On 19 September, the Estonian Minister of Education, Jürgen Ligi, accused the Estonian Public Broadcaster’s new Russian-language TV of disclosing
Estonia shows further lack of concern for freedom of information
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CATEGORY: Europe and Central Asia
Dunja Mijatovic: We don’t need new laws limiting speech
Each autumn, more than 1,000 government and civil society representatives from 57 countries of the OSCE
Manick Govinda: Artistic expression is a value that must be defended
Ahead of the Battle of Ideas 2015, Manick Govinda explores why art should be dangerous, unsettling, funny, an emotional journey, beautiful, entertaining and, yes, obscene.
Julia Farrington: Pre-emptive censorship by the police is a clear infringement of civil liberties
In 1972, Michael Scammell, first editor of Index on Censorship magazine wrote in the first edition – “Freedom of expression is not self-perpetuating, but needs to be maintained by the constant vigilance of those who care about it.” We obviously haven’t been very vigilant here in the UK
Journalists covering refugee crisis attacked by Hungarian police
At least eight journalists were beaten and three detained as they covered a clash between refugees and the Hungarian police at the border with
Your lips are sealed
Two new elements in the government’s legislation programme are a real threat to free speech, campaigners tell Dominic Smith
Padraig Reidy: When it comes to public figures, we should err away from caution
This week’s intervention by Lord Ashcroft might not be the best example of the old speak-truth-to-power schtick, but being rude about powerful people is very important and even cathartic
Online harassment against women is not just a female problem
“This is not something that only ‘ladies’ can fix,” emphasised Dunja Mijatovic, the OSCE’s Representative on Freedom of the Media at an expert meeting on the safety of female journalists in Vienna
“You have to be brave to be a journalist in Serbia”
Media freedoms in Serbia are on the decline. A recent report by Human Rights Watch painted a picture of journalists in several western Balkan countries, working in hostile environments whilst facing threats and intimidation.
Protest around the world
As demonstrations against corruption and the failure to provide basic services sweep Lebanon, we look at how authorities deal with mass protests around the world.