Russian gay rights activist Nikolai Alekseyev has been fined 5,000 roubles (104 GBP) under a St. Petersburg law for spreading "gay propaganda" among minors. The fine was imposed after the court ruled that Alekseyev had spread propaganda about...
CATEGORY: Europe and Central Asia
United Kingdom: Government to consult with ISPs on blocking online porn
The coalition government has announced plans to consult with internet service providers on new measures to block online adult material in the UK. Under the plans it would be up to customers to opt in if they wish to view pornography on the internet...

Queen’s Speech set to tackle free expression
Is London set to lose its label as global capital for libel tourism, asks Index’s Kirsty Hughes

Telco caught colluding with dictators
Nordic Telecom giant TeliaSonera forced to act after evidence that its data has been abused to target, harass and jail activists in Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Belarus
Television presenter tells President Medvedev he often faces censorship
One of Russia's best known television news presenters Alexey Pivovarov revealed the extent of state media censorship during President Dmitry Medvedv's final interview before he hands power to Vladimir Putin. During the wide-ranging interview with...
Montenegro: Journalist jailed for libel
A Montenegro court has jailed a journalist for four months for libel. Journalist Petar Komnenic was convicted in February 2011 over a 2007 report in Montenegrin weekly news magazine Monitor, which alleged that the state had illegally placed several...
Colombia: French journalist suspected kidnapped
Update 02 May 2012: Colombia's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) confirmed in a statement today that they are holding French journalist Roméo Langlois prisoner. A French television journalist injured during a clash between Colombian Army troops and...
UK: The Pirate Bay must be blocked by ISPs, court rules
The UK High Court has ruled that file-sharing website The Pirate Bay must be blocked by internet service providers. The Swedish site, which provides links to download free music and video, which critics claim are are mostly pirated, will be blocked...
Azerbaijan: Journalist Zaur Guliyev claims he was tortured in prison
An Azerbaijani journalist held in pre-trial detention since March claims he has been tortured. Zaur Guliyev, editor-in-chief of Xayal TV, was arrested after unrest in the Quba region. In a statement, Guliyev said he was subjected to physical and...
Siberia: Lawmakers pass anti-gay propaganda bill
Legislation banning promotion of "gay propaganda" has passed its first reading in Siberia. The bill, which prohibits the promotion of homosexual, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender practices among minors. The bill will also be debated in a final...