate this case and take appropriate action against those responsible for this targeted disinformation campaign.

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.

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