Post ID,Post Date (UTC),Title,Description,Location.lat,Location.lon,Categories,News source link,Video,Image
18003,2014-05-30,Poland: Investigative journalist's car stolen,"Tom Nicholson's car was stolen in mid-May 2014, after an unknown person stopped it near Warsaw, Poland.
The car was recovered from a nearby forest, but Nicholson's laptop and personal notes were missing. The Slovakian journalist said he believes the robbers were highly trained professionals.
However, he doesn't think the incident is related to the so-called 'Gorilla Affair' he is working on. The identity of his anonymous sources and details about his future projects might be revealed, he added.",52.23192,21.00673,"Attack to property,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Male,EU member states",- [http://www.bumm.sk/95619/elraboltak-nicholson-autojat-benne-aludt-a-baratnoje.html](http://www.bumm.sk/95619/elraboltak-nicholson-autojat-benne-aludt-a-baratnoje.html),,
18012,2014-06-03,Hungary: Editor of news portal fired,"Gergo Saling, editor in chief of a major Hungarian internet news portal, origo.hu, was fired on June 2. There is a consensus among Hungarian journalists that Saling's dismissal had nothing to do with his professional performance.
The decision comes after a series of investigative articles published by the site about Janos Lazar, the Minister of State for the Prime Minister's Office, who had a number of mysterious trips abroad, where he spent unusually high amounts of money.
The editorial team issued a short statement today, saying that Saling was dismissed and his successor appointed without any consultations with them. As a consequence, they don't know whether they can continue working. On June 3, there will be a protest in front of Origo's office.",47.36724,19.18946,"Loss of employment,Employer/Publisher/Colleague(s),Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,EU member states","- [http://cink.hu/tiltakoznak-az-origos-ujsagirok-saling-menesztese-miatt-1585276427/+albertgazda](http://cink.hu/tiltakoznak-az-origos-ujsagirok-saling-menesztese-miatt-1585276427/+albertgazda)
- [http://index.hu/velemeny/2014/06/03/kivanjuk_az_origo_sza",,
18013,2014-06-03,Hungary: Investigative journalism outlet among those targeted by government,"The Hungarian government launched a series of attacks on local NGOs that receive Norwegian funding. The investigative journalism outlet Atlatszo.hu is also among the organizations targeted by the authorities.
State-secretary and soon-to-be minister János Lázár objected to the way the Norwegian money was distributed. He is concerned that the financed NGOs can be linked to government's opposition, and he insisted the funds to be overseen by the Hungarian government.
The government even released a list with the NGOs and people who have 'problematic' links to the Norwegian funding.
Besides Atlatszo.hu, other NGOs are advocating environmental concerns and anti-corruption, attain equal rights for women, teaching democracy, or stopping domestic violence.",47.3882,19.19162,"Defamation/Discredit,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),EU member states","- [http://index.hu/belfold/2014/05/31/embereket_is_listazott_a_kormany/](http://index.hu/belfold/2014/05/31/embereket_is_listazott_a_kormany/)
- [http://english.atlatszo.hu/2014/06/03/hungarian-govt-targets-ngos-atlatszo-hu-is-also-under-assault/](http://",,
18037,2014-06-05,Italy: Metropolis journalist threatened,"Gabriella Bellini, a journalist for the Campania daily Metropolis and editor of Provinciaonline.info, on filed a complaint on May 19, 2014 against unknown persons to the Carabinieri of Somma Vesuviana (in the province of Naples) for a threatening message received in the preceding days as the culmination of a series of attacks initiated since she reported the circumstances and the background of the arrest of the mayor of the nearby town of Somma Vesuviana for corruption.
“Tell the lady that she should write less, we heard people talking about her. They want to harm her. You know, when you walk into a dark alley you never know what can happen.”",40.871615,14.436142,"Psychological abuse,Trolling/Cyberbullying,Known private individual(s),Journalist,EU member states","- [http://www.ossigenoinformazione.it/2014/05/campania-avvertimento-a-giornalista-metropolis-44741/](http://www.ossigenoinformazione.it/2014/05/campania-avvertimento-a-giornalista-metropolis-44741/)
",,
18059,2014-06-16,Romania: Investigative journalism blog shut down by Wordpress,"16 June, 2014 - A Romanian investigative journalism blog has been blocked, then shut down by Wordpress over the weekend. The blog publishing platform provided no explanation for its move, apart from a vague sentence that can be read on the index page: 'This blog has been archived or suspended for a violation of our Terms of Service.'
On http://investigatiicenzurate.wordpress.com/, Befu Daniel, the freelance investigative journalism published a series of 15 articles about the Romanian Prime Minister's business connections. He discovered that Victor Ponta and members of his family were in questionable business ties with a number of high-ranking politicians from other parties, as well as influential businessmen. He also proved that the Ponta family committed misrepresentation in their statement of assets.
The publishing of the series has been refused by all major media outlets in Romania. This is the reason Befu Daniel decided to publish his findings on a blog.",44.13992,26.44259,"Limitation to Media Freedom,Blocked access,Case of Censorship,Article/Work didn't appear at all,Source of the Threat/Violation/Abuse,Corporation/Company,Other/Unknown,Type of Journalist,Blogger/Citizen journalist,Gender,Male,Support Needed,Publicity,EU membership,EU member states,Other (Please indicate in report text),Article/Work was heavily cut omitting important information","- [http://investigatiicenzurate.wordpress.com/](http://investigatiicenzurate.wordpress.com/)
- [https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=664212610334388&set=a.227566343999019.57303.100002369655649&type=1&theater](https://www.facebook.com/photo.",,
18065,2014-06-17,"Netherlands: ""Police wanted to prevent me from writing about nuclear top""","Dutch investigative journalist Brenno de Winter says the police tried to prevent him from writing about the International Nuclear Top (NSS) in The Hague earlier this year.
De Winter says he received ""a warning"" (from a protected source), not to ask for accreditation to the event.
De Winter got hold of police documents in which he read about how the police had kept an eye on him for a while. In these documents he also read a police officer's report on spotting him in a park with his laptop.
The police have admitted they have collected and internally spread information about this journalist, like his home address. But they didn't want to respond on De Winter's allegations.",52.38442,4.872646,"Blocked access,Police/State security,Journalist,Male,Legal Aid,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states",- [http://www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2664/Nieuws/article/detail/3666026/2014/06/03/Politie-wilde-niet-dat-journalist-De-Winter-over-de-nucleaire-top-schreef.dhtml](http://www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2664/Nieuws/article/detail/3666026/2014/06/03/Politie-wilde-nie,,
18068,2014-06-18,Hungary: NGO with close ties to governent mill 'monitor' media sttacks,"Five-hundred volunteers will monitor media attacks against the 'community', the Civil Unity Forum (Civil Összefogás Fórum, CÖF in Hungarian) announced a few days ago. CÖF is an umbrella group of civic organisations known to be close to Hungary's ruling party, Fidesz.
In their press release, CÖF denounced Atlatszo.hu, an investigative journalism outlet for receiving financing from the Norwegian NGO Fund. They believe this fund is promoting the government opposition, as well as 'alien' interests in Hungary.",47.32866,19.19162,"Defamation/Discredit,Article/Work was framed in a misleading way,Other/Unknown,Other,EU member states",- [http://civilosszefogas.hu/atlatszo-az-atlatszo-hu/](http://civilosszefogas.hu/atlatszo-az-atlatszo-hu/),,
18795,2014-06-19,"Poland: Secret services attempt to raid weekly WPROST's offices, demanding source extradition","18 June, 2014 - Members of the Polish Security Services, ABW (Agencja Bezpieczeństwa Wewnętrznego) entered the premises of the weekly WPROST on Wednesday night, demanding the recordings of what is commonly referred to as the tape scandal.
The tapes were not released to the authorities and in the process of negotiating with them, Latkowski was forced to the ground.
The tape scandal emerged earlier this week when private conversations between politicians had secretly been recorded at a popular restaurant.
In an official statement, the paper's chief editor Latkowski said: ""We need to protect our sources and at the moment we cannot give out any recordings, as that would constitute an infringement of rights of the media to keep their sources secret"". He viewed the Agency's visit as ""intimidation and pressuring tactics"".
Prior to today's events, WPROST had published excerpts of a conversation between the minister of domestic affairs Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz, the president of the national bank of Poland Marek Belka and the former minister Sławomir Cytrycki.
State attorney Andrzej Seremet declared the agency's action constitutional. The agents had come looking for criminal evidence and ""they didn't come there to fight with journalists"", he said.
Seremet considered the recordings to be illegal.
This week, WPROST published the conversation, claiming it took place in July 2013.
Sienkiewicz and Belka spoke about the possible support of the Polish national budget prior to elections. In exchange, Belka had demanded the removal of the finance minister Jacek Rostowski and amendments to the banking law.
In November of 2013, Rostowski was removed from office, and in May 2014, a proposal for amendments to the law concerning the National Bank were put forward.
UPDATE: 19 October, 2016 - Krzysztof S, the owner of a detective agency network, and one of his employees, Katarzyna W., were arrested in connection with the wiretapping, Wiadomosci WP and RMF FM reported.
According to RMF FM, both alleged perpetrators had offered to tap conversations at the famous Warsaw restaurant. The Warsaw-Prague attorney had put forward charges in 81 cases in September 2015, including 66 incidents of illegal wiretapping, according to the news website Wiadomosci WP.",52.231924,21.006726,"Limitation to Media Freedom,Physical assaults,Intimidation,Legal measure,Source of the Threat/Violation/Abuse,Police/State security,EU membership,EU member states","- [http://wiadomosci.onet.pl/kraj/afera-tasmowa-abw-w-redakcji-tygodnika-wprost/qrqpt](http://wiadomosci.onet.pl/kraj/afera-tasmowa-abw-w-redakcji-tygodnika-wprost/qrqpt)
- [http://prawo.money.pl/aktualnosci/wiadomosci/artykul/afera;tasmowa;po;prokurator;generalny;tlumaczy;akcje;w;redakcji;wprost,89,0,1567065.html](http://prawo.money.pl/aktualnosci/wiadomosci/artykul/afera;tasmowa;po;prokurator;generalny;tlumaczy;akcje;w;redakcji;wprost,89,0,1567065.html)
- [http://wiadomosci.onet.pl/kraj/afera-tasmowa-wprost-r-sowa-publikuje-oswiadczenie/k54x7](http://wiadomosci.onet.pl/kraj/afera-tasmowa-wprost-r-sowa-publikuje-oswiadczenie/k54x7)
- [http://wiadomosci.wp.pl/kat,1342,title,Afera-podsluchowa-Dwie-osoby-zatrzymane-kilkadziesiat-przeszukan-w-calym-kraju,wid,18548692,wiadomosc.html?ticaid=118023&_ticrsn=3](http://wiadomosci.wp.pl/kat,1342,title,Afera-podsluchowa-Dwie-osoby-zatrzymane-kilkadziesiat-przeszukan-w-calym-kraju,wid,18548692,wiadomosc.html?ticaid=118023&_ticrsn=3)
- [http://wpolityce.pl/polityka/265758-prokuratura-zakonczyla-sledztwo-ws-afery-tasmowej-kluczowe-pytania-pozostaly-bez-odpowiedzi-tylko-falenta-rybka-i-kelnerzy-zasiada-na-lawie-oskarzonych](http://wpolityce.pl/polityka/265758-prokuratura-zakonczyla-sledztwo-ws-afery-tasmowej-kluczowe-pytania-pozostaly-bez-odpowiedzi-tylko-falenta-rybka-i-kelnerzy-zasiada-na-lawie-oskarzonych)
",,
18079,2014-06-23,Hungary: Atlatszo.hu says it will not comply with government audit,"Atlatszo.hu together with a number of other NGOs have been targeted by the Hungarian government’s auditing office KEHI. The authority demands the disclosure of documents related to financing from Norway.
The investigative journalism outlet announced on Friday that it refused to cooperate with the inspection, because it considers the measure to be unlawful.
At the same time, they say that they have nothing to hide so they published all records concerning the use of funds received from the Norway Grants on the site of their partner, Asimov Foundation.
Together with Atlatszo.hu, a number of other civic organisations announced that they will not comply with the inspection that targets NGOs that received grants from the Norway Financial Mechanism.
Janos Lazar, the Minister in Charge of the Prime Minister’s Office said recently that Norway is using the program to influence Hungarian politics, the NGOs being their proxies.",47.49838,19.04047,"Legal measure,Psychological abuse,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),EU member states",- [http://english.atlatszo.hu/2014/06/21/atlatszo-hu-refuses-complying-with-unlawful-government-inspection/](http://english.atlatszo.hu/2014/06/21/atlatszo-hu-refuses-complying-with-unlawful-government-inspection/),,
18119,2014-07-09,Serbia: Minister insults journalist,"9 July, 2014 - Velimir Ilic, Minister without portfolio in the government of Serbia, insulted a journalist during a phone interview on Wednesday, 9 July.
Milica Saric, a journalist from the Center for Investigative Journalism in Serbia, (CINS) asked Ilic to clarify few incidents involving his personal security detail.
During the conversation Ilic insulted the journalist several times calling her names such as – ""You are asking stupid questions. Are you insane asking me that kind of questions? You should be ashamed of asking me this kind of question"".
The Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia condemned the incident and asked journalist to boycott Minister Ilic speeches in the future.
Update: The minister later issued an official apology for his behaviour toward the journalist.",44.81788,20.45681,"Defamation/Discredit,Psychological abuse,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Female,Publicity,Candidate countries","- [http://www.cins.rs/srpski/news/article/velimir-ilic-izvredjao-novinarku-cins-a#prettyPhoto](http://www.cins.rs/srpski/news/article/velimir-ilic-izvredjao-novinarku-cins-a#prettyPhoto)
- [http://cenzolovka.rs/velimir-ilic-izvredao-novinarku-cins-a/](htt",https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERQuyaP6M80,
18135,2014-07-17,France: Le Monde under fire for article on Sarkozy scandal,"Pierre-Oliver Sur, president of the French legal bar, has pressed charges after Le Monde published an excerpt of a confidential email he sent when one of the corruption scandals involving Nicolas Sarkozy was unfolding.
In an article, Le Monde listed four Parisian barristers - including Mr Sur, who, by 10 January, were all informed that Nicolas Sarkozy's phone and his solicitor's phone were wiretapped. In an email, Sur reminded the barristers that the information was secret.
Le Monde noted a 'curious coincidence': On the following day, 11 January, Sarkozy's solicitor bought two new mobile phones, to chat discreetly with his client.",48.856506,2.352133,"Legal measure,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),EU member states","- [http://www.liberation.fr/societe/2014/07/17/affaire-sarkozy-le-batonnier-de-paris-porte-plainte-pour-violation-du-secret-de-l-enquete_1065567](http://www.liberation.fr/societe/2014/07/17/affaire-sarkozy-le-batonnier-de-paris-porte-plainte-pour-violation-du-secret-de-l-enquete_1065567)
- [http://www.lexpress.fr/actualites/1/politique/affaire-sarkozy-depot-de-plainte-du-batonnier-de-paris_1560173.html](http://www.lexpress.fr/actualites/1/politique/affaire-sarkozy-depot-de-plainte-du-batonnier-de-paris_1560173.html)
- [http://libertes.blog.lemonde.fr/2014/07/18/portrait-incertain-du-batonnier-sur/](http://libertes.blog.lemonde.fr/2014/07/18/portrait-incertain-du-batonnier-sur/)
",,
18146,2014-07-24,Spain: Military officer arrested for publishing a novel about abuses in the Army,"On July 18, a Spanish military officer began a two-month military sentence handed down by a tribunal for publishing a novel.
In the novel, Un paso al frente, Lieutenant Luis Gonzalo Segura wrote that the Spanish army is ""anchored in the 20th century"", is governed with an authoritarian hand and infested with cases in which high officers take advantage of their privileges. In the book, the corruption is abetted by a lack of ""independent"" military justice.
""It's very hard to lose freedom in a procedure that violates the European Convention of Human Rights and keep on fulfilling my obligation to denounce what I considered illegal or irregular. The saddest thing is that no one is investigating on what I said,"" Segura said a few hours before entering the detention center.
