To mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on November 2, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) honours the memory of those who have lost their lives in the pursuit of truth and demands justice for the crimes committed against them
The partner organisations of the Council of Europe's Safety of Journalists Platform and the Media Freedom Rapid Response have released the media freedom report on Bulgaria following a three-day fact-finding mission that took place from 24 to 26 September
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, where politics often resembles an endless electoral campaign, a small community of fact checkers has become accustomed to working under pressure. Echoes between Sarajevo and Kyiv
To advance in their European integration path, Western Balkan candidate countries must ensure media freedom and pluralism. For Montenegro and North Macedonia, this means moving beyond formal commitments and proving through concrete actions that democratic reforms are more than words on paper
Following the recent conviction for abuse of office of the President and three members of the Radio and Television of Montenegro (RTCG) Council, controversy continues over the appointment of Boris Raonić as director of the Montenegrin public broadcaster
OBCT joins the undersigned journalists and media freedom organisations in strongly condemning the car bomb attack on one of Italy’s leading investigative journalist and his family. We welcome the opening of an investigation by the Anti-Mafia Investigation Division and call for an urgent assessment of the effectiveness of the protective measures applied to the journalist
Against the backdrop of a rapidly worsening media freedom crisis across the region, most prominently in Serbia, a coalition of international media freedom, journalists’ and freedom of expression organizations calls on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to raise the threats to the protection of journalists and media pluralism with the respective authorities during her visit to the Western Balkans this week (13-16 October)
Since November 2023, around thirty journalists have been arrested in Azerbaijan. From behind bars, these journalists have revealed the appalling conditions of the prison system, something previously impossible to do due to limited access to information
OBCT joined other free expression organizations in addressing the Italian leadership, calling for the suspension of the EU–Israel Association Agreement
Media freedom in Bulgaria faces entrenched challenges in a climate of political polarisation and legislative inertia, with urgent action needed by government and public authorities to push forward both domestic and EU-mandated reforms, a coalition of international press freedom organisations said today
MFRR partners and free expression organizations urge the Albanian Parliament to drop plans restricting journalists’ access and to protect media freedom
September 19 marks one year since the death of Victoria Roshchyna, a Ukrainian journalist who had been held for over a year in Russian captivity. On this day, MFRR partners remember Victoria and demand justice for her death from Russian authorities
The undersigned media freedom, journalists’, and freedom of expression organizations strongly condemn the recent physical and verbal attacks on independent media by activists of the Georgian Dream ruling party and a police officer
As the political situation in Serbia remains explosive, the publication of a controversial private conversation highlights an attempt to muzzle the few media outlets in the country that continue to take a critical line towards the government
Last fall, Moldovan investigative journalists Natalia Zaharescu and Măriuța Nistor infiltrated the network of pro-Russian oligarch Ilan Șor for three months. They documented the illegal techniques used to mobilize people and the risks faced by journalists working in this context
On September 1, OBCT also joined the campaign launched by Reporters Without Borders and Avaaz, which condemns the killings of journalists in Gaza, calls for protection for Palestinian journalists, and demands access for international journalists. The world needs witnesses to the crimes against humanity that the Israeli government is committing in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territory
The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners today welcome the historic entry into force of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) , which represents a landmark achievement in ongoing efforts to safeguard media pluralism and independence across the European Union. Today, 8 August 2025, marks a new era for media freedom in the EU and comes at a crucial time for the defence of democratic values within the bloc
OBCT joins free expression organisations in urging the Georgian Dream authorities to drop the criminal charges against Mzia Amaglobeli and to ensure her immediate release
Viorica Tătaru and Andrei Captarenco, in their reports, describe the lives of Moldovans beyond the Dniester. In this interview, they explain the difficulties in describing daily life in a country divided between the territory controlled by Chișinău and that under the separatist government
With media outlets in Kosovo and the region increasingly concentrated in the hands of major business moguls, journalists say censorship to protect the owners’ interests has become ‘the norm’.
OBCT joins MFRR partners in responding to the publication of the European Commission's 2025 Rule of Law Report, urging the EU to strengthen its commitment to media freedom and the protection of independent journalism
The SafeJournalists Network and the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) platform express deep concern and solidarity with over 200 journalists and media workers affected by the sudden announcement of the closure of Al Jazeera Balkans after 14 years of continuous operation
More and more media in the Balkan region are being acquired and controlled by big tycoons. For journalists and industry experts, this trend is heavily reflected in editorial policies, creating growing problems of censorship and self-censorship
In Serbia, the Commission for Electronic Media (REM) plays a key role in regulating the sector and freedom of expression, but is tightly controlled by the government. Students are protesting to demand for its members to be super partes and elected transparently
OBCT joins free expression organizations in expressing support for colleague Flutura Kusari, Senior Legal Advisor at the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), who has been the target of a prolonged online harassment campaign
The “Luchetta, Ota, D’Angelo, Hrovatin Foundation for child war victims” has organized the twenty-second edition of the Premio Luchetta in memory of the death of Marco Luchetta, Alessandro Saša Ota and Dario D’Angelo. All works must be submitted by Wednesday 25 June 2025
