ARTICLE 19 Europe

Bulgaria: Mission to examine media freedom and independent journalism - ARTICLE 19 The mission will assess the safety of journalists, media regulation, public broadcasting, media pluralism, defamation and SLAPPs, media ownership and the reform process required under EMFA.

We are in #Sofia 🇧🇬 #Bulgaria with our partners from @coemediafreedom.bsky.social & #MFRR to examine the safety of journos, media pluralism, #SLAPPs, and reforms under #EMFA

⚡Stay tuned for more!

www.article19.org/resources/bu...

Belarus: After five years of arbitrary detention, freedom for Marfa Rabkova now - ARTICLE 19 During her pre-trial detention, Marfa Rabkova’s health deteriorated significantly due to a lack of adequate medical care.

On the fifth anniversary of her arrest, ARTICLE 19 calls for the release of Viasna member and human rights defender Marfa Rabkova.

Belarusian authorities must free all activists, journalists and independent lawyers held in arbitrary detention without delay.

www.article19.org/resources/be...

Today marks 5 years since #MarfaRobkova was unjustly detained in #Belarus, imprisoned for fighting for free and democratic elections. We continue to demand her immediate and unconditional release: www.indexoncensorship.org/campaigns/le...

RFE/RL Journalist Ihar Losik Freed After More Than 5 Years Of Brutal Detention In Belarus Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist Ihar Losik has been freed after spending more than five years in brutal Belarusian detention on trumped up charges, the latest release of a political prisone...

We welcome the release of @rferl.org.web.brid.gy journalist Ihar #Losik from Belarusian detention. He spent over 5 years behind bars on politically motivated charges. For 1,5 years he was denied communication with his family.

Pressure matters.

www.rferl.org/a/rfe-journa...

Meet MAX, the 'chilling' new development in Russian social media Russians are being pushed onto a new messaging service linked to the Kremlin, and experts warn people can expect them to be watching everything.

Our Joanna Szymańska spoke to ABC Australia about 🇷🇺 #Russia’s push to replace WhatsApp & Telegram with MAX, a new state-controlled messenger. This move is part of a global trend of tightening control over the free flow of information. #Censorship #FoE

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...

🇷🇸 #Serbia: The govt needs to stop all forms of undue influence on media, respect their independence and refrain from applying pressure on editorial policies and decisions through personal relationships or political connections.

www.article19.org/resources/se...

🌟From economic instability to digital intimidation, the MFRR Summit 2025 will address the urgent challenges facing European journalism. Registration is now open.

Be part of the conversation on 13 October: www.mfrr.eu/mfrr-summit-...

Belarus: Anti-extremism laws put digital rights at risk - ARTICLE 19 Anti-extremism laws are increasingly used by the Lukashenko regime to harass and prosecute dissenting voices in Belarus.

⚡New resource
How does it feel when a like, a comment, or a group chat can land you in jail?
In #Belarus, vague anti-extremism laws are increasingly used to silence dissent.
Read our analysis ⬇️
#StandWithBelarus #FreedomOfExpression
www.article19.org/resources/be...

We denounce this verdict and call for Mzia Amaglobeli's immediate release. This is clear harassment of an independent journalist + an effort to stifle all who report on socio-political upheavals in Georgia.

In the words of Mzia Amaglobeli: 'Freedom to all political prisoners! We are not criminals.’

Our @antanina-maslyka.bsky.social & Joanna Szymańska are attending the #Helsinki+50 Conference and join Sviatlana #Tsikhanouskaya in urging intl community to take decisive action for the unconditional release of all political prisoners in #Belarus. #StandWithBelarus

#OSCE25FI

Belarus: Four years of arbitrary detention – crackdown on Viasna must end - ARTICLE 19 The regime must release all members of Human Rights Center 'Viasna', and other human rights defenders imprisoned in Belarus.

🔴The Lukashenko regime must immediately and unconditionally release all members of Human Rights Center
#Viasna, as well as all other #HumanRights defenders arbitrarily detained in #Belarus.

#FreeViasna #FreeBelarus #StandWithBelarus

joint statement: www.article19.org/resources/be...

💔 Today marks 4 years since #HRDs Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovic & Uladzimir Labkovich were arrested in #Belarus — 4 years of injustice and separation from loved ones.

They're behind bars not because they did wrong — but because they did what’s right.

🔗 freeviasna.org

Read European Journalism now! — The European Correspondent The European Correspondent is the place where you read about the climate crisis, migration, digitisation and much more – with an European angle!

Protesting has become harder in Europe – legally & socially. Our @antanina-maslyka.bsky.social speaks to the @eurcorrespond.bsky.social about the #RightToProtest – struggles, chances + key role of civil resistance incl on climate, pro-Palestine & LGBTQ.

www.europeancorrespondent.com/article?s=Eu...

ARTICLE 19 rejects contract as fraudulent - ARTICLE 19 Today Russian Security Forces (FSB) raided a cultural centre in Syktyvkar, northern Russia, because of alleged ties with ARTICLE 19, which is designated an ‘undesirable’ organisation in Russia.  Russi...