The lieutenant said he has decided to start a hunger strike.",40.524832,-3.771563,"Arrest/Detention,Legal measure,Employer/Publisher/Colleague(s),Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Other,Male,EU member states","- [http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2014/07/18/actualidad/1405681703_825161.html](http://politica.elpais.com/politica/2014/07/18/actualidad/1405681703_825161.html)
- [http://www.publico.es/actualidad/534638/el-teniente-gonzalo-segura-entra-preso-por-escribir-una-novela-e-inicia-una-huelga-de-hambre](http://www.publico.es/actualidad/534638/el-teniente-gonzalo-segura-entra-preso-por-escribir-una-novela-e-inicia-una-huelga-de-hambre)
- [http://www.infolibre.es/noticias/politica/2014/07/17/el_teniente_segura_ingresara_prision_sin_juicio_previo_19669_1012.html](http://www.infolibre.es/noticias/politica/2014/07/17/el_teniente_segura_ingresara_prision_sin_juicio_previo_19669_1012.html)
",,
18155,2014-07-29,Bulgaria: Election law amendment could limit press freedom,"A recently proposed amendment to the election law could mean the end of investigative journalism during election campaigns. According to the proposed changes, during election campaigns journalists could only use and publish information offered by the press offices of political parties.
The amendment was proposed on the 18th of July, by three Members of Parliament from the government-backing Coalition for Bulgaria (socialists): Martin Zahariev (former publisher), Maya Manolova (deputy spokesperson of the Parliament) and Stefan Danailov (a renowned actor and former minister of culture).",42.69772,23.3226,"Legal measure,Blocked access,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,EU member states",- [http://www.mediainitiative.eu/european-solidarity-to-stop-infringements-in-bulgarian-press-freedom/](http://www.mediainitiative.eu/european-solidarity-to-stop-infringements-in-bulgarian-press-freedom/),,
18178,2014-08-08,Turkey: Journalist beaten and detained on defamation charges,"8 August, 2014 - The investigative journalist Mehmet Baransu was beaten by police on the night of 8 August and was later detained and then released the following afternoon. Baransu tweeted on 9 August that he had been beaten by four police officers the night before. He was then detained later that day following his tweets about the assault and about the Istanbul public prosecutor.
Arrest warrants were issued for Baransu based on an interview he gave to an Adana newspaper about the director of Turkey's intelligence agency and for tweets on the ongoing government corruption affair.
Various Turkish media sources, including Baransu's employer Taraf, reported that Baransu was detained for ""targeting those who fight terrorism"" and for using the media for insult.",41.06186,28.98436,"Physical assaults,Arrest/Detention,Legal measure,Police/State security,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Male,Candidate countries","- [http://www.todayszaman.com/anasayfa_critical-journalist-baransu-detained-and-released-on-eve-of-election_355203.html](http://www.todayszaman.com/anasayfa_critical-journalist-baransu-detained-and-released-on-eve-of-election_355203.html)
- [http://www.ta",,
18176,2014-08-10,Italy: Writer targeted by insults and ridicule,"Writer, journalist and anti-organised crime activist Giuseppe Trimachi was publicly insulted and ridiculed at Canolo's annual fair on 10 Aug, 2014.
During the town's celebrations, an unidentified man dragged Trimachi to the middle of the square and forced him to dance. A crowd mocked and insulted him.
Traditionally, at the end of the celebrations, people get into a circle and begin dancing the tarantella. Trimarchi remained on the sidelines. According to witnesses, a man approached him and persistently invited him to dance with the others. After the third refusal, the same person pushed Trimarchi into to the center of the dancing wheel and tried to force him to dance.
According to the website Anti-Mafia Duemila, the man supposedly said something like: You do not want to dance because you told us that we are part of the ‘ndrangheta. You either are part of this culture or you’re not. If you are part of it then you have to dance, if you don't go home.
Trimarchi did not return home as they ordered him and at that point, some sources said, the same man attempted to attack him physically, but was blocked by other people. Two days later, Trimarchi filed a complaint to the local police station.
Trimarchi is the author of Calabria Ribelle (Rebel Calabria), a book that collects testimonies of men and women from Calabria who are fighting against local crime. Months earlier Trimarchi had expressed dissent on his Facebook page about an electoral list submitted to the municipal elections in the township. Trimarchi is not registered with the local journalists organisation, but in the past he has collaborated with several magazines including Calabria Ora and Il Quotidianodella Calabria.",38.315043,16.199783,"Physical assaults,Intimidation,Psychological abuse,Known private individual(s),Blogger/Citizen journalist,Other,Male,EU member states","- [http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/tag/giuseppe-trimarchi/](http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/tag/giuseppe-trimarchi/)
- [http://www.antimafiaduemila.com/2014081850937/ndrangheta/canolo-rc-balla-o-vattene-attivista-antindrangheta-aggredito.html](http://www.antimafiaduemila.com/2014081850937/ndrangheta/canolo-rc-balla-o-vattene-attivista-antindrangheta-aggredito.html)
- [http://www.strill.it/citta/2014/08/canolo-rc-aggressione-in-piazza-allattivista-trimarchi-solidarieta-dellassociazionismo-e-movimenti-antindrangheta/](http://www.strill.it/citta/2014/08/canolo-rc-aggressione-in-piazza-allattivista-trimarchi-solidarieta-dellassociazionismo-e-movimenti-antindrangheta/)
",,
18186,2014-08-13,Croatia: Investigative journalist assaulted,"Croatian investigative journalist and rights activist Domagoj Margetić was attacked and beaten up by several individuals near his home in Zagreb on the evening of 11 August. He sustained head injuries as a result of the attack and received medical treatment for this.
Condemning the assault, the Croatian Journalists' Association (HND) urged the authorities to quickly find the perpetrators and to bring them to justice. It also said that until the case has been solved, it would consider that the real motive for the assault was the journalist's writings.
OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović also condemned the attack against the Croatian journalist, stressing in a special statement on August 13 that ""Violence against journalists is unacceptable and should be treated as an attack against society as a whole. Journalists’ safety must be ensured in order for members of the media to do their work.â€",45.81316,15.97703,"Physical assaults,Known private individual(s),Journalist,Male,EU member states","- [http://www.osce.org/fom/122604](http://www.osce.org/fom/122604)
- [http://hnd.hr/hr/homepage/priopcenje/67703](http://hnd.hr/hr/homepage/priopcenje/67703)
- [http://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/nepoznati-muskarac-fizicki-napao-margetica/765129.aspx](htt",,
18191,2014-08-15,Turkey: Hürriyet columnist resigns over censorship,"15 August, 2014 - According to Turkish media reports, Hürriyet columnist Yılmaz Özdil resigned after an article he wrote was censored. The column made critical comments about Prime Minister Erdogan's son Bilal.
Hürriyet released a statement on August 15 saying that Özdil's column conflicted with Doğan Media Group's editorial principles and that instead of changing the column, Özdil chose not to have it published. Doğan Media Group owns Hürriyet.
The news website Diken published Özdil's censored column, which referenced the ongoing corruption scandal that Bilal Erdogan has been a part of.
On August 8, Hürriyet's editor in chief Enis Berberoğlu resigned. Turkish media sources reported that Berberoğlu had a dispute with Doğan Media Group's management over coverage of the recent Turkish presidential elections.",41.009633,28.965165,"Loss of employment,Article/Work didn't appear at all,Employer/Publisher/Colleague(s),Journalist,Male,Candidate countries","- [http://t24.com.tr/haber/iste-yilmaz-ozdilin-hurriyette-yayimlanmayan-yazisinin-tam-metni,267699](http://t24.com.tr/haber/iste-yilmaz-ozdilin-hurriyette-yayimlanmayan-yazisinin-tam-metni,267699)
- [http://www.diken.com.tr/yilmaz-ozdilin-basbakan-adaylari-aydin-dogandan-veto-yedi-hurriyette-kriz-var/](http://www.diken.com.tr/yilmaz-ozdilin-basbakan-adaylari-aydin-dogandan-veto-yedi-hurriyette-kriz-var/)
- [http://www.gazeteciler.com/gundem/sozcuden-bomba-iddia-yilmaz-ozdil-istifa-etti-79456h.html](http://www.gazeteciler.com/gundem/sozcuden-bomba-iddia-yilmaz-ozdil-istifa-etti-79456h.html)
- [http://www.diken.com.tr/iste-yilmaz-ozdilin-sansurlenen-yazisinin-tam-metni/](http://www.diken.com.tr/iste-yilmaz-ozdilin-sansurlenen-yazisinin-tam-metni/)
- [http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/27010324.asp](http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/27010324.asp)
",,
18203,2014-08-25,United Kingdom: DDoS attacks on Bellingcat citizen investigative journalism blog,"On Monday 25 August, Eliot Higgins (known online as Brown Moses) announced on Bellingcat's Twitter account that his blog had been victim of a DDoS attack. The citizen investigative journalism website, funded by a Kickstarter campaign, has been gaining wide recognition for its work on weapons used in Syria, but also on Ukraine and more recently, Iraq.
On 22 August Bellingcat bloggers said they had located an ISIS training camp via Google Earth and Panoramio. They also tried to geolocate the video showing the execution of journalist James Foley.
""I assume the attack was prompted by my work on the Islamic State over the weekend, I know there was a panicked reaction among Islamic State social media accounts, so that might be why,"" Higgins told Index, before adding: ""I can think of reasons pro-Assad and pro-Putin hackers might try as well, we've been doing a lot about those topics too.""
Higgins pointed at the timing of the attacks, saying they had taken place at the same time as attacks on Sony PlayStation network and other game services, which were also victims of a large scale DDoS on Sunday.",52.63678,-1.13123,"DDoS/Hacking,Criminal organisation,Other/Unknown,Blogger/Citizen journalist,Male,EU member states","- [https://bellingcat.com/](https://bellingcat.com/)
- [https://twitter.com/bellingcat](https://twitter.com/bellingcat)
- [http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-28925052](http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-28925052)",,
18231,2014-09-09,"Hungary: Police raided the offices of NGOs, seized documents","On Monday, police and about a dozen investigators searched the offices of Hungarian NGOs, Okotars Foundation and Demnet Foundation. These two foundations are in charge of the EEA Norway Grants.
The director of Okotars, Veronika Mora was arrested, and the police seized documents from about 13 other NGOs, recipients of Norwegian funds. Among these, there is Asimov Foundation, the NGO behind the investigative journalism outlet, Atlatszo.hu.
NGOs receiving grants from the Norway Financial Mechanism were the targets of a smear campaign earlier this year. The government accused the NGOs of being proxies for “foreign interestsâ€, and that Norway is using the program to exert direct political influence on Hungary.
The Government Control Office (KEHI) has launched a series of investigations into their activities, concluding that Okotars falls under the suspicion of misappropriation and unauthorized financial activity.
A few hundred people protested against the raids on Monday afternoon, chanting slogans like “Police state!†and “We want democracy!â€.",47.49838,19.04047,"Attack to property,Legal measure,Psychological abuse,Police/State security,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,EU member states","- [http://hvg.hu/itthon/20140908_tuntetok_mentek_az_okotarshoz/1](http://hvg.hu/itthon/20140908_tuntetok_mentek_az_okotarshoz/1)
- [http://atlatszo.hu/2014/09/08/a-piszkos-tizenharomra-vadaszott-a-rendorseg-az-okotarsnal-es-a-demnetnel/](http://atlatszo.h",https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYQiywq0Vto#t=51,
18244,2014-09-16,Hungary: 28 journalists laid off by daily newspaper,"On September 15, 28 journalists were laid off from the Magyar Nemzet daily newspaper, an outlet known to be close to the Fidesz government. Among the laid off journalists, there are a number of investigative reporters. The print and on-line editorial staff of the newspaper will be merged into one editorial room of around 70-80 journalists.
According to Gabor Liszkay, the director of the newspaper, the reorganisation is necessary because of the ""constantly deteriorating market conditions"". However, according to Hungarian media reports, the editor said the newspaper is still in profit. Many believe the lay-offs have something to do with the internal conflicts of the Fidesz.",47.49838,19.04047,"Loss of employment,Employer/Publisher/Colleague(s),Journalist,Solidarity,EU member states","- [http://nol.hu/belfold/leepites-a-magyar-nemzetnel-1486471](http://nol.hu/belfold/leepites-a-magyar-nemzetnel-1486471)
- [http://pestisracok.hu/huszonnyolc-ujsagirot-rugtak-ki-a-magyar-nemzettol/](http://pestisracok.hu/huszonnyolc-ujsagirot-rugtak-ki-a-",,
18271,2014-09-25,"Hungary: Deputy prime minister labels investigative journalists ""traitorsâ€","""People who are working together with foreign intelligence services are traitors†said Zsolt Semjen, the deputy prime minister, after the internet news portal index.hu published a series of investigations revealing how Ukrainians and Russians are using fraudulent techniques to get Hungarian citizenship, and then travel in Europe with a Hungarian passport.
Semjen said the articles are based on disinformation campaigns coordinated by secret services of countries that have the interest to block the Hungarian initiative to grant citizenship in a simplified procedure to Hungarian nationals living abroad. The scheme started in January 2011, and since then about 500,000 ethnic Hungarians became Hungarian citizens.
""It is sad that some left-wing media outlets from Hungary are publishing these materialsâ€, Semjen said, and then added: ""People who are working together with foreign intelligence services are traitorsâ€.",47.80147,22.06202,"Defamation/Discredit,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Female,Male,EU member states","- [http://index.hu/belfold/2014/09/17/semjen_az_index_az_mszp_es_a_dk_osszehangolt_tamadast_inditott/](http://index.hu/belfold/2014/09/17/semjen_az_index_az_mszp_es_a_dk_osszehangolt_tamadast_inditott/)
- [http://444.hu/2014/09/17/semjen-zsolt-szerint-az-",,
18287,2014-10-02,Hungary: Businessman threatens journalists with lawsuit,"2 October, 2014 - Not happy with the questions journalists asked, a Hungarian business tycoon told Index.hu journalists to leave his public debate.
The debate was about a golf course planned in Zalaszentgrot. Before the start of the forum, a reporter from Index.hu asked questions about another of Gabor Szeles' investments.
Visibly irritated, the businessman threatened the journalists with a lawsuit if they publish the interview.",46.943377,17.07645,"Legal measure,Blocked access,Psychological abuse,Corporation/Company,Journalist,EU member states","- [http://index.hu/belfold/2014/10/02/szeles_gabor_megfenyegette_az_indexet/](http://index.hu/belfold/2014/10/02/szeles_gabor_megfenyegette_az_indexet/)
",,
18288,2014-10-02,Macedonia: Court confirms defamation charges against journalists,"30 September, 2014 - The Appeals Court confirmed on the 30th of September the verdict of the Basic Court Skopje 2 in the case of the director of security and intelligence Saso Mijalkov against Focus magazine's editor Vlado Apostolov and journalist Jadranka Kostova.
The two journalists were convicted of defamation for transmitting statements against Mijalkov by the former ambassador to the Czech Republic and were fined 9,000 euros.
The Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM) expressed its concern over the court’s decision underlying that “it seriously violates the freedom of expression and deters the journalists to write about the potential abuse of power.” It should be noted that according to the AJM the plaintiff Mijalkov did not used the opportunity to respond to the allegations brought by the former ambassador.",41.996227,21.431795,"Criminal charges,Defamation/Discredit,Court/Judicial,Journalist,Female,Male,Candidate countries","- [http://www.znm.org.mk/drupal-7.7/en/node/797](http://www.znm.org.mk/drupal-7.7/en/node/797)
- [http://plusinfo.mk/vest/152682/ZNM-Presudata-protiv-Fokus-e-sprotivna-na-Zakonot-za-gragjanska-odgovornost](http://plusinfo.mk/vest/152682/ZNM-Presudata-protiv-Fokus-e-sprotivna-na-Zakonot-za-gragjanska-odgovornost)
",,
18291,2014-10-03,Turkey: Karşı newspaper office raided by police,"30 September, 2014 - The office of the news website Karşı was raided by police, the website announced on September 30.
Karşı editor in chief Emrah Direk told the website Sansürsüz Haber that police demanded the removal of content on the website related to the events from last December surrounding the Turkish government's corruption scandal. Direk said police told him if the content was removed from Karşı's website, police would leave the office. Police also collected computer hard drives from the website's office. Karşı employees were not allowed to leave the office during the police raid, according to a report in the newspaper Bugün.
