Index on Censorship welcomes today’s decision in the high court to overturn the conviction of Paul Chambers in what has become known as the Twitter Joke Trial
Twitter joke trial decision a victory for free speech
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CATEGORY: Europe and Central Asia
UK: Paul Chambers wins Twitter Joke Trial appeal
Paul Chambers, the man at the centre of the Twitter Joke Trial who was found guilty in 2010 of sending a "menacing" tweet, has won his appeal against his conviction. At the Royal Courts of Justice this morning the appeal was allowed "on the basis...
Censorship subverts Olympic ideals
The censorship and control-freakery imposed by Locog makes a mockery of the idea that the London Olympics are open and inclusive, says Kirsty Hughes
Read more about Locog’s tactics on our Free Speech Blog
Belarus declares war on teddy bears
Belarus has now vowed to hold accountable those involved in parachuting teddy bears from a Swedish plane with slogans of human rights into the country, after initially denying their existence. Now there are fears for young journalist Anton Suryapin.
Andrei Aliaksandrau reports
Britain’s half-hearted bid to reform libel law
The Defamation Bill is an achievement, but more must be done to reform England’s libel laws and encourage debate in the public interest, says Rachel Ehrenfeld
Leveson: what have we learned, and where to next?
As the theatrics of the Leveson Inquiry draw to a close, Marta Cooper looks back on the hundreds of hours of evidence in court 73
Pussy Riot held as lawyers prepare to call Putin to court
Khamovnichesky court in Moscow has prolonged the detention of three Pussy Riot members until 12 January.
Pussy Riot held as lawyers prepare to call Putin to court
The Khamovnichesky court in Moscow has prolonged the detention of three Pussy Riot members until 12 January. The term of their arrest should have expired on 24 July, but the judge complied with the prosecution's application to prolong the detention...
The curious case of Belarus’s bears that weren’t there
A young Belarusian journalist has been arrested and detained – for taking photographs of teddy bears that the government denies even exist.
Andrei Aliaksandru reports
Russia: Pussy Riot detention extended
Three members of Russian punk group Pussy Riot have had their detention extended by a further six months by a Moscow court, reports say [ru]. Maria Alekhina, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Ekaterina Semutsevic will remain in jail until at least January...