"The average SLAPP case in Ukraine drags on for 813 days – more than two years of legal uncertainty, psychological stress, and financial burden for the journalists involved" - EFJ
This statement was originally published on europeanjournalists.org on 14 April 2025.
The National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU) has released a report uncovering the growing threat of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) targeting Ukrainian journalists and media outlets. The study, based on 36 documented cases, reveals a disturbing pattern of judicial harassment aimed at silencing investigative journalism and critical reporting.
According to NUJU’s research, the average SLAPP case in Ukraine drags on for 813 days – more than two years of legal uncertainty, psychological stress, and financial burden for the journalists involved. These lawsuits, often filed by politicians and businesspeople, do not aim to win in court but to punish and intimidate those who expose wrongdoing.
“These artificial proceedings are mostly initiated by businessmen, politicians, or other influential individuals who try to protect their interests by intimidating journalists and forcing them to abandon their criticism,” the report states.
Alarmingly, 15 of the 36 analysed cases were initiated during the ongoing period of martial law, a time when the role of independent journalism is more vital than ever. Despite working under the constant threat of missile attacks and overwhelming emotional exhaustion, Ukrainian journalists continue to uncover corruption and report the truth while facing judicial retaliation.
The most common allegations in SLAPP lawsuits include damage to honour, dignity, and business reputation, frequently accompanied by demands for substantial moral compensation. While most courts ultimately reject these claims or significantly reduce the requested damages, the drawn-out legal processes take their toll.
“None of the analysed court cases is pleasant for journalists and other persons who have become victims of such actions,” the researchers note. The report includes personal testimonies from journalists across the country who have experienced SLAPP lawsuits firsthand.
“Our editorial office has had this experience since 2000. One of the latest cases involved a deputy’s lawsuit. Though the court ultimately ruled in our favour, the stress was immense,” states a journalist from Dnipropetrovsk.
In a particularly egregious example, a freelance journalist was simultaneously hit with four lawsuits from the director of a private foundation, each demanding 200,000 UAH in moral damages. Though the courts rejected the claims, the legal ordeal lasted months and drained significant resources.
The NUJU report emphasises the need for legislative reform to shield journalists from abusive litigation. Citing international models, such as the U.S. system of procedural safeguards against SLAPPs, the report calls on Ukrainian lawmakers to introduce similar mechanisms.
“A necessary stage is the development of a strategy for protection against SLAPP lawsuits, taking into account the practice of national courts and the European Court of Human Rights,” the report says.