The news website Grihat announced that it was being prosecuted along with Karşı for ""violating confidentiality in an ongoing investigation"" related to the government corruption scandal.
There was no court order issued for the raid on Karşı's office.",41.065024,29.009248,"Arrest/Detention,Legal measure,Article/Work didn't appear at all,Police/State security,Journalist,Female,Male,Candidate countries","- [http://bianet.org/english/politics/158848-police-cracks-down-karsi-online-newspaper](http://bianet.org/english/politics/158848-police-cracks-down-karsi-online-newspaper)
- [http://www.sansursuzhaber.com/karsi-gazete-genel-yayin-yonetmeni-baskini-anlatti-425286h.htm](http://www.sansursuzhaber.com/karsi-gazete-genel-yayin-yonetmeni-baskini-anlatti-425286h.htm)
- [http://gundem.bugun.com.tr/silin-ya-da-kapatiriz-haberi/1279069](http://gundem.bugun.com.tr/silin-ya-da-kapatiriz-haberi/1279069)
- [http://haber.sol.org.tr/medya/karsi-gazeteye-polis-baskini-haberi-97939](http://haber.sol.org.tr/medya/karsi-gazeteye-polis-baskini-haberi-97939)
",,
18318,2014-10-16,Poland: ECHR clears journalists in press freedom judgment,"An important press freedom ruling by the European Court of Human Rights has cleared two Polish journalists and their newspaper after they had been sued by a public official for publishing a story on alleged corruption.
Andrzej Stankiewicz and Malgorzata Solecka, journalists who both worked for Polish daily national newspaper Rzeczpospolita, reported in 2003 that a senior health ministry had allegedly demanded bribes from a pharmaceutical company so that a drug they manufactured would be placed on a list that would receive state subsidies.
The Rzeczpospolita report led to the arrest of the official and a three year and a half year police investigation. But the charges were eventually dropped due to lack of evidence and the official sued the paper in the Polish courts, winning at every level. The newspaper was ordered to print an apology and pay all the court’s costs.
But the ECHR, which was highly critical of the Polish court's handling of the case, ruled that criticism of public officials demands a far higher threshold than that of a private citizen, arguing that public officials “knowingly lays himself open to close scrutiny of his words and deeds by journalists and the public at large, and he must consequently display a greater degree of tolerance.”
According to British newspaper The Guardian, the court awarded each journalist 5,000 euros in damages.
But it seems that public officials in Poland remain thin skinned. In June Polish police raided the offices of Wprost magazine over an investigation where they secretly recorded two government officials allegedly planning to abuse their powers ahead of the election.
Wprost had recorded central bank governor Marek Belka and interior minister Bartlomiej Sienkiewicz discussing ways the central bank could help the government, and how they could put pressure on a businessmen.
Both men denied they had done anything wrong. Instead the magazine was accused of making the recording illegally. According to Reuters, a team of eighteen – four prosecutors, eight internal security officials and eight police officers -- raided the magazine's offices at midnight looking for the recordings.
It led to farcical scenes where the officers tried to wrest a laptop from the arms of Wprost's editor in chief. They failed and left empty handed. But the recording of the raid went viral, damaging Poland's reputation as a leader in press freedom since the fall of communism.",51.826508,19.704894,"Attack to property,Civil lawsuits,Criminal charges,Defamation/Discredit,Police/State security,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Male,EU member states,Other (Please indicate in report text)","- [http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2014/oct/15/european-court-of-human-rights-medialaw](http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2014/oct/15/european-court-of-human-rights-medialaw)
- [http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/174236,OSCE-Raid-on-Wprost-offices-unacceptable](http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/174236,OSCE-Raid-on-Wprost-offices-unacceptable)
",,
18336,2014-10-24,Turkey: Cartoonist acquitted of charges he insulted former Prime Minister Erdogan,"23 October, 2014 - Musa Kart, a cartoonist for the newspaper Cumhuriyet, was acquitted by an Istanbul court on 23 October from charges that he insulted former Prime Minister Erdogan. Kart's cartoon from 1 February 2014 addressed Erdogan's government corruption scandal. Erdogan filed a complaint against Kart for defamation and violation of privacy.
In his court hearing, Kart criticised the charges against him and also said he did not intend to insult Erdogan with his cartoon.
Erdogan's lawyers have already said they would appeal the decision.",41.009633,28.965165,"Legal measure,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Other,Male,Candidate countries","- [http://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/turkiye/133453/Musa_Kart_tan_tarihi_savunma.html](http://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber/turkiye/133453/Musa_Kart_tan_tarihi_savunma.html)
- [http://www.bianet.org/bianet/ifade-ozgurlugu/159376-cizer-musa-kart-a-ilk-celsede-beraat](http://www.bianet.org/bianet/ifade-ozgurlugu/159376-cizer-musa-kart-a-ilk-celsede-beraat)
- [http://www.todayszaman.com/anasayfa_cartoonist-musa-kart-acquitted-in-case-filed-by-erdogan_362446.html](http://www.todayszaman.com/anasayfa_cartoonist-musa-kart-acquitted-in-case-filed-by-erdogan_362446.html)
",,
18375,2014-11-07,Albania: Court of Appeals rejects former Minister of Culture's lawsuit against Top Channel,"7 November, 2014 - The Court of Appeals rejected a lawsuit brought by the former Minister of Culture, Ylli Pango, who asked a 1 million EUR compensation from Top Channel, claiming that his privacy was violated by the airing of a video by the outlet's investigative program “Fiks Fareâ€.
The court’s decision ends the six year-long trial, which began after a scandal in which Pango was recorded asking sexual favors from a girl who was looking for a job.
The Court of Appeals based its decision on the practice of the Strasbourg Court, which has issued decisions in which they differentiate between the privacy of a public official and an individual, and with Pango’s case, the public has the right to be informed.
In 2010, Judge Agim Bendo ruled in favor of fining Top Channel with 400.000 EUR. Two higher courts, the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court, overturned Bendo’s decision.",41.32795,19.81853,"Legal measure,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Documentarist,Cameraperson,Other,Not Applicable,Candidate countries","- [http://www.top-channel.tv/new/lajme/english/artikull.php?id=13078#.VGuJsPnF_SE](http://www.top-channel.tv/new/lajme/english/artikull.php?id=13078#.VGuJsPnF_SE)
- [http://www.lapsi.al/lajme/2014/11/11/ylli-pango-humb-edhe-n%C3%AB-apel-gjyqin-me-top-chan",http://albanian.tv/watch/16527/gjykata-rrezon-ylli-pangon-top-channel-albania-news-lajme,
18390,2014-11-17,"Italy: Scicli mayor threatens to sue journalist, La Repubblica","The City Council in the town of Scicli, province Ragusa, has unanimously approved a document denouncing Attilio Bolzoni, a reporter for La Repubblica daily, as well as all those who supposedly defamed the city.
Scicli Mayor Franco Susino has announced a lawsuit against La Repubblica and Bolzoni. The mayor made the announcement on September 30th during a meeting of the city council and following a request by some councilors to file a lawsuit over an article, in which Bolzoni explained that the municipality of Scicli could be commissioned for mafia infiltration and that the mayor is under investigation for collusion by the prosecutor in Catania.
The Council then unanimously approved a document, proposed by Democratic Party Councillor Marco Causarano, which called on the administration to sue anyone who defamed the city. Bolzoni insists that the news should always be given, while Paolo Borrometi, a journalist who lives under police protection in Modica and who has written a number of investigative reports on Scicli, views Causarano's motion as unusual, since he is a member of the Order of journalists.
“It’s a very classic approach, which is triggered whenever there are mafia investigations that do not hit mafia henchmen, but graze instead on the involvement of other people,” Bolzoni explained in an interview with the local broadcaster Video Uno. “There is an investigation by the prosecutor’s office in Catania, an investigation by the Carabinieri, a prefectural committee that must settle whether there are the conditions for dissolving the Scicli city council. These are facts. Scicli is one of the most beautiful parts of Italy, but if there is a problem it is necessary to say so”, he added.",36.793726,14.706749,"Legal measure,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Male,EU member states","- [http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2014/11/scicli-ragusa-province-mafia-infiltration-mayor-files-lawsuit-against-attilio-bolzoni-50344/](http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2014/11/scicli-ragusa-province-mafia-infiltration-mayor-files-lawsuit-against-attilio-bolzoni-50344/)
",,
18402,2014-11-20,Italy: Reporter targeted despite police protection,"Investigative journalist Lirio Abbate’s car was pursued and rammed last week in Rome although his police bodyguards were with him at the time, Reporters Without Borders reported.
A reporter for the newsweekly L’Espresso and an information hero for Reporters Without Borders, Abbate has had police protection since 2007 because of the many threats he has received from the mafia. When Abbate left L’Espresso at round 10 p.m. on 11 November in an unmarked police car with two policemen, another car pursued them through central Rome, rammed them and then drove off. After a brief chase, one of Abbate’s police bodyguards managed to arrest the driver but the passenger got away on foot. The documents found in the car belong to an Egyptian citizen who is not known to the police. When questioned at a nearby police station, the driver denied any knowledge of what took place.
Shortly before this incident, a TV station broadcast an interview with Abbate in which he revealed details of his investigation into the presence in Rome of mafia families from outside the city and their collaboration with local criminals. Francesca Fagnani, the journalist who interviewed Abbate, received death threats on the programme’s website.
Abbate has done a lot of investigative reporting on organized crime in Rome in recent years. He was the target of another act of intimidation when one of his stories was published in L’Espresso in mid-September. A bullet with the message “This is for Abbate†was found on the seat of a stolen car that was left badly parked near L’Espresso’s office.",41.89334,12.48307,"Physical assaults,Attack to property,Psychological abuse,Criminal organisation,Journalist,Male,EU member states","- [http://en.rsf.org/italy-reporter-s-car-is-chased-and-19-11-2014,47252.html](http://en.rsf.org/italy-reporter-s-car-is-chased-and-19-11-2014,47252.html)",,
18406,2014-11-21,Turkey: Two reporters given prison sentences for covering government corruption,"20 November, 2014 - Turkish media reported that two journalists have been given prison sentences for reporting on events surrounding the ongoing government corruption probe.
Meriç Şenyüz, a reporter for the newspaper Yurt, has been sentenced to six months in prison for a article from 17 January about the involvement of then Prime Minister Erdogan's son Bilal in real estate deals. Şenyüz tweeted that he would appeal the ruling.
Özer Sürmeli, a reporter for the network Ulusal Kanal, has been sentenced to five months in prison. His sentence has been postponed. Sürmeli wrote in a 9 January article about corrupt exchanges of money between government officials and private companies. Sürmeli was convicted of portraying those he wrote about to be criminals.",41.009633,28.965165,"Arrest/Detention,Legal measure,Blocked access,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Male,Legal Aid,Candidate countries","- [http://bianet.org/english/media/160126-corruption-covering-reporters-convicted-to-prison-sentence](http://bianet.org/english/media/160126-corruption-covering-reporters-convicted-to-prison-sentence)
- [http://www.imctv.com.tr/2014/11/20/17-aralik-operasyonlarini-haber-yapan-muhabirlere-dava-aciliyor/](http://www.imctv.com.tr/2014/11/20/17-aralik-operasyonlarini-haber-yapan-muhabirlere-dava-aciliyor/)
- [http://www.gercekgundem.com/medya/85612/17-araliki-haber-yapan-muhabire-ceza-yagiyor](http://www.gercekgundem.com/medya/85612/17-araliki-haber-yapan-muhabire-ceza-yagiyor)
",,
18411,2014-11-24,France: Front National party denies access journalists,"The Front National party has refused to give accreditation for their party conference to journalists working for investigative website Mediapart and Canal+ tv show Le Petit Journal.
The conference is to take place next weekend in Lyon, on the 29 and the 30 of November.
The party regularly denies access to their events to Mediapart and Canal+. Wallerand de Saint-Just, The FN's sollicitor, told AFP that there are 3 ongoing complaints filed by the party against Mediapart.",45.75759,4.832324,"Blocked access,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Not Applicable,EU member states","- [http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2014/11/24/97001-20141124FILWWW00304-le-congres-du-fn-sans-mediapart-et-canal.php](http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2014/11/24/97001-20141124FILWWW00304-le-congres-du-fn-sans-mediapart-et-canal.php)
- [http://www.arre",,
18417,2014-11-27,Italy: Journalist's car set on fire,"31 October, 2014 - Journalist Antonello Sagheddu's car was set on fire in the town center of La Maddalena, Olbia, early in the morning on October 31.
The crime was captured by a surveillance camera. The footage shows a man splashing a liquid over the car's left front tire and then setting it alight. The person is hard to identify though.
Sagheddu, a former reporter for the Corriere dello Sport newspaper and Italy's ANSA news agency, now edits the Liberissimo.net blog site. He links the arson attack to his critical blog posts on sensitive issues concerning public funds spending in La Maddalena that he has written about.
“I think it annoys someone. Even in the past I have received signs: a couple of years ago I had a tire slashed, another time I found the car scratched,"" the journalist commented.
""Through the blog I complain about, for
example, the waste of public money, such as the failed restructuring of the abandoned lighthouse on the island of Razzoli, or the state of abandonment for the works begun for the G8 that never was. But the arson attack could be the act of a private individual who felt targeted by my reports. I hope that investigations will clarify the matter. Meanwhile, I am grateful to all the colleagues for the demonstrations of solidarity and friendship shown to me.""",41.239273,9.413365,"Limitation to Media Freedom,Attack to property,Source of the Threat/Violation/Abuse,Known private individual(s),Type of Journalist,Journalist,Blogger/Citizen journalist,Gender,Male,EU membership,EU member states","http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2014/11/la-maddalena-olbia-province-burned-down-the-car-of-a-journalist-50810/
http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2014/11/la-maddalena-olbia-province-burned-down-the-car-of-a-journalist-50810/",,
18416,2014-11-27,Italy: Threats made against journalist's children,"La Repubblica reporter Federica Angeli, who has been living under police protection for more than a year, was again targeted for intimidation.
The original threats were made by members of organised crime syndicates in the Lazio region. The new threats were made against Angeli's children on her Facebook page.
The editorial board of the newspaper announced in a statement that they would immediately raise the level of protection around the reporter.",41.893344,12.483072,"Psychological abuse,Trolling/Cyberbullying,Criminal organisation,Journalist,Female,Physical protection,EU member states","- [http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2014/11/new-intimidation-against-federica-angeli-50808/](http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2014/11/new-intimidation-against-federica-angeli-50808/)
- [http://www.rai.tv/dl/RaiTV/programmi/media/ContentItem-944239bc-bbf1-41dc-913c-72f3de0f6584-tg2.html](http://www.rai.tv/dl/RaiTV/programmi/media/ContentItem-944239bc-bbf1-41dc-913c-72f3de0f6584-tg2.html)
",,
18418,2014-11-28,Turkey: Reporting on parliamentary corruption probe banned,"26 November, 2014 - Ankara’s 7th Magistrate Court imposed on November 25 a ban on media coverage of the parliamentary commission investigating four former Turkish ministers -- Zafer Caglayan of economy, Muammer Guler of the interior, Egemen Bagis of EU affairs and chief negotiator and Erdogan Bayraktar of environment and urban planning.
The prohibition will remain in force until December 27, when the parliamentary body is due to complete its work. Media were also told that they face penalties for violating the ban.
Deutche Welle quoted a November 26 statement on the website of Turkey's Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTUK), which said that the ban was necessary because some media reports had ""violated the confidentiality of the investigation and the principle of presumption of innocence.""
The court issued its ruling after a November 21 parliamentary request, asking for the imposition of the ban so that the body could conduct a healthy investigation ""in order to protect the former ministers’ personal rights, reputation and other rights"".
The Turkish Journalists' Association has called the ban censorship, while some media, including Cumhuriyet, Bianet and several other media outlets and media professionals have said they would defy the ban.
The four former ministers were charged in connection with a broad corruption probe launched on December 17 2013, in which many well-known businessmen, as well as children of ministers were taken into custody. The ministers eventually resigned from their posts.
