International Press Institute (IPI)

Twenty-four press freedom groups and other civil society organisations send a list of recommendations to EU leaders on how a newly formed rule of law mechanism can help strengthen press freedom and media plurality.

Former soldier Miroslav Marček pleaded guilty in court in January, testifying that he shot Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina Kušnírová, on 21 February 2018. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison.

“We urge the government of Serbia to ensure that journalists are able to go about their work without fear of arrest. Accurate and updated reporting from journalists will be an essential ally of governments in tackling the pandemic.”

“The Hungarian government is taking advantage of a health emergency to accelerate its already extensive control over news and information in the country. Regardless of whether the law is applied in practice, the potential for self-censorship is enormous and damaging at a time when independent journalism is more essential than ever.”

“This law would allow the Hungarian government to back up its usual ‘fake news’ accusations against journalists with the threat of criminal prosecution and even imprisonments; attacks on independent journalists simply for doing their job leave little doubt that this proposal is an effort to cement control over public information”.

“The free flow of independent news is more essential than ever in this situation, both in informing the public on vital measures to contain the virus as well as in maintaining an open dialogue and debate on the adequacy of those measures, which is essential for winning the necessary public trust for them.”

The bomb exploded at the entrance to the agency in the early hours of 4 March. No injuries were reported and police are currently investigating to establish whether the motive for the attack was related to news coverage.

In September, the state regulator of government ads in print media imposed a ban on advertising in the independent ‘Evrensel’ and ‘BirGün’ newspapers. If not lifted, the ban could be catastrophic for the publications’ economic viability.