Today FSB raided a cultural centre in northern Russia, because of alleged ties with ARTICLE 19, which is designated an ‘undesirable’ organisation in Russia.

We confirm that the documents and contracts shared online are fake.

www.article19.org/resources/ar...

🌟 Check it out - our 2024 Annual Report is here!

We discuss key priorities, and longstanding and emerging challenges to civic space in the region: information integrity, digital authoritarianism, threats to journos and activists, #SLAPPs, right to protest.

www.article19.nl/wp-content/u...

Poland: Anti-SLAPP draft law is a positive step but key improvements essential - ARTICLE 19 Only a comprehensive reform – encompassing both civil and criminal law – can effectively counter the use of SLAPPs in Poland.

Our analysis of Poland’s draft anti-SLAPP law is out. 🇵🇱

It includes vital mechanisms. But vague wording could make these protections ineffective in practice.

To truly shield those exposing abuse of power, the law must be stronger and decriminalise defamation. 

www.article19.org/resources/po...

Our Joanna Szymańska will join a panel 'Democratic Backsliding & Freedom of Expression' and discuss the erosion of civic space as well as mounting threats to artistic freedom in #Poland over the past decade. #FoE #ArtisticExpression
📅 30.06
🕛 12:00 CET
ungeneva-vc.webex.com/wbxmjs/joins...

On 23 June, 🇹🇷Türkiye’s Radio and Television Supreme Council warned Fatih Altaylı that his YouTube channel will be closed down if he doesn’t apply for a broadcasting license within 72 hours, while Altaylı remains in pre-trial detention. 3/3

Altaylı is accused of criminal threat, which does not warrant pre-trial detention. Yet, another provision increasing sentences for offenses involving physical acts against the president was applied to his case, raising the minimum sentence to 5 years & enabling his detention. 2/3 #fatihaltaylı

Türkiye: Release journalist Fatih Altaylı - ARTICLE 19 Turkish prominent journalist Fatih Altaylı was arrested hours after a segment of his YouTube broadcast went viral on social media.

🇹🇷 #Türkiye: Prominent journo Fatih Altaylı was arrested on 21 June for threatening the Turkish president due to comments he made on his YT channel about assassinations of Ottoman emperors by the people. @article19.bsky.social & 9 other orgs call for his release. 🧵

www.article19.org/resources/tu...

Belarus: Siarhei Tsikhanouski released after five years – now free them all - ARTICLE 19 The unexpected release of prominent activist Siarhei Tsikhanouski reminds us that we must keep fighting for the rights of people in Belarus.

The release of Siarhei #Tsikhanouski & 13 others shows that we need to keep fighting for #Belarus. While we welcome their freedom, over 1000 remain behind bars in inhuman conditions for speaking out.

All political prisoners must be freed. #StandWithBelarus

www.article19.org/resources/be...

🇬🇪Journalists in #Georgia face harassment, attacks, and censorship. The ruling Georgian Dream party is shrinking civic space and curbing #MediaFreedom. The 🇪🇺EU must step up pressure – now.

www.article19.org/resources/ge...

🇭🇷 #Croatia: We acknowledge steps by the govt to improve #mediafreedom, but major challenges persist – including #SLAPPs, media capture, economic precarity & political pressure. #MFRR

🔖 New report:
www.article19.org/resources/cr...

Kyrgyzstan detains eight media workers in widening crackdown National security authorities in Kyrgyzstan have detained eight current and former employees of independent media outlet Kloop, their lawyers said, accusing them of inciting unrest amid a growing crackdown on media in the Central Asian country.

🇰🇬 #Kyrgyzstan: National security authorities have detained eight current and former employees (including investigative journos) of independent media outlet #Kloop
The detention comes amid growing crackdown on human rights in #Kyrgyzstan.

Journos must be released!

www.reuters.com/business/med...

🇦🇱#Albania: We raise the alarm over multiple incidents of intimidation and obstruction targeting journalists covering the parliamentary elections. These attacks on #MediaFreedom & safety of journalists (#SoJ) must be swiftly and thoroughly investigated.

www.article19.org/resources/al...

💡Tune in now!

The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) press conference highlights key takeaways from the #MediaFreedom mission in #Zagreb #Croatia 🇭🇷 #SLAPPs #SoJ #EMFA

📺 www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kN1...

Today is the Intl Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners in #Belarus

Despite ongoing repression, Belarusians continue to resist and inspire us. We'll keep demanding the unconditional release of all political prisoners & an end to the crackdown on rights.

www.article19.org/resources/be...

🇭🇷 #Croatia #PressFreedom #Mission
We are in #Zagreb to engage with public authorities and media on key recommendations from the #MFRR report + stress the urgent need to implement the EU🇪🇺 Anti-#SLAPP Directive + ensure effective application of the #EMFA

www.article19.org/resources/cr...

#LMF2025

Our @antanina-maslyka.bsky.social is at Lviv Media Forum to discuss challenges for resilient media & indep journalism in the CEE region.

Amid Russia’s full-scale invasion, 🇺🇦Ukrainian journalists have shown immense courage + professionalism reporting on the war’s atrocities.

➡️ lvivmediaforum.com