Turkey’s main opposition party, the center-left CHP, appealed to a higher court on November 27th to lift the ban.",39.922079,32.853758,"Legal measure,Article/Work didn't appear at all,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Not Applicable,Candidate countries","- [http://www.bianet.org/english/media/160280-we-don-t-recognize-the-media-ban-and-take-legal-action](http://www.bianet.org/english/media/160280-we-don-t-recognize-the-media-ban-and-take-legal-action)
- [http://www.dw.de/turkey-bans-reporting-on-parliamentary-graft-body/a-18090918](http://www.dw.de/turkey-bans-reporting-on-parliamentary-graft-body/a-18090918)
- [http://www.worldbulletin.net/turkey/149371/hrw-in-favor-of-turkey-giving-home-to-uighur](http://www.worldbulletin.net/turkey/149371/hrw-in-favor-of-turkey-giving-home-to-uighur)
- [http://www.worldbulletin.net/turkey/149286/turkey-media-ban-imposed-on-corruption-investigation](http://www.worldbulletin.net/turkey/149286/turkey-media-ban-imposed-on-corruption-investigation)
- [http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/10-issues-turkish-media-is-banned-from-reporting-on.aspx?PageID=238&NID=74904&NewsCatID=339](http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/10-issues-turkish-media-is-banned-from-reporting-on.aspx?PageID=238&NID=74904&NewsCatID=339)
",,
18439,2014-12-01,Albania: Attempted assassination of investigative journalist,"1 December, 2014 - Masked man holding gun with silencer tried to shoot Artur Cani, a journalist for TV News 24, on Monday, 1 December, around 20.30 near Cani’s home in Tirana, media reported.
According to local media reports Cani said to the police officers that a masked man tried to shoot at him but the weapon got jammed and did not fire.
Union of Albanian Journalists (UAJ) said it is deeply concerned after the attempted assassination of Cani. They point out that this shocking criminal act must be punished and urged for efficient investigation on the identity and motives of the perpetrator.
UAJ emphasized that this unprecedented incident shows the danger and extreme risks that investigative journalist face in their work.
Tirana's police said in a written statement that they are working 24/7 on discovering the perpetrator.",41.31775,19.82923,"Physical assaults,Psychological abuse,Known private individual(s),Journalist,Male,Candidate countries","- [http://www.abcnews.al/lajme/aktualitet/2/49435](http://www.abcnews.al/lajme/aktualitet/2/49435)
- [http://www.panorama.com.al/2014/12/02/atentati-ndaj-canit-unioni-i-gazetareve-shqiptare-nje-akt-trondites-mbi-gazetaret-te-gjendet-autori/](http://www.pa",,
18434,2014-12-01,"United Kingdom: Journalist's flat burgled, family threatened","30 November, 2014 - London-based journalist Alek Boyd, who has written about corruption in Venezuela, reported that his flat was broken into on 17 November 2014. A laptop was stolen. Three suspects were filmed by CCTV around the time of the break-in, which was reported to the police.
According to Boyd, who is Venezuelan, photographs taken of him with his children were left inside a pocket in one of his jackets.
The image is similar to ones posted online by accounts impersonating the journalist. Boyd has been the subject of online harassment related to his work on Venezuela. He and his family have been targeted with allegations of drug trafficking, paedophilia and, in the case of his sister, of being a former lover of Hugo Chavez.
On 26 November Boyd received a letter from Tbilisi, Georgia, that had a return address in China. Inside, another envelope contained four printouts of photographs of his children, his wife and himself. On the back of one of the printouts was a handwritten message: “you touch the rong girl, you pedofil! You think no one can touch yours???” (sic).
Another envelope was delivered on 29 November, also from Tbilisi. It, too, contained four printouts of photos with the same message handwritten on the back of one of the pictures.",51.507322,-0.127647,"Attack to property,Defamation/Discredit,Psychological abuse,Trolling/Cyberbullying,Violation of anonymity,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Male,Legal Aid,Physical protection,Training,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- [http://infodio.com/es/terrorismo/boliburgues](http://infodio.com/es/terrorismo/boliburgues)
- [http://infodio.com/191114/agents/chavismo/break/in/blogger/london](http://infodio.com/191114/agents/chavismo/break/in/blogger/london)
",,
18462,2014-12-11,Bulgaria: News site under pressure to reveal sources,"The Bulgarian Financial Supervision Commission has ordered Bivol.bg, a Bulgarian news website that specializes in investigating corruption, to reveal its sources for recent stories about questionable bank loans or face a fine, Reporters Without Borders reported.
WikiLeaks’ partner in Bulgaria, Bivol.bg received the order in the form of a letter sent by email on 8 December. On 10 December Bivol.bg received an email from the central bank retracting an undertaking to investigate the claims that the website made in these stories.",42.697721,23.322596,"Violation of anonymity,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Other,Legal Aid,EU member states","- [http://en.rsf.org/bulgaria-investigative-news-site-ordered-to-10-12-2014,47363.html](http://en.rsf.org/bulgaria-investigative-news-site-ordered-to-10-12-2014,47363.html)
",,
18479,2014-12-18,Hungary: Special registration may be required for NGOs funded from abroad,"Hungarian NGOs receiving funding from abroad could face a special registration procedure, after PM Viktor Orban said in a Bloomberg interview that he would back such a legislation.
Among the NGOs targeted there is Atlatszo.hu, an investigative journalism outlet receiving funding from the Norwegian government.
The PM said it is important to know “who’s in the background†of such groups, citing a US procedure for lobbying.
Earlier this year the Hungarian government criticised NGOs receiving funding from the Norwegian NGO Fund, calling them “foreign agentsâ€. The government also pressed charges against some of these groups for allegedly breaking rules in the distribution of funds, a claim all parties reject.
Norway has said the government’s probe lacked independence and that its aim was to undermine “democratic values.â€",47.49838,19.04047,"Legal measure,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Other,Not Applicable,EU member states",- [http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-12-15/hungary-premier-orban-sticks-to-maverick-path-as-u-dot-s-dot-ties-sour#p2](http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-12-15/hungary-premier-orban-sticks-to-maverick-path-as-u-dot-s-dot-ties-sour#p2),,
18533,2015-01-15,Macedonia: Journalist sentenced to two years in prison,"15 January, 2015 - Macedonian journalist Tomislav Kezarovski was sentenced to two years in prison by the Skopje Court of Appeal, the European Federation of Journalists reported.
Kezarovksi, an investigative journalist at the daily Nova Makedonija, has been in detention and then under house arrest since 28 May 2013 for an article he wrote in 2008 for Reporter 92 magazine in which he allegedly revealed the identity of a witness in a murder case.
The Court of Appeal lowered today the sentence of the Primary Court from 4,5 to 2 years of imprisonment. Kezarovski is currently under house arrest waiting for the outcome of the legal procedure. He is supposed to be imprisoned again for several months, as he is detained since 19 months.
The EFJ, with its members in Macedonia, the Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM) and the Trade Union of Macedonian Journalists and Media Workers (SSNM), call on the Macedonian authorities to immediately release Tomislav Kezarovski.
“He just did his job. He should never have been imprisoned for the charges against him. This decision is a real shame for the countryâ€, said the president of the EFJ, Mogens Blicher BjerregÃ¥rd. “Today’s excessive verdict sends a message of censorship to other journalists in the country. Elsewhere in Europe, journalists are allowed to carry out investigative reporting of issues in the public interest free from the threat of imprisonment. We will strongly report this case to the intergovernmental organisations dealing with Media Freedomâ€.",41.61712,21.71684,"Arrest/Detention,Criminal charges,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Male,Candidate countries",- [http://europeanjournalists.org/blog/2015/01/15/macedonia-a-two-year-prison-sentence-for-kezarovski/](http://europeanjournalists.org/blog/2015/01/15/macedonia-a-two-year-prison-sentence-for-kezarovski/),,
18542,2015-01-21,Italy: Arson attack against a journalist,"A car belonging to journalist Luigi Centore was burned early in the morning of 21 Jan. Centore has reported on the activities of organised crime in the area.
The Fiat Panda was parked under his house in the town of Ardea, a suburb of Rome.
Centore told to the website ossigenoinformazione.it, he heard a loud explosion at 2:30am. He also pointed out that the arson attacks began three years ago and have targeted politicians, local administrators, policemen and lawyers. Cars and buildings -- even the municipal engineering deparment -- have been burned. Centore has been attacked before, most recently in July 2013.
Centore has written extensively on illegal activities taking place in the 700-acre Salzare district, denouncing squatters, drug trafficking and a lack of police response.
“Now I live in fear and terror, wrote. I have lost hope that something of this sad situation can ever change"".",41.608712,12.519382,"Attack to property,Psychological abuse,Criminal organisation,Journalist,Blogger/Citizen journalist,Male,EU member states","- [http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2015/01/ardea-rm-a-fuoco-lauto-di-luigi-centore-non-e-la-prima-volta-53048/](http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2015/01/ardea-rm-a-fuoco-lauto-di-luigi-centore-non-e-la-prima-volta-53048/)
- [http://www.cinquequotidiano.it/cronaca/litorale/2015/01/21/ardea-altra-auto-incendiata-del-giornalista-luigi-centore/](http://www.cinquequotidiano.it/cronaca/litorale/2015/01/21/ardea-altra-auto-incendiata-del-giornalista-luigi-centore/)
- [http://roma.repubblica.it/cronaca/2013/07/11/news/ardea_-62825596/](http://roma.repubblica.it/cronaca/2013/07/11/news/ardea_-62825596/)
",,
18572,2015-02-04,Turkey: Columnist detained by police for fifth time in recent months,"Mehmet Baransu, a well known journalist for the newspaper Taraf, tweeted on January 28, ""I would have been offended if they didn't take me into custody. :) The police friends came again. I'm in custody again. Let's see what it is now.""
Baransu has been detained four other times in recent months. The last time he was taken into custody was on December 30.
Baransu later tweeted that he was taken into custody on January 28 because of ten tweets that he says were not posted from his account. According to Baransu, Binali Yıldırım, an advisor to President Erdogan, and his lawyers made the tweets look like they were from him. They also accused him of posting an allegedly insulting tweet from the account of broadcaster Oda TV. Baransu tweeted that his response was ""go find whoever posted that.""
Baransu's reporting on government corruption and military coup plans has made him a frequent target of detainment, wiretaps and threats from government figures.",41.009633,28.965165,"Arrest/Detention,Psychological abuse,Police/State security,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Male,Candidate countries","- [http://www.todayszaman.com/national_outspoken-journalist-detained-for-fifth-time-in-recent-months_371023.html](http://www.todayszaman.com/national_outspoken-journalist-detained-for-fifth-time-in-recent-months_371023.html)
- [http://www.sozcu.com.tr/2015/gundem/mehmet-baransu-gozaltina-alindi-2-725492/](http://www.sozcu.com.tr/2015/gundem/mehmet-baransu-gozaltina-alindi-2-725492/)
- [https://twitter.com/mehmetbaransu/status/560342383251161088](https://twitter.com/mehmetbaransu/status/560342383251161088)
- [https://twitter.com/mehmetbaransu/status/560437873523302400](https://twitter.com/mehmetbaransu/status/560437873523302400)
",,
18585,2015-02-17,United Kingdom: Senior Telegraph commentator quits over HSBC coverage,"17 February 2015 - Peter Oborne, Daily Telegraph's chief political commentator, announced his resignation on a blog on the OpenDemocracy website, in which he accused the newspaper of committing a ""fraud"" on readers by burying reports on the HSBC tax scandal.
Oborne wrote: ""From the start of 2013 onwards stories critical of HSBC were discouraged. HSBC suspended its advertising with the Telegraph. Winning back the HSBC advertising account became an urgent priority. It was eventually restored after approximately 12 months.""
Oborne also accused his bosses of appeasing Chinese interests by refusing to publish critical comment after China barred British MPs from a visit to Hong Kong.
The Telegraph has denied these claims.",51.507322,-0.127647,"Self-censorship,Employer/Publisher/Colleague(s),Corporation/Company,Journalist,Male,EU member states,Other (Please indicate in report text),Commercial interference","- [https://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/peter-oborne/why-i-have-resigned-from-telegraph](https://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/peter-oborne/why-i-have-resigned-from-telegraph)
- [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/peter-oborne-resignation-senior-writer-dramatically-quits-telegraph-over-hsbc-allegations-10052314.html](http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/press/peter-oborne-resignation-senior-writer-dramatically-quits-telegraph-over-hsbc-allegations-10052314.html)
- [http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/feb/17/peter-oborne-telegraph-hsbc-coverage-fraud-readers](http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/feb/17/peter-oborne-telegraph-hsbc-coverage-fraud-readers)
",,
18588,2015-02-18,Hungary: Journalist leaves vs.hu after press conference with Fidesz parliamentary leader,"Journalist Akos Keller-Alant left his job at vs.hu after a press conference during which he got into an exchange with Fidesz parliamentary leader Antal Rogan.
The investigative news outlet Atlatszo.hu published a material based on background discussions with a number of journalists who said that after the incident, the management of vs.hu invited Keller-Alant to talks. The journalist signed the common assent minutes after the discussion started.
According to journalists present at the press conference, as well as a video footage, Keller-Alant’s intervention at the press conference was uncompassionate, but ""he just did his job"" and ""asked what had to be asked"".
Vs.hu released a press statement saying that the case has nothing to do with censorship or political pressure. The incident at the press conference was the last event of a long track record of the journalist’s ""sudden behavioral disorders"". This is the reason the management lost confidence in him, the statement said.
According to sources working at vs.hu, Akos Keller-Alant received a salary raise days before the incident.",47.498382,19.040471,"Loss of employment,Employer/Publisher/Colleague(s),Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Male,EU member states","- [http://atlatszo.hu/2015/02/17/megvalik-a-vs-hu-a-rogan-szavaba-vago-ujsagirotol/](http://atlatszo.hu/2015/02/17/megvalik-a-vs-hu-a-rogan-szavaba-vago-ujsagirotol/)
- [https://www.facebook.com/www.vs.hu/posts/358353564369370](https://www.facebook.com/www.vs.hu/posts/358353564369370)
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_8_3tgZVGU](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_8_3tgZVGU)
",,
18605,2015-02-26,Turkey: Journalists face trials for insulting president,"27 February, 2015 - Journalists attended hearings on February 26 in court cases against them for insulting Turkish President Erdogan.
Can Dündar, editor of the newspaper Cumhuriyet, reportedly faces multiple years in prison for insult and for violating the confidentiality of an ongoing criminal investigation in his reporting on the government corruption scandal that emerged in December 2013.
Barış İnce, editor of the newspaper BirGün, faces four years and eight months in prison for insulting Erdogan in article. Çiğdem Toker, another journalist who works for Cumhuriyet, is also on trial in a related case.",41.009633,28.965165,"Legal measure,Defamation/Discredit,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Female,Male,Candidate countries","- [http://www.todayszaman.com/national_journalist-on-trial-for-insulting-erdogan-says-prosecution-now-part-of-nature-of-journalism_373689.html](http://www.todayszaman.com/national_journalist-on-trial-for-insulting-erdogan-says-prosecution-now-part-of-nature-of-journalism_373689.html)
- [http://www.bianet.org/english/freedom-of-expression/162585-journalist-charged-with-prison-for-defense-with-acrostic?bia_source=rss&utm_content=buffer1bbbd&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer](http://www.bianet.org/english/freedom-of-expression/162585-journalist-charged-with-prison-for-defense-with-acrostic?bia_source=rss&utm_content=buffer1bbbd&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer)
- [http://www.milliyet.com.tr/can-dundar-hakim-karsisina-cikti-istanbul-yerelhaber-642433/](http://www.milliyet.com.tr/can-dundar-hakim-karsisina-cikti-istanbul-yerelhaber-642433/)
- [http://t24.com.tr/haber/can-dundar-adliyede-ifade-vermek-icin-istanbul-adliyesinde,288621](http://t24.com.tr/haber/can-dundar-adliyede-ifade-vermek-icin-istanbul-adliyesinde,288621)
",,
18631,2015-02-28,"Serbia: After threats, B92 postpones airing of investigative programme","28 February, 2015 - B92 TV, in agreement with Brankica Stankovic, editor of the Insajder team, decided to postpone the broadcasting of a new episode of the Reporter investigative journalism series due to the security issues, Serbian media reported.
In a statement, B92 said that Stankovic was assigned police protection several years ago, a situation that was questioned and ridiculed in the wake of the airing of Reporter's first episode - which additionally jeopardized her safety and that of her team.
The Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia (NUNS) said that a campaign against Stankovic, the author of the show (which investigated corruption in football clubs) had been going on for days, and that officials of sport clubs, as well as people from sport fan organizations, were threatening reporters openly.
