Articles by European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
![People take part in a protest in support of media freedom after a journalist was sentenced to prison for an article, in Skopje, North Macedonia, 20 January 2015, ROBERT ATANASOVSKI/AFP via Getty Images](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/north-macedonia-attacks-journalists-protest-media-freedom-getty-768x511.jpg)
North Macedonia: Justice Minister introduces amendments to increase protection of journalists
Authorities will treat cases involving attacks on journalists in the same way as they treat assaults on police officers. There will also be new penalties for assaulting a journalist or a media worker, and online harassment will be criminalised.
![A member of the Cyprus national police stands guard at the entrance of the headquarters of Sigma TV, in Nicosia, 18 July 2021, after protesters against Covid-19 measures attacked the premises, ETIENNE TORBEY/AFP via Getty Images](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/cyprus-nicosia-sigma-tv-attack-covid-getty-768x511.jpg)
Cyprus: TV station in Nicosia attacked by crowd protesting COVID measures
Groups of protesters against mandatory vaccination clashed with police and broke into the DIAS media group building that houses Sigma TV. The mob attacked staff, set cars in the parking lot on fire and trashed the offices.
![Bystanders lay flowers, candles and messages of support for journalist Peter R. de Vries, on Lange Leidsedwars street, central Amsterdam, Netherlands, 7 July 2021, KOEN VAN WEEL/ANP/AFP via Getty Images](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/netherlands-attack-journalist-shooting-peter-de-vries-getty-768x511.jpg)
Dutch journalist in critical condition after being shot five times
Peter R. de Vries, a well-known Dutch investigative journalist who covered high-profile criminal cases, was shot as he was leaving a TV studio on 6 July. Police have arrested three suspects.
![Slovak businessman Marian Kočner (C) attends a public hearing at the Slovak Supreme Court as he appears on charges of ordering the murders of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina Kušnírová, in Bratislava, 15 June 2021, VLADIMIR SIMICEK/AFP via Getty Images](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/slovakia-murder-trial-marian-kocner-getty-768x511.jpg)
Slovakia: Supreme Court overturned not guilty verdicts in Ján Kuciak murder case
Last summer, the businessman Marian Kočner and his confidante, Alena Zsuzsová, were acquitted of ordering Kuciak’s murder in February 2018. After reviewing new evidence on 15 June 2021, the Supreme Court remanded the case back for a retrial.
![A journalist raises his arm to protect himself from a police officer as a man is seen bleeding in the background after being beaten by riot police, during a rally protesting COVID measures, The Hague, Netherlands, 14 March 2021, Pierre Crom/Getty Images](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/netherlands-attacks-journalists-anti-covid-rally-getty-768x511.jpg)
Netherlands: 8 out of 10 journalists have experienced violence or threats
“As we have documented in recent months, the survey clearly shows a deterioration in the safety of journalists in the Netherlands. It is worrying to say the least, because it is happening in a country where the attacks are generally taken seriously by the authorities” – EFJ
![Crimea, 16 March 2021. A law enforcement officer with a service dog searches the car of Vladislav Yesypenko, allegedly detained on suspicion of spying for Ukraine. Still image taken from video provided by a third party. Russian Federal Security Service/TASS via Getty Images](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/russia-crimea-journalist-yesypenko-arrest-ukraine-getty-768x511.jpg)
Crimea: Press groups call for immediate release of tortured journalist Vladislav Yesypenko
Yesypenko is detained and accused of “illegal production, repair, or modification of firearms” and “espionage” for Ukrainian intelligence. His lawyer said the journalist had been tortured with electric shocks and beatings in order to obtain a confession.
![Women in black and with tape over their mouths hold white roses during a demonstration against the conviction of a doctor and journalist Katyarina Barisevich over the disclosure of a protester's medical records, Minsk, Belarus, 2 March 2021, STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/belarus-protest-women-black-journalist-jail-getty-768x511.jpg)
Rights groups call on UN HRC to create accountability mechanism for Belarus
“The international community cannot remain passive in the face of the refusal of dialogue and the intensification of repression by Mr Lukashenko’s regime. New diplomatic weapons are needed to stop the continuing violations of human rights and press freedom” – EFJ
![Belsat TV journalists Catarina Andreeva (R) and Darja Chulcova (L), who were detained in November while reporting on anti-government protests, embrace each other in a defendants' cage before the start of their trial, Minsk, Belarus, 9 February 2021, STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/belarus-journalists-belsat-andreeva-chulcova-sentenced-getty-768x511.jpg)
Belarus: Two journalists handed two-year prison sentences simply for doing their jobs
Catarina Andreeva and Darja Chulcova, two journalists for Belsat, were each sentenced on 18 February to two years in prison for reporting live from an anti-government rally in Minsk in November.