""The government has not reacted to this threat to media freedom and personal safety with appropriate measures, neither have officials shown in any way that they are disturbed because of the threats coming to sport club managements and fan groups,"" the statement says.
NUNS pointed out that, unfortunately, some media were also taking part in the orchestrated attacks and condemned such behavior, calling on all fellow journalists to show solidarity, since it would be needed to achieve better conditions for journalistic work.
Acknowledging that the decision would cause different interpretations, B92 stressed that Insajder remains a part of the broadcaster and would, as before, have the full support of its editorial staff.",44.81788,20.45681,"Defamation/Discredit,Psychological abuse,Trolling/Cyberbullying,Article/Work didn't appear at all,Corporation/Company,Known private individual(s),Criminal organisation,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Female,Publicity,Solidarity,Candidate countries,Other (Please indicate in report text)","- [http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2015&mm=03&dd=09&nav_category=12&nav_id=966320](http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2015&mm=03&dd=09&nav_category=12&nav_id=966320)
- [http://www.nuns.rs/info/stateme",http://www.b92.net/video/vesti.php?yyyy=2015&mm=03&dd=09&nav_id=966610,
18621,2015-03-03,Albania: Journalist receives death threat,"3 March, 2015 - Artan Hodza, an investigative journalist, received a threat on his life via text on his mobile phone on Tuesday, 3 March 2015, Albanian media reported.
Hodza, host of the investigative news show ""Xhungal"", talking in the live show “Open studio†said that well-structured criminal organization is trying to silence him.
The Albanian Union of Journalists said it was shocked by threatening message and expressed strong solidarity with Hodza and family. They asked law enforcement institutions and judicial bodies to intervene vigorously and effectively and to identify, capture and punish the author or authors of the message.",41.32795,19.81853,"Psychological abuse,Criminal organisation,Journalist,Male,Solidarity,Candidate countries","- [http://24-ore.com/kercenohet-me-jete-gazetari-artan-hoxha-si-fillim-do-qash-per-djalin-tat-pastaj-do-jete-radha-jote/](http://24-ore.com/kercenohet-me-jete-gazetari-artan-hoxha-si-fillim-do-qash-per-djalin-tat-pastaj-do-jete-radha-jote/)
- [http://www.",,
18622,2015-03-03,Italy: Journalist's son given threatening message,"Journalist Giovanni Giovannetti's son was approached on 16 February in a Pavia cafe and told, “Giovannetti should be careful for his family.”
The journalist believes that the threat was directed at him and his son was just a channel. Giovannetti noted that recently, on his blog and through complaints presented to the judiciary, he has accused some public administrators of corruption. He will submit a complaint against unknown persons.
“The fact that the threat was directed at me, it seems clear enough. My son is not involved in any political or journalistic activity. Moreover, there is a temporal coincidence that makes me think: this threat comes right after the arrest of Luca Filippi”.
Luca Filippi, former adviser of the municipal company ASM and former president of the subsidiary ASM Lavori, was arrested on charges of corruption and embezzlement few hours before the threatening phrase was uttered.
According to the Carabinieri, he had used a corporate credit card for private purposes for over €50K of spending.",45.186004,9.154637,"Psychological abuse,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Blogger/Citizen journalist,Male,EU member states","- [http://laprovinciapavese.gelocal.it/pavia/cronaca/2015/02/17/news/pavia-minacce-al-figlio-del-blogger-giovannetti-1.10883793](http://laprovinciapavese.gelocal.it/pavia/cronaca/2015/02/17/news/pavia-minacce-al-figlio-del-blogger-giovannetti-1.10883793)
- [http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2015/02/pavia-attento-alla-famiglia-altra-minaccia-a-giornalista-giovannetti-54292/](http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2015/02/pavia-attento-alla-famiglia-altra-minaccia-a-giornalista-giovannetti-54292/)
",,
18625,2015-03-04,"Hungary: Fidesz politician tells journalist to ""consider what you write""","Istvan Simicsko, a state secretary in the Fidesz government, called a journalist who published an article questioning the acquisition of five luxury apartments by him and his parents.
Before the article was published, the investigative journalist of Atlatszo.hu contacted the state secretary with a number of questions regarding the apartments, but got only partial answers.
After the piece appeared, Simicsko called the journalist. Atlatszo.hu published the recording where the state secretary makes a series of reproaches to the journalist who ""harasses him"".
Among other things, Simicsko said that ""If you continue like this, there will be no honest politicians"" and ""next time you should consider what you write"".",47.49838,19.04047,"Psychological abuse,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Male,EU member states",- [http://mutyimondo.atlatszo.hu/2015/02/26/simicsko-legkozelebb-fontolja-meg-miket-ir-le/](http://mutyimondo.atlatszo.hu/2015/02/26/simicsko-legkozelebb-fontolja-meg-miket-ir-le/),,
18641,2015-03-13,Italy: Gazzetta di Mantova journalists under investigation,"13 March, 2015 - Editor-in-chief Paolo Boldrini, senior editor of crime news Gabriele De Stefani and two reporters, Igor Cipollina and Rossella Canade from the newspaper Gazzetta di Mantova are under investigation for publication of documents in connection to a criminal trial.
The city prosecutor intervened after the daily newpaper published the documents of the anti-Mafia directorate of Brescia's operation against 'ndrangheta infiltrations in the institutions and the economy of Lombardy.
The articles wrtitten by Canade, Cipollina and De Stefani are being examined by the magistrates. The articles concerned the ""Pesci"" operation and reported the content from an informational note from the Carabinieri of the investigative unit of Mantua. Those arrested and investigated already know the published material. Among those investigated was the mayor of Mantua, Nicola Sodano, for corruption and embezzlement.",45.15667,10.79172,"Legal measure,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Female,Male,EU member states","- [http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2015/03/gazzetta-mantova-direttoreora-rischioso-pubblicare-altri-articoli-55291/](http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2015/03/gazzetta-mantova-direttoreora-rischioso-pubblicare-altri-articoli-55291/)
- [http://www.odg.mi.it/",,
18650,2015-03-20,Turkey: Anchorwoman faces 5 years in jail for tweet,"17 January, 2015 - Prosecutors seek up to five years of imprisonment for Turkish journalist and anchorwoman Sedef Kabaş for her tweet in which she called on citizens not to forget the name of the judge who dropped the Dec. 17, 2013 corruption probe that involved high-profile names and former Cabinet members, the Hurriyet Daily News reported.
On 20 March, Kabaş read a statement on Halk TV ahead of the start of her trial.
An indictment has been prepared by the prosecutors on charges of “targeting people involved in the fight against terrorism and making threats,” which is punishable with jail time from one-and-a-half years to five years.
“Do not forget the name of the judge who decided not to pursue the proceedings in the Dec. 17 probe,” Kabaş tweeted. She was referring to a massive graft probe which was officially dropped on Dec. 16 when the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office rejected an objection to its decision to not pursue proceedings in the case.
Kabaş was detained on Dec. 30 at her house and was released after testifying before a prosecutor.
“I believe in the rule of law. I believe there still people who have faith in rule of law,” Kabaş said then, adding that her tablet, computer, and mobile phone were also seized by the police from her house.",41.009633,28.965165,"Legal measure,Defamation/Discredit,Psychological abuse,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Other,Female,Candidate countries","- [http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-anchorwoman-faces-5-years-in-jail-for-tweet.aspx?PageID=238&NID=77077&NewsCatID=338](http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-anchorwoman-faces-5-years-in-jail-for-tweet.aspx?PageID=238&NID=77077&NewsCatID=338)
- [http://www.todayszaman.com/op-ed_journalist-kabas-reads-manifesto-on-tv-ahead-of-court-appearance-im-on-trial_375890.html](http://www.todayszaman.com/op-ed_journalist-kabas-reads-manifesto-on-tv-ahead-of-court-appearance-im-on-trial_375890.html)
- [http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1slc8c7](http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1slc8c7)
",,
18698,2015-04-15,Slovenia: State prosecutor withdraws all charges against Anuska Delic,"The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic welcomed the recent decision to drop all charges against Slovenian journalist Anuska Delic.
On Wednesday, 15 April 2015, State prosecutor Andreja Zvanut withdrew all charges against Anuska Delic, an investigative reporter of the left-leaning daily Delo, because of ""lack of evidence"", Slovenian news agency STA reported.
However, Zvanut maintained that Delic is “guilty†in a statement she made before the judge and to the media.
Delic was facing up to three years in prison for her publication in 2011 of a series of articles based on leaked information that showed Slovenia's SOVA intelligence service was aware of ties between the centre-right opposition Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) and a neo-Nazi group called Blood and Honour.
Delic told the EFJ that this is “a bitter victory†for her.
“After more than three years of various proceedings, such an unjust statement from the state prosecutor is further damaging my reputation. I fear that the statement will give the state further recourse to prosecute journalists for the purpose of pleasing the ruling power,†said Delic.
Mogens Blicher Bjerregard, the EFJ president said that ""while we are glad that Anuska Delic is finally free but we are very concerned by the attitude and the statement of the state prosecutor. It is unacceptable that the state prosecutor made such an empty statement contrary to the ruling to intimate journalists. This is also against the media freedom policy and fundamental rights in the EU.""
“Members of the media should never have to fear facing criminal charges for doing their work, period,†OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic said.",46.04987,14.50689,"Legal measure,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Female,EU member states,Other (Please indicate in report text)","- [http://novinar.com/7976](http://novinar.com/7976)
- [https://www.nuj.org.uk/news/slovenia-drops-charges-against-investigative-journalist-anuka/](https://www.nuj.org.uk/news/slovenia-drops-charges-against-investigative-journalist-anuka/)
- [http://www.t",,
18707,2015-04-23,Luxembourg: Journalist charged in LuxLeaks case,"Luxembourg charged the French journalist behind the revealing of the so-called LuxLeaks scandal that implicated the small European country in lowering tax rates for multinationals.
""Today, the investigative judge charged a French journalist accused of being a co-author, if not an accomplice in crimes committed by a former PwC employee,"" the prosecutor's office said in a statement without naming the journalist.
A court source confirmed that the French journalist is Edouard Perrin, who first broke the story in 2012 in a programme on the state-owned France 2 TV station, AFP reported.
The scandal did not really erupt until last November when newspapers pored over 28,000 pages of documents obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), revealing the full scale of the tax breaks won by 340 companies.
UPDATE 16 Mar 2017 -- On 15 March 2017, the Court of Appeal of Luxembourg reduced the sentence of two “Luxleaks†whistleblowers and confirmed the acquittal of the investigative reporter Edouard Perrin.
UPDATE: On 29 June 2016, a Court in Luxembourg acquitted journalist Edouard Perrin, who had revealed the first elements of financial scandal LuxLeaks, in May 2012, of all charges, Libération reported. Former PricewaterhouseCoopers employees Antoine Deltour received a 12-month suspended sentence and 1,500€ penalty and and Raphael Halet received a nine-month suspended sentence with a 1,000€ penalty respectively for leaking documents, the European Federation of Journalists reported.",49.61128,6.129799,"Legal measure,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,EU member states","- [https://uk.news.yahoo.com/luxembourg-court-charges-luxleaks-journalist-160034057.html#5RQU3hr](https://uk.news.yahoo.com/luxembourg-court-charges-luxleaks-journalist-160034057.html#5RQU3hr)
- [http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/23/luxembourg-cou",,
18713,2015-04-30,Latvia: Investigative journalist detained,"Investigative journalist Lato Lapsa was detained by Security Police (DP) on Wednesday, LSM.lv.
Lapsa, who has written books exposing corruption in high places and who runs the whistleblowing Pietiek.com website, told the BNS newswire he was held at the Security Police's headquarters after entering the building with a dictaphone.
""I was told that I am detained because I had a recorder with me and that it was not allowed to take one into the Security Police building. I was given no further explanations, except that force will be used against me if I resist. It's something like a local Gestapo,"" the journalist said.
His original intention had been to deliver a deposition to DP chief Normunds Mezviets, Lapsa said.
Just days ago Lapsa's website posted a bizarre transcript of his previous visit to the DP office which ended when officers could not provide certification for the equipment they were using to scan him.
Representatives of the Security Police told BNS that Lapsa was detained because he ""did not comply with police officers' lawful requirements"".",56.9494,24.10519,"Arrest/Detention,Police/State security,Journalist,Male,EU member states",- [http://www.lsm.lv/en/article/societ/society/investigative-journalist-arrested-on-eve-of-world-press-freedom-awards.a127548/](http://www.lsm.lv/en/article/societ/society/investigative-journalist-arrested-on-eve-of-world-press-freedom-awards.a127548/),,
18716,2015-05-05,Montenegro: Journalist’s car vandalised,"Unidentified person vandalised Milovan Novovic’s car on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday, 5 – 6 May, 2015, at the parking lot near his flat in Bijelo Polje, Montenegrin media reported.
Journalists' associations and NGOs dealing with human rights condemned the attack and demanded that the government do more to protect journalists and ensure a free press.
They said the police had not delivered significant results when it came to solving cases of media attacks.
""We have no choice but to urge the police and prosecution to do their job and to hope that in these cases justice will be delivered,"" the head of the union, Marijan Camovic, said.
The Montenegrin journalists' association has called on the government to end the 'culture of impunity' over crimes against the media.
A government commission set up to look into attacks on journalists noted that two almost identical attacks had occurred in only two days, adding that journalists in Montenegro do not feel free to do their work professionally.
In recent months, Novovic have been verbally attacked by local politicians for articles he wrote about wrongdoing and corruption in local governments, Montenegrin media report.",43.033708,19.746953,"Intimidation,Attack to property,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Male,Publicity,Union intervention,Candidate countries","- [http://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/razlupan-automobil-dopisnika-dana-iz-bijelog-polja-832226](http://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/razlupan-automobil-dopisnika-dana-iz-bijelog-polja-832226)
- [http://www.dan.co.me/?nivo=3&rubrika=Hronika&datum=2015-05-08&clanak=490164](http://www.dan.co.me/?nivo=3&rubrika=Hronika&datum=2015-05-08&clanak=490164)
- [http://mondo.me/a441846/Info/Drustvo/Nadlezni-da-otkriju-pocinioce-napada-na-novinare.html](http://mondo.me/a441846/Info/Drustvo/Nadlezni-da-otkriju-pocinioce-napada-na-novinare.html)
",,
18744,2015-05-28,Croatia: Journalist assaulted by three assailants,"Investigative journalist and blogger Zeljko Peratovic was beaten up by three unidentified assailants in his home in Luka Pokupska near Karlovac on Thursday evening.
Peratovic received medical attention at the Karlovac General Hospital, after which he was escorted by the police to help them with their inquiries. He told Hina he believed the attack was prompted by his articles about the ongoing trial in Munich of Yugoslav-era senior security official Josip Perkovic.
The attack was condemned by the Croatian Journalists' Association (HND), which demanded that attacks on journalists and threats in connection with their work be treated as a criminal offence.
Update:
The three suspects have been named for the attack: local entrepreneur, Vladimir Cunjko, his son Vladimir and a worker at his company, Zihnija Grahovic.
Peratovic had written an article about their company regarding the illegal excavation of gravel.
As a result of the investigation, the state attorney has decided to change the charges from “inflicting physical injuries†to “attempted murderâ€. It has been revealed that one of the suspects yelled “now I’ll strangle you!â€, after hitting him with a sharp object.
Peratovic believes the attack might have also been prompted by his articles on the ongoing trial in Munich of Yugoslav-era senior security official, Josip Perkovic.",45.51438,15.6707,"Physical assaults,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Blogger/Citizen journalist,Male,EU member states","- [http://dalje.com/en-croatia/freelance-journalist-zeljko-peratovic-attacked-in-his-home/545516](http://dalje.com/en-croatia/freelance-journalist-zeljko-peratovic-attacked-in-his-home/545516)
- [http://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/pretucen-istrazivacki-no",,
18832,2015-05-30,Bulgaria: Financial supervision commission tries to silence newspapers working on banking disclosures,"The Financial Supervision Commission, an administrative body established to maintain ""stability and transparency on the non-banking financial sector"", has launched a war against the media, in response to the financial turbulence of 2014.
Portraying itself as protecting the stability of the banking sector, the the commission has contributed to silence the debate on mismanagement of the banks by sanctioning with heavy fines those who were publishing ""unofficial news"" about financial difficulties in the sector.
The Commission has distinguished itself by ordering media outlets and news websites to pay record fines in 2014, such as Economedia (weekly Capital) for 80000 euros, Alpiko publishing (zovnews.bg) and Konkurent news (Konkurent newspaper) as well as investigative news website Bivol.bg, Wikileaks' partner in the Balkans, who was also asked to reveal sources.",42.6074,25.48566,"Legal measure,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,EU member states","- [http://en.rsf.org/bulgaria-authorities-ramp-up-pressure-on-21-01-2015,47516.html](http://en.rsf.org/bulgaria-authorities-ramp-up-pressure-on-21-01-2015,47516.html)
- [http://en.rsf.org/bulgaria-investigative-news-site-ordered-to-10-12-2014,47363.html](",,
18849,2015-06-25,Bulgaria: Investigative news outlet bivol.bg threatened,"The editors of bivol.bg, an investigative journalism site, were informed that an attack was being planned against them.
The threat came several hours after an Israeli TV Channel 2 broadcast cited an Bivol investigation into Oren Hazan, deputy speaker of the Knesset and manager of two hotels until 2013.
The investigation unveiled that the hotel owner was linked to a notorious criminal group VIS 2.
According to Bivol, the threat came from outside Bulgaria, and the data ""points precisely towards those directly affected by our investigations"" in connection to Hazan.",42.69772,23.3226,"Intimidation,Other/Unknown,EU member states",- [https://bivol.bg/en/new-revelations-about-the-hazan-affair-led-to-threats-against-bivols-team.html](https://bivol.bg/en/new-revelations-about-the-hazan-affair-led-to-threats-against-bivols-team.html),,
18853,2015-06-28,Macedonia: Border officers tried to confiscate journalists’ camera,"28 June, 2015 - Cornelia Krebs, a journalist for the Austrian public service broadcaster ORF, was obstructed in doing her work by a local Macedonian law enforcement officer, on the border between Macedonia and Greece, media reported.
The incident took place on 28 June 2015, on the Macedonian side of the border, right after the reporter arrived from Idomeni on the Greek side.
Krebs, who was reporting on border migration issues, was intercepted by three law enforcement officers, two men and a woman, while she was filming a large group of refugees walking into Macedonia.
According to media reports police officers tried to confiscate her camera and other equipment. With difficulty, she managed to extricate herself and move away from the border crossing. The incident was recorded by Greek documentarist Vasilis Tsartsanis and immediately made public. Krebs reported the incident to the police.
OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic wrote to Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki, calling for a swift and transparent investigation following a recent attack on a journalist in the country.
“This attack is totally unacceptable, as it constitutes a direct threat to free media,” Mijatovic wrote in her letter to the Foreign Minister. “Investigative journalism is one of the pillars of free media and journalists must be free to report on issues of public interest without fear of violence.”
“The authorities should publicly condemn these and all other attacks on journalists and media workers, and must ensure swift and transparent investigations,” Mijatovic said. “There must be no impunity for attacks or threats against journalists.”",41.122077,22.510865,"Attack to property,Blocked access,Police/State security,Broadcaster,Female,Publicity,Candidate countries","- [http://fokus.mk/mijatovik-mu-pisha-na-popovski-napadite-vrz-novinarite-ne-smeat-da-ostanat-nekazneti/](http://fokus.mk/mijatovik-mu-pisha-na-popovski-napadite-vrz-novinarite-ne-smeat-da-ostanat-nekazneti/)
- [http://www.salzburg.com/nachrichten/welt/politik/sn/artikel/orf-journalistin-von-mazedonischen-polizisten-attackiert-158735/](http://www.salzburg.com/nachrichten/welt/politik/sn/artikel/orf-journalistin-von-mazedonischen-polizisten-attackiert-158735/)
- [http://derstandard.at/2000019509659/ORF-Journalistin-von-mazedonischen-Grenzpolizisten-attackiert](http://derstandard.at/2000019509659/ORF-Journalistin-von-mazedonischen-Grenzpolizisten-attackiert)
",,
18099,2015-07-01,Serbia: Appeals court in Belgrade rules against the media outlet B92 for defamation,"1 July, 2015 - Belgrade appeals court upheld a ruling by the Belgrade high court in which media outlet B92 was fined for defamation charges against the former Assistant Minister of Health, Zorica Pavlović. The ruling followed B92’s reporting on an investigation of alleged mismanagement of public funds involving Pavlović. Parts of B92’s story originated from information contained in an official police memo.
“This ruling may have a chilling effect on media freedom as it restricts reporting on matters of public interest. International standards call for public officials to endure a higher threshold of criticism by the media,†OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović said.
Mijatović underlined that courts “must take into account the right to freedom to information†and added that the decision deprives media outlets to report freely on matters of public interest which can seriously damage investigative journalism.
“When journalists base their reporting on content from official reports, international standards call for their immunity in cases where this contributes to public debate on matters of legitimate concern,†Mijatović said.
The 1 July ruling by the appeals court in Belgrade can be appealed to the Serbian Constitutional Court.",44.80362,20.46467,"Legal measure,Self-censorship,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Publicity,Candidate countries","- [http://www.osce.org/fom/121326](http://www.osce.org/fom/121326)
- [http://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/125/Dru%C5%A1tvo/1650626/OEBS+o+presudi+Apelacionog+suda+.html](http://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/125/Dru%C5%A1tvo/1650626/OEBS+o+presudi+A",,
18878,2015-07-10,Turkey: Journalist fined for insulting president,"7 July, 2015 - Barış İnce, reporter for the newspaper BirGün, has been fined for insulting President Erdogan. An Istanbul court has ordered İnce to pay 7,500 liras for his reporting on the 17 - 25 December 2013 government corruption scandal; reporting on such content had been placed under a media ban.
İnce had previously been charged twice by the Erdogan family. He was tried on defamation charges filed by Erdogan's children Sümeyye Erdoğan, Bilal Erdoğan, Esra Erdoğan Albayrak and his son-in-law Berat Albayrak, but was later acquitted from those charges. In addition, İnce had also been fined by Erdogan and his son Bilal for approximately ten thousand liras. This particular case is still on going and İnce faces a sentence of up to six years in prison.",41.009633,28.965165,"Civil lawsuits,Criminal charges,Legal measure,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Male,Legal Aid,Publicity,Union intervention,Candidate countries","- [http://bianet.org/english/media/165867-journalist-fined-for-second-time-for-insulting-the-president-erdogan](http://bianet.org/english/media/165867-journalist-fined-for-second-time-for-insulting-the-president-erdogan)
- [http://www.diken.com.tr/erdogana-hakarette-bugun-2-gazeteci-baris-inceye-7-bin-500-lira-para-cezasi/](http://www.diken.com.tr/erdogana-hakarette-bugun-2-gazeteci-baris-inceye-7-bin-500-lira-para-cezasi/)
- [http://www.imctv.com.tr/102679/2015/07/baris-inceye-erdogana-hakaretten-7-bin-500-tllik-para-cezasi/](http://www.imctv.com.tr/102679/2015/07/baris-inceye-erdogana-hakaretten-7-bin-500-tllik-para-cezasi/)
",,
18883,2015-07-13,"Croatia: Armed assailants storm Hrvatski Tjednik offices, injuring graphic designer.","Monday 13 July 2015 -- Two men armed physically assaulted a graphic designer of the “Hrvatski Tjednikâ€, Antonio Mlikota, by choking him with a wire inside the publication's premises in Zadar, Croatian media reports.
Armed assailants burst into the weekly's office at 11pm, injuring the graphic designer, demolishing the offices and stealing several thousand kuna (Croatian curency), Zadar police reported.
The owner and editor-in-chief of the weekly, Ivica Marijacic, stated the attack at the weekly's headquarters was an ""act of terrorism and larceny"", and that he had no idea what the motive behind the attack could be.
""I think they used wire to try and choke him. They tied his hands, put a gun to his head. They were certainly looking for something because Mlikota heard one assailant ask, 'did you find it?'"", Marijacic said, adding that he didn't have any information of the extent of Mlikota's injuries, who had been taken to hospital.
The Croatian Journalists' Association (HND) have formally condemned the attack and have ordered an investigation by the police: ""We condemn in the strongest terms this brutal attack on the offices of Hrvatski Tjednik and we demand investigative bodies to urgently find the perpetrators and who may have possibly ordered the attack,"" HND president Sasa Lekovic said, adding that the attack was also an attack on the freedom of expression.",44.11843,15.23245,"Physical assaults,Injury,Intimidation,Attack to property,Other/Unknown,Editor,Male,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,EU member states",- [http://hr.n1info.com/a60907/Vijesti/Napad-na-redakciju-Hrvatskog-tjednika-Grafickog-urednika-davili-zivom-i-psovali-mu-majku-ustasku.html](http://hr.n1info.com/a60907/Vijesti/Napad-na-redakciju-Hrvatskog-tjednika-Grafickog-urednika-davili-zivom-i-psova,,
18885,2015-07-30,"Cyprus: Russian investigative journalist detained in Cyprus, faces charges at home","30 July, 2015 - Andrey Nekrasov, journalist from the city of Izhevsk, was detained in at Larnaca airport in Cyprus. Nekrasov is well-known for his investigations into corrupt practices of regional public officials.
He reportedly flew into Cyprus from Lithuania, where he was escaping persecution in Russia.
In a statement, Reporters without borders stressed that Nekrasov was arrested “at Russia’s behestâ€: Nekrasov fled his home town in the Russian Urals in March to escape imminent imprisonment in connection with his journalism and activism but the long arm of the Russian criminal justice system has caught up with him abroad.
The journalist was transferred to Nicosia prison following his arrest. He is due to appear in court on 13 August, when a judge will begin considering Russia’s extradition request.
“The legal proceedings against Andrey Nekrasov are typical of the harassment of outspoken journalists in the Russian regions,†said Johann Bihr, the head of the Reporters Without Borders Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk. “There is no doubt that this journalist will be denied the right to due process if extradited. We urge the Cypriot authorities not to become the accomplices of Russian despotism and instead to release Nekrasov without delay and to examine his asylum requestâ€.
According to media reports, the Nicosia court has denied the Russian request for Nekrasov’s extradition and has allowed him to returned to Lithuania, the country that is responsible for making decision on his political asylum in the EU.
Nekrasov has previously been charged for crimes related to his work by private and public individuals.
The CEO of the Izhmash factory filed a complaint accusing him of blackmail and extortion in 2013, at a time when he was writing about the demands of its workers. He is facing up to 15 years in prison for the charges.
In February of this year, he was fined 30,000 roubles (450 euros) on a criminal defamation charge for linking a local official in the ruling United Russia party to a person of the same name with assets in the United States. Fearing that this conviction would be used as an aggravating circumstance in the other case, Nekrasov fled the county the following month. In April, the Udmurt supreme court upheld a court order to place Nekrasov in pre-trial detention for failing to report to the judicial authoritiesâ€.
---------
РоÑÑиÑ: ЖурналиÑÑ‚-раÑÑледователь из ИжевÑка ареÑтован на Кипре
15 Ð¸ÑŽÐ»Ñ 2015 г. – Ð’ кипрÑком аÑропорту задержан журналиÑÑ‚ из ИжевÑка Ðндрей ÐекраÑов, извеÑтный в Ñвоем регионе Ð±Ð»Ð°Ð³Ð¾Ð´Ð°Ñ€Ñ Ñвоими раÑÑледованиÑми в отношении меÑтных чиновников. ÐекраÑов прилетел на Кипр из Литвы, куда он уехал из РоÑÑии по причине преÑледований.
Ð’ заÑвлении международной организации «Репортеры без границ» говоритÑÑ, что он был ареÑтован «по указанию роÑÑийÑких влаÑтей»: «Даже находÑÑÑŒ за границей, журналиÑÑ‚ и активиÑÑ‚ Ðндрей ÐекраÑов подвергаетÑÑ Ð¿Ñ€ÐµÑледованию Ñо Ñтороны роÑÑийÑких влаÑтей. Будучи вынужденным покинуть Ñвою Ñтрану в марте 2015 года во избежание непременного ареÑта, он был задержан 15 Ð¸ÑŽÐ»Ñ Ð² аÑропорту Ларнака, на Кипре. Он был переведен в тюрьму ÐикоÑии и должен предÑтать 13 авгуÑта перед Ñудом, который начнет раÑÑматривать Ð²Ð¾Ð¿Ñ€Ð¾Ñ Ð¾ его ÑкÑтрадиции в РоÑÑию».
«ПреÑледование ÐÐ½Ð´Ñ€ÐµÑ ÐекраÑова ÑвлÑетÑÑ ÐºÐ»Ð°ÑÑичеÑким примером преÑледований критикующих роÑÑийÑкие региональные влаÑти журналиÑтов, - заÑвил руководитель отдела ВоÑточной Европы и Центральной Ðзии «Репортеров без границ» Йоханн Бир. – Ðет Ñомнений, что Ñудебное раÑÑмотрение будет приÑтраÑтным, в Ñлучае ÑкÑтрадиции. Мы призываем влаÑти Кипра не вÑтупать в Ñговор Ñ Ñ€Ð¾ÑÑийÑкой деÑпотией Ð´Ð»Ñ Ð¿Ñ€Ð¾Ð²ÐµÐ´ÐµÐ½Ð¸Ñ Ñ€ÐµÐ¿Ñ€ÐµÑÑий, немедленно оÑвободить ÐÐ½Ð´Ñ€ÐµÑ ÐекраÑова и раÑÑмотреть его прошение предоÑтавить убежище».
Как ÑообщаетÑÑ Ð½Ð° Ñайте «Репортеров без границ», «в Ñвоем городе ИжевÑке, в Удмуртии, журналиÑÑ‚ извеÑтен Ñвоими раÑÑледованиÑми коррупционных Ñхем Ñ ÑƒÑ‡Ð°Ñтием меÑтных чиновников... Ð’ 2013 году ÐÐ½Ð´Ñ€ÐµÑ ÐекраÑова обвинил в шантаже и вымогательÑтве директор завода «Ижмаш» поÑле того, когда он опубликовал в Ñвоих ÑтатьÑÑ… Ñ‚Ñ€ÐµÐ±Ð¾Ð²Ð°Ð½Ð¸Ñ Ñ€Ð°Ð±Ð¾Ñ‡Ð¸Ñ…. Ð¥Ð¾Ñ‚Ñ Ð¶ÑƒÑ€Ð½Ð°Ð»Ð¸ÑÑ‚ проходил изначально по делу в качеÑтве ÑвидетелÑ, он был задержан ФСБ и подвергÑÑ Ð´Ð°Ð²Ð»ÐµÐ½Ð¸ÑŽ Ñ Ñ†ÐµÐ»ÑŒÑŽ получить признание Ñвоей вины. Теперь ему угрожает 15 лет тюрьмы. Ð’ феврале 2015 года он получил штраф в 30 000 рублей за «клевету» за то, что провел параллель между одним меÑтным руководителем партии Â«Ð•Ð´Ð¸Ð½Ð°Ñ Ð Ð¾ÑÑиÑ» и ÑоÑтоÑтельным однофамильцем в СШÐ. ОпаÑаÑÑÑŒ, что Ñто наказание может быть раÑÑмотрено в качеÑтве отÑгчающего обÑтоÑтельÑтва, журналиÑÑ‚ покинул Ñтрану на Ñледующий же меÑÑц. Ð’ апреле Верховный Ñуд Удмуртии подтвердил решение о том, чтобы поÑадить ÐÐ½Ð´Ñ€ÐµÑ ÐекраÑова в СИЗО по причине неÑвки в Ñуд».",35.12941,33.23015,"Criminal charges,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Blogger/Citizen journalist,Male,Legal Aid,Physical protection,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","http://en.rsf.org/chypre-russian-opposition-journalist-30-07-2015,48165.html
http://ru.delfi.lt/news/live/reshenie-o-predostavlenii-ubezhischa-rossijskomu-zhurnalistu-primet-departament-migracii.d?id=68698854
http://www.svoboda.org/content/article/27195235.html",,
18919,2015-08-05,Germany: Funke newspaper group removes government documents from website,"The Funke media group, one of Germany's largest news publishers, announced that it would remove thousands of government documents from its website.
In 2012, Funke's investigative team in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia had published the documents detailing the German army's activities in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2012.
Shortly after the publication, the German Ministry of Defense pressed charges against Funke for violating copyright law.
Funke said in a statement that it removed the documents from its website to avoid foreclosure. The publishing house filed an appeal with Germany's Federal Court of Justice this year, though a decision on the appeal can take one to two years.
Thomas Kloß, Funke's editor in chief for online and content in North Rhine-Westphalia, said in a statement, ""We still act on the assumption that publishing the papers was and is correct. Citizens have a right to know what the Bundeswehr does in its name.""",51.44804,7.002259,"Civil lawsuits,Legal measure,Self-censorship,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,EU member states",- [http://www.funkemedien.de/de/presse/medienmitteilungen/news/Nach-Androhung-von-Zwangsvollstreckung-FUNKE-stellt-Afghanistan-Papiere-offline/](http://www.funkemedien.de/de/presse/medienmitteilungen/news/Nach-Androhung-von-Zwangsvollstreckung-FUNKE-stell,,
18924,2015-08-06,United Kingdom: Journalist puts forth Police Scotland spying claims,"Investigative journalist, Eamon O Connor, has claimed Police Scotland are illegally monitoring his communications.
In an interview with BBC Scotland, O Connor states that a dependable source, with ties to Scotland police, warned him that the Counter Corruption Unit was monitoring journalists for some time, and he believes one of those people targeted was O Connor himself.
The source also accused Scotland Police of targeting journalists without judicial approval.
Police Scotland have not denied or approved the claim.
Earlier this year, O Connor presented a BBC programme that examines the 10- year- old police investigation into the murder of Emma Caldwell.
O Connor believes he is being monitored because of the programme and said, ""I can only assume that (my BBC investigation) has caused some concern inside Police Scotland.
Scottish Parliament has already lodged an emergency motion calling for ""full transparency"" from Scottish government ministers over their knowledge of Police Scotland spying allegations.",56.78611,-4.11405,"Police/State security,Journalist,Documentarist,Male,EU member states,Other (Please indicate in report text)","- [http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05tl3k0](http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05tl3k0)
- [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-33798977](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-33798977)",,
18951,2015-08-21,Italy: Media professionals face death threats following mafia boss funeral,"Two Italian journalists and support staff have received a series of death threats for reporting on mafia boss Vittorio Casamonica’s funeral, held in Rome on 21 August 2015.
Alessio Viscardi, an investigative reporter for the online newspaper Fanpage.it, was threatened on 22 August by four people in Terzigno (40 km south of Naples), when he was looking for where the helicopter had taken off to throw rose petals on the funeral procession.
The attackers threatened to kill him and took photographs of his documents.
The second attack occurred on 23 August, in Rome: a team from public TV channel RAI 3, including journalist Alfonso Iuliano, were shooting video in the Appio area (where several members of the Casamonica family were living) when they were attacked by local residents who threatened to kill them if they did not stop filming.
Two people have been arrested and charged with robbery after allegedly taking the journalists’ phones.",41.89334,12.48307,"Intimidation,Psychological abuse,Criminal organisation,Journalist,Broadcaster,EU member states",- [http://www.coe.int/en/web/media-freedom/home](http://www.coe.int/en/web/media-freedom/home),,
18967,2015-08-28,Serbia: Investigative journalist severely beaten with metal bars,"28 August, 2015 - Investigative journalist Ivan Ninic was attacked by two men at the entrance of an apartment building in Belgrade late on Thursday evening.
Two young men in track suits, wearing baseball caps, beat Ninic several times with metal bars.
""They attacked me and struck me brutally. Now I have a haematoma under my eye, bruises on the thigh bone and an injury to the right shoulder,"" Ninic told the Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS).
He saw the faces of his attackers and has reported their descriptions to the police.
Ninic is well known for his investigations into corruption within high levels of government in Serbia. He founded the NGO ‘Center for the Rule of Law’ and is planning to launch a website to publish investigative stories.
He believes the attack is some kind of warning. “I expect the police will find and punish not only the attackers, but also the masterminds, so that I know who's sending me this message,"" Ninic told UNS.
UNS condemns the attack and demands urgent action from the authorities to trace down the perpetrators to punish them.
This attack is “a threat to Serbian investigative journalismâ€, UNS said in a statement.",44.81788,20.45681,"Physical assaults,Injury,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Male,Physical protection,Informational resources,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,Candidate countries","- [http://www.uns.org.rs/saopstenja/32665/uns-napad-na-ivana-ninica-pretnja-srpskom-istrazivackom-novinarstvu.html](http://www.uns.org.rs/saopstenja/32665/uns-napad-na-ivana-ninica-pretnja-srpskom-istrazivackom-novinarstvu.html)
- [http://www.b92.net/eng/",,
18995,2015-08-29,Romania: Plastic cup filled with liquid thrown at journalist,"29 August 2015 -– A plastic cup filled with beer was thrown at Journalist and Index on Censorship correspondent Zoltan Sipos at a camp called the Székely Sziget, organised by a far right movement, near the Romanian city Barót/Baraolt.
The journalist was working on a documentary about the Hungarian radical right-wing youth movement, Hatvannégy Vármegye Ifjúsági Mozgalom.
The journalist was having lunch with his colleagues at the camp when one of the radicals approached him from the back, and then threw a plastic cup full of beer at him.
When the journalist asked for an explanation, the camp organisers asked him to leave, along with the other journalists.
The organizers said that the attacker had an issue with Atlatszo.hu, an investigative journalism outlet Sipos is working for.",46.07426,25.59912,"Physical assaults,Blocked access,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Male,EU member states",,,
18969,2015-08-31,Italy: Reporter threatened after investigation on illegal hires,"Di seguito il testo in italiano
31 August, 2015 -- A reporter for the daily ""La Stampa"", Riccardo Coletti, was threatened by two men who followed him on his way home by car.
The two men who followed Colleti in black BMW, allegedly attempted to damage and force open his car door and ordered the journalist to not come back to Canelli ""as long as there is the grape harvest.""
The threat is reportedly linked to the investigative report on illegal labor and the exploitation of migrants from Eastern Europe by gang masters for vineyard harvests in Canelli.
--------
Italia: Cronista minacciato dopo inchiesta su caporalato
Il cronista Riccardo Coletti, collaboratore della redazione di Asti de La Stampa, è stato minacciato lo scorso 31 agosto da due uomini che lo hanno seguito fino a casa a bordo di una Bmw nera. I due uomini, che avrebbero un accento dell’Est, gli hanno intimato di non farsi più vedere a Canelli “finchè c’è la vendemmiaâ€.
La minaccia è da riferire all’inchiesta sulla manodopera in nero e lo sfruttamento di migranti provenienti dall’est Europa da parte dei caporali per la vendemmia nelle vigne di Canelli, vicino ad Asti.
Lo ha reso noto il 3 settembre il quotidiano La Stampa che riferisce anche del tentativo di danneggiare e forzare la portiera della sua automobile.",44.90075,8.206426,"Intimidation,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Male,EU member states",- [http://www.lastampa.it/2015/09/03/italia/cronache/minacciato-il-cronista-che-denuncia-il-lavoro-nero-tra-i-vigneti-di-canelli-wUHaYyTk6IOQcsQFFwQOIN/pagina.html](http://www.lastampa.it/2015/09/03/italia/cronache/minacciato-il-cronista-che-denuncia-il-l,,
18980,2015-09-02,Romania: Investigative journalist resigns amidst reported insults,"2 September 2015 -– Ionel Stoica, an investigative journalist for the Evenimentul Zilei daily, resigned after a debate with his superiors about one of his Facebook posts.
In the post, Stoica, who wrote a comment about an opinion piece written by the political analyst Ion Cristoiu.
On 2 September 2015, the political analyst wrote in Evenimentul Zilei about a possible acquittal of Liviu Dragnea, a powerful Romanian politician from the Social Democratic Party.
In reaction, Stoica, a wrote an ironic Facebook post that said,
“I'd have liked it if (Cristoiu) added a post scriptum at his opinion piece: If Liviu Dragnea will be found guilty for the fraud at the referendum for the dismissal of Traian Basescu, I'll stop writing bullshit and I'll return to the library.
The post sparked an intense debate within the editorial team, where in another Facebook post, Stoica explains his superiors were outraged, telling him “how do you dare?†“who are you?†“what's in your head?â€.
Stoica reports that the staff also insulted him by calling him a “copy paste journalistâ€, “the trumpet of the National Anti-Corruption Directorateâ€, “the spokesperson of the Supreme Courtâ€, and “stupidâ€.
“When they screamed that the National Anti-Corruption Directorate and the Supreme Court are secret police, I realised I have no place there†– Stoica wrote.",44.43614,26.10274,"Defamation/Discredit,Employer/Publisher/Colleague(s),Journalist,Male,EU member states","- [https://www.facebook.com/ionel.stoica.7?fref=ts](https://www.facebook.com/ionel.stoica.7?fref=ts)
- [http://economie.hotnews.ro/stiri-media_publicitate-20396901-ionel-stoica-ziarist-investigatii-plecat-evenimentul-zilei-dupa-criticat-facebook-ion-crist",,
18987,2015-09-04,Bulgaria: Former minister files libel complaint against journalist,"4 September 2015 –- Former planning and investment minister Ivan Danov filed a criminal libel complaint against journalist Atanas Chobanov.
In 2013, the journalist wrote a piece for Bivol.bg, an investigative news website, which uncovered that Danov was collecting 1,800 euros a month in unemployment benefits in France while working two jobs in Bulgaria.
The media also picked the story up: the French newsweekly L’Express, dedicated a series of articles to the case; the French TV channel M6 dedicated one of its “Zone Interdite†broadcasts to the story in November 2014. The Bulgarian media also dedicated a substantial amount of coverage to the investigation.
On 8 September 2015, Reporters Without Borders called on the Bulgarian judicial authorities to immediately abandon the investigation into what they consider a politically motivated criminal libel complaint.
“This criminal libel prosecution is inherently designed to intimidate,†Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Christophe Deloire said. “It is clearly a political case, one brought by a man taking advantage of his status as a former government minister.""
“It is perfectly legitimate for a journalist to inform the public about known cases of fraud by politicians. We call on the Bulgarian judicial authorities to close this investigation and to abandon the proceedings against Atanas Chobanov.â€, Deloire said.
Update:
8 September 2015 – Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office revoked the decree of the Sofia Regional Prosecutor’s Office to launch pre-trial proceedings against Bivol’s Editor-in-Chief Atanas Tchobanov. According to Sofia City Prosecutor’s Office, there are no grounds to seek criminal liability from Atanas Tchobanov for libel against a former minister, Ivan Danov.
Bivol reminds that pre-trial proceedings under article 286 of the Penal Code were launched by prosecutor Deyan Slavov from the Sofia Regional Prosecutor’s Office on June 23, 2015, after a preliminary probe in which the Regional Prosecutor has found evidence of criminal libel, punishable by one to six years in prison.
“I suppose they wanted to use this to spy legally on me and our staff†– Bivol’s Editor-in-Chief, Atanas Tchobanov told Index on Censorship. Authorities can have a warrant for eavesdropping if an investigation is opened. The case started at the end of June and was stopped in September so they had two months to listen, Tchobanov told us.
In 2013, the journalist published a piece stating that about 10 years ago, former planning and investment minister, Ivan Danov was collecting 1,800 euros a month in unemployment benefits in France while working two jobs in Bulgaria.
As a result of the piece, Danov filed a criminal libel complaint against journalist Atanas Chobanov, and the prosecutor's office opened an investigation",42.69771,23.32187,"Criminal charges,Legal measure,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Male,Legal Aid,EU member states","- [http://en.rsf.org/bulgaria-ex-minister-brings-criminal-libel-08-09-2015,48313.html](http://en.rsf.org/bulgaria-ex-minister-brings-criminal-libel-08-09-2015,48313.html)
- [https://bivol.bg/en/bulgarian-prosecution-we-are-closing-libel-proceedings-agains",,
19012,2015-09-12,Italy: Journalist's car set on fire,"12 September, 2015 - A car belonging to freelance journalist Gennaro Teddesco was set on fire. The incident occurred at 3am on 12 September 2015 in San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia.
The car was parked on Corso Matteotti, near the reporter's home. Police confirmed the incident was arson.
The Union of Journalists of Puglia have called the arson an act of intimidation. Gennaro, who was subjected to a previous arson attack in 2011, and others have recently been targeted for articles on murky business practices and criminal behaviour.
----------------------------
Italia: Brucia auto del cronista Gennaro Tedesco
Nella notte fra venerdì 11 e sabato 12 settembre 2015, intorno alle 3.00, a San Giovanni Rotondo (Foggia), l’auto del giornalista freelance Gennaro Tedesco è stata incendiata. La vettura, una Fiat Multipla, era parcheggiata in strada, in corso Matteotti, nei pressi dell’abitazione. L’ipotesi che si tratti di un incendio doloso è stata confermata dopo l’intervento del Soccorso stradale e dei carabinieri. Ordine e sindacato dei giornalisti della Puglia hanno definito l’incendio un atto di intimidazione che si aggiunge ad altri già subiti dallo stesso giornalista a causa di articoli in cui denuncia affari poco puliti e infiltrazioni criminali.
Nel 2011 un’altra autovettura di Gennaro Tedesco fu data alle fiamme e l’anno scorso in un suo terreno agricolo furono bruciati gli alberi, come ha riferito ilfattodelgargano.it.",41.70659,15.729179,"Intimidation,Attack to property,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Male,Physical protection,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- [http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2015/09/puglia-san-giovanni-rotondo-burning-of-the-car-of-reporter-gennaro-tedesco-61419/](http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2015/09/puglia-san-giovanni-rotondo-burning-of-the-car-of-reporter-gennaro-tedesco-61419/)
- [http://www.ilfattodelgargano.it/cronaca/item/2704-san-giovanni-rotondo,-criminalit%C3%A0-senza-fine-in-fiamme-l-automobile-del-giornalista-gennaro-tedesco.html](http://www.ilfattodelgargano.it/cronaca/item/2704-san-giovanni-rotondo,-criminalit%C3%A0-senza-fine-in-fiamme-l-automobile-del-giornalista-gennaro-tedesco.html)
",,
19015,2015-09-13,France: Documentary on Sarkozy and Hollande censored by channel Canal+,"Le Monde has revealed that an investigative documentary entitled ""Sarkozy-Hollande, the secret war"" will not be shown on a Canal+ programme on 28 September 2015 as originally planned.
The director of the programme told its producers that the documentary had not been censored, but no further explanation for the removal from the programme was given.
Since Vincent Bolloré took control over Canal+ via Vivendi, other programmes have been censored, including a documentary about tax evasion at the Société Générale bank, allegedly by Bolloré's request.",48.85661,2.352222,"Article/Work didn't appear at all,Employer/Publisher/Colleague(s),Known private individual(s),Publicity,EU member states",- [http://www.lemonde.fr/actualite-medias/article/2015/09/13/canal-un-documentaire-sur-la-guerre-hollande-sarkozy-deprogramme_4755524_3236.html](http://www.lemonde.fr/actualite-medias/article/2015/09/13/canal-un-documentaire-sur-la-guerre-hollande-sarkozy,,
19055,2015-09-25,France: Mediapart website victim to tax reassessment,"French investigative website Mediapart revealed tax authorities are demanding it pays 4.2 million euros following a tax reassessment for not having paid the correct VAT rate for 5 years.
Mediapart has always refused to accept the inequality of the VAT rate between print and online press, where the former is 2.1% and the latter is 19.6%. France's nationale assembly decided VAT rates would be brought to line in February 2014.
For Edwy Plenel, the president and co-founder of Mediaport, the demand from the tax authorities is vengeance for the site's investigation into the Cahuzac case, which led to the dismissal of the former junior minister of budget due to tax fraud allegations.
The online publication is now asking its readers for help.",48.85661,2.352222,"Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Other,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states,Other (Please indicate in report text)",- [http://www.lemonde.fr/les-decodeurs/article/2014/09/30/pourquoi-mediapart-fait-l-objet-d-un-redressement-fiscal_4497167_4355770.html](http://www.lemonde.fr/les-decodeurs/article/2014/09/30/pourquoi-mediapart-fait-l-objet-d-un-redressement-fiscal_449716,,
19079,2015-10-03,Croatia: Prime Minister’s father allegedly threatens journalist,"3 October, 2015 –- Velimir Bujanec, host of the controversial TV show Bujica, was verbally assaulted by Stipe Milanovic, father of Croatian Prime Minister.
Around noon in a coffee bar in the center of Zagreb, Stipe Milanovic allegedly said that “Bujanec and Gordan Malic should be beaten upâ€, in front of three witnesses, Bujanec reported to the media and posted on Facebook.
Gordan Malic is a local freelance investigative journalist based in Croatia.
After speaking with his lawyer, Bujanec reported the incident to the police, media report.
Bujanec is now reportedly pressing charges against Milanovic for verbal assaults and threats.",45.81501,15.98192,"Intimidation,Known private individual(s),Broadcaster,Male,Publicity,EU member states","- [http://www.jutarnji.hr/velimir-bujanec--premijerov-otac-prijeti-mi-smrcu/1431503/](http://www.jutarnji.hr/velimir-bujanec--premijerov-otac-prijeti-mi-smrcu/1431503/)
- [http://www.vecernji.hr/hrvatska/velimir-bujanec-kazneno-prijavio-stipu-milanovica-1",,
19109,2015-10-14,Bulgaria: Investigative journalist victim of smear campaign and harassment,"14 October 2015 – Atanas Chobanov, the co-founder and editor investigative new website Bivol.bg, has been the target of orchestrated smear campaign for several days. The campaign seems to be a result of Bivol.bg's coverage of alleged corruption involving Bulgarian media mogul and “oligarch†Delyan Peevski.
“We are the object of an unprecedented campaign of smears, slander and harassment by the propaganda tools of the oligarch Delyan Peevski, the former head of the DANS intelligence agency, current parliamentary representative of the Turkish minority party Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DNL) and owner of many newspapers and TV stations,†Chobanov said to Reporters Without Borders.
“We have been investigating his activities for years and our latest reports are clearly hurting,†he added.
Photos of Chobanov and co-editor Assen Yordanov currently appear on the front pages of tabloids and websites that defend Peevski’s interests. While Chobanov was abroad, a crew from Kanal 3, a Peevski-owned Bulgarian TV station, turned up without warning at his home on 10 October, to speak with members of his family and, without their knowledge, filmed them being questioned.
“We can only condemn what are clearly attempts to intimidate Bivol’s journalists,†said Alexandra Geneste, the head of the Reporters Without Borders EU/Balkans desk. “Their investigative work is perfectly legitimate and we express our most sincere support and sympathy for them.â€
Bulgaria is ranked 106th out of 180 countries in the 2015 Reporters Without Borders press freedom. This is the worst ranking of any European Union member.",42.69771,23.32187,"Intimidation,Defamation/Discredit,Known private individual(s),Another media,Editor,Male,Publicity,Union intervention,EU member states","- [http://en.rsf.org/bulgaria-smear-campaign-against-14-10-2015,48440.html](http://en.rsf.org/bulgaria-smear-campaign-against-14-10-2015,48440.html)
- [http://fr.rsf.org/bulgarie-rsf-denonce-la-campagne-de-14-10-2015,48439.html](http://fr.rsf.org/bulgarie",,
19110,2015-10-14,Italy: 97 journalists accused of breaking the law in Mafia Capitale invesitgation,"14 October, 2015 - The Criminal Chamber of Rome has accused 97 journalists of violating the ban on publication of judicial documents and ethical standards (article 114 of the Code of Criminal Procedure), in the weeks leading up to the trial.
The journalists were involved in an investigation known as the Mafia Capitale, which revealed a relationship between Rome city government and crime syndicates, which led to the misappropriation of state funds.
Investigative journalist Lirio Abbate, who has lived under police protection since 2007 due to threats, has also been singled out by lawyers involved in the trial.
During the first two waves of arrests, on 1 December, 2014 and 2 June, 2015, the accused journalists published 278 articles in 14 newspapers, reporting content and excerpts of arrest warrants in jail.
-------------------------------
Italia: Mafia Capitale. Denunciati 97 giornalisti
A poche settimane dall’inizio del processo di Roma noto come “Mafia Capitaleâ€, che prenderà il via il 5 novembre, alcune prese di posizione hanno rivelato l’insofferenza per il ruolo della stampa e per i cronisti che, nelle varie fasi delle indagini, hanno diffuso ampie informazioni sull’impianto accusatorio e sugli addebiti mossi ai singoli imputati. In particolare, colpisce l’attacco di un gruppo di penalisti a decine di cronisti giudiziari e il tentativo di qualcuno di loro di isolare il giornalista Lirio Abbate denigrandolo sarcasticamente.
La libertà di esprimere opinioni, la dialettica e il pluralismo sono fuori discussione, come anche il fatto che le opinioni possono essere confutate e che tocca ai giudici del Tribunale accertare l’effettiva colpevolezza di ciascuno degli imputati. E’ evidente. Ma è ancora più evidente che era ed è doveroso per i giornali e per qualsiasi giornalista informare i cittadini nel modo più chiaro ed ampio possibile, soprattuto di fronte all’esplodere di uno scandalo di così vaste proporzioni. La scoperta di una organizzazione criminale mafiosa a Roma non ha precedenti ed è comprensibile che abbia scosso convinzioni radicate dell’opinione pubblica, prima fra tutte la convinzione che Roma fosse immune dalla presenza attiva di organizzazioni criminali organizzate con modalità mafiosa. Era perciò utile, necessaria, doverosa la copertura giornalistica più ampia di questo fatto.
La Camera Penale di Roma ci ha fatto sapere in questi giorni che non la pensa così. Con un esposto-denuncia al Procuratore della Repubblica, l’associazione rappresentativa della categoria a cui aderiscono su base volontaria gli avvocati penalisti della Capitale ha accusato 97 giornalisti di avere violato il divieto di pubblicazione degli atti giudiziari previsto dall’art.114 del Codice di Procedura Penale e anche le norme deontologiche della loro professione. Lo avrebbero fatto in occasione delle due ondate di arresti, la prima a dicembre del 2014 e la seconda a giugno del 2015, pubblicando 278 articoli su 14 giornali, riferendo contenuti e parti testuali delle ordinanze di custodia cautelare in carcere. Non si ricorda una contestazione collettiva così ampia di questo reato.",41.90278,12.49637,"Civil lawsuits,Criminal charges,Court/Judicial,Journalist,Legal Aid,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- [http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2015/10/capital-mafia-hands-off-from-lirio-abbate-and-96-reporters-62720/](http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2015/10/capital-mafia-hands-off-from-lirio-abbate-and-96-reporters-62720/)
- [http://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/pol",,
19133,2015-10-21,Serbia: Journalist’s camera and phone seized as Belgrade mayor ducks questions,"21 October, 2015 – Bodyguards of Sinisa Mali, the mayor of Belgrade, confiscated KRIK investigative journalist’s mobile phone and camera as the mayor refused to answer questions about being a director of two offshore companies, Serbian media report.
The Crime and Corruption Reporting Network (KRIK) is a non-profit organization established to improve investigative journalism in Serbia.
“The officers, who refused to identify themselves, deleted footage from the reporters’ iPhone and camera,†KRIK reports.
The reporters were later able to recover some of the footage, which showed Chief of Municipal Police Nikola Ristic helping confiscate their equipment.
During a conference later that day, Mali apologised to the journalists and promised to launch an investigation into the confiscation of their equipment.",44.78657,20.44892,"Attack to property,Blocked access,Police/State security,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Photographer,Female,Male,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,Candidate countries","- [https://www.krik.rs/obezbedenje-gradonacelnika-sprecilo-krik-da-malom-postavi-pitanja/](https://www.krik.rs/obezbedenje-gradonacelnika-sprecilo-krik-da-malom-postavi-pitanja/)
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VtfReIq3K4](https://www.youtube.com/watc",,
19161,2015-10-29,Portugal: Newspapers forced to stop covering former PM tax evasion case,"29 October, 2015 - The Cofina media group (which includes Correio da Manhã, the highest circulation newspaper, and Sábado, the second most-read weekly newsmagazine) has received a legal injunction that forces it to stop writing about a case surrounding the former Prime Minister José Sócrates, who's under the suspicion of tax evasion, money laundering and corruption.
The injunction was not only directed towards the media, but also towards seven journalists in particular. All of the journalists had registered as assistants to the case, which is common practice in Portugal for those who want access to all legal material.
The media group can pay daily fines of €2000 and the journalists €500 - €1000 for breaking the injunction.
The legal action was taken by Sócrates's defense attorneys, who asked ""for the immediate end of the publishing of illegal and illicit and biased versions of elements that are supposedly in the process"".
Cofina media group has announced that it will follow the injunction's order but it has also written an editorial critical of this decision: ""Without free press there is no democracy. And it is the duty of professional journalists to divulge relevant news that are of interest to the community. A former PM that has rocketed state debt and who professed his pride on not having (big) bank accounts, nor a know source of income, while living an ostentatious lifestyle that only a millionaire could pay for, has to be under public scrutiny. Citizens have the right to know whether this wealth was legal or not""
The Minister was detained 22 November, 2014 and was later placed in preventive jail, where he resided until 4 September, 2015.",38.722252,-9.139337,"Legal measure,Article/Work didn't appear at all,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Legal Aid,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,EU member states","- [http://www.cmjornal.xl.pt/opiniao/detalhe/sem_lentes_ideologicas.html](http://www.cmjornal.xl.pt/opiniao/detalhe/sem_lentes_ideologicas.html)
- [http://expresso.sapo.pt/sociedade/2015-10-28-Correio-da-Manha-proibido-de-dar-noticias-sobre-Operacao-Marques.-Acatamos-mas-vamos-contestar](http://expresso.sapo.pt/sociedade/2015-10-28-Correio-da-Manha-proibido-de-dar-noticias-sobre-Operacao-Marques.-Acatamos-mas-vamos-contestar)
",,
19168,2015-10-30,"Finland: Investigative journalist victim of smear campaign, receives death threats","30 October 2015 - Investigative journalist Jessikka Aro, who works for public broadcaster YLE, has been targeted with online harassment and death threats, MTV3 Finland reported.
Aro believes the smear campaign is related to her research into pro-Russia propaganda groups active on Finnish social media. While she was investigating, Aro was accused of spreading pro-NATO propaganda and hate towards the Russian government. The journalist posted about the harassment on her personal Facebook page.
In her Facebook post she said Johan Bäckman, a Finnish writer and journalist, has been spreading disinformation about her on his blog and Twitter account. He is a regular international correspondent in the Russian media.
The journalist has also been systematically threatened and subject to public shaming on different online platforms in Finland and Russia, including manipulated images of her and messages hoping she would “die of uranium poisoningâ€. According to Aro, searching her name in Yandex, the Russian online search engine equivalent to Google, gives results of “an example of Western hate towards Russiaâ€.
Government officials, leaders of the Finnish media, her colleagues, the Finnish Security Police and the President of Finland all received letters demanding her suspension.
UPDATE: Court finds pro-Kremlin trolls guilty of harassing journalist
18 October 2018 - A Helsinki court sentenced the founder of far-right pro-Russian and anti-immigration websites MV-Lehti and Uber Uutiset to nearly two years in prison after finding him guilty of defaming and harassing YLE investigative journalist Jessikka Aro, the Finnish public broadcaster reported.
Ilja Janitskin was handed a 22-month prison sentence after being found guilty of 16 charges, including defamation. The court decided that as the owner and editor-in-chief of the websites, Janitskin was the person responsible for their content.
A researcher for MV-Lehti, Johan Bäckman, was also found guilty of defamation and harassment and received a one-year suspended sentence.
A female employee at MV-Lehti was also given a three-month suspended sentence.
The court ordered the defendants to pay €136,000 in damages, which will be distributed to Aro and two other victims of the online smear campaign.
Ilja Janitskin had denied any links to Russia, while Johan Bäckman regularly appears on Russian media and is a known to be a supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle, the court ruling ""was viewed as a major win against online hate speech in Finland and exceeded the sentences requested by prosecutors.""",60.17332,24.94103,"Intimidation,Defamation/Discredit,Trolling/Cyberbullying,Another media,Journalist,Female,EU member states","- [http://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/2015103020581588_uu.shtml](http://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/2015103020581588_uu.shtml)
- [http://www.mtv.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/artikkeli/ylen-toimittajaa-uhkailtu-venaja-uutisoinnista-minun-toivottiin-kuolevan-uraanimyrkytyk",,
19154,2015-10-30,Italy: Mayor sues five newspapers for damages regarding drug report,"30 October, 2015 - The mayor of Lecce, Paolo Perrone, will file a defamation charges against five newspapers for a content published in 2011 on drug abuse in the government.
The content of the articles was based on a judicial operation called Augusta, which resulted in the arrest of 49 people, including members of the Sacra Corona Unita, who were accused of racketeering and drug dealing. Investigators put forth that this group had sold cocaine to politicians and professionals within Lecce.
----------------------------------
Italia: Droga a Lecce? Sindaco vuole danni per notizie del 2011
Il sindaco di Lecce, Paolo Perrone, vuole chiedere un risarcimento danni a cinque testate giornalistiche che nel 2011, a suo parere, avrebbero leso l’onore e il decoro del Comune. Gli autori degli articoli ipotizzarono che esponenti della politica cittadina avessero fatto uso di cocaina. L’inaspettata decisione del sindaco ha destato stupore e proteste fra i giornalisti.
Lo spunto per gli articoli fu dato dall’operazione giudiziaria “Augustaâ€. Furono arrestate 49 persone, tra cui affiliati alla Sacra Corona Unita, accusati di racket e spaccio di droga. Gli inquirenti ipotizzarono che avessero ceduto cocaina ad alcuni esponenti politici e professionisti di Lecce. Le ipotesi investigative furono riferite dalla stampa nazionale e locale.
Ora, a quattro anni di distanza dalla pubblicazione di quegli articoli, quando nessuno più parlava della vicenda, il 26 ottobre 2015, la giunta comunale ha approvato una delibera che autorizza il primo cittadino a dare a un legale, l’avvocato Roberto De Matteis, l’incarico di valutare la possibilità di intraprendere azioni risarcitorie in sede civile e di chiedere provvedimenti sanzionatori a carattere deontologico-disciplinare nei confronti de La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno, TeleNorba, TeleRama, Lecce Prima e il Nuovo Quotidiano di Puglia, oltre agli altri giornali e tv locali che hanno pubblicato le notizie.",40.35152,18.17502,"Civil lawsuits,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Other,Legal Aid,EU member states","- [http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2015/11/drugs-in-lecce-mayor-claims-damages-for-news-from-2011-64025/](http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2015/11/drugs-in-lecce-mayor-claims-damages-for-news-from-2011-64025/)
- [http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2015/10/30/",,
19793,2015-11-02,Hungary: Police tap phone of investigative journalist,"2 November, 2015 – On 13 May 2016, the media reported that the phone conversations of a journalist working for Blikk.hu were intercepted in November 2015 by police investigating who was leaking information to the journalist within their own ranks.
Information about the phone tapping became public after a police officer was charged for leaking information to Blikk.hu about a criminal case, Blikk website reported.
The phone tapping started after 2 November 2015, after Blikk.hu published a piece about a double murder case which, at the time, was classified by the police. After the findings of the investigation became public, the journalist discovered that her name was also in the files, as a suspect of aiding and abetting misconduct in public office and suspicion of bribery of a public official.
According to the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, Hungarian law guarantees the protection of journalists' sources. The journalist has the right to protect his or her sources during trials and other official proceedings, Dániel Máté Szabó, the director of HCLU said.",47.49791,19.04024,"Criminal charges,Violation of anonymity,Police/State security,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Female,Legal Aid,Training,Informational resources,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,EU member states,Other (Please indicate in report text)","- [http://www.blikk.hu/aktualis/krimi/titkosszolgalati-modszerrel-figyeltek-meg-kollegankat/nf1cze8](http://www.blikk.hu/aktualis/krimi/titkosszolgalati-modszerrel-figyeltek-meg-kollegankat/nf1cze8)
- [http://hvg.hu/itthon/20160513_Lehallgatta_a_rendorseg",,
19213,2015-11-12,Turkey: Investigative journalist detained by police,"12 November, 2015 - Investigative journalist Fatih YaÄŸmur was detained by police, who claimed he illegally recorded outside a courthouse after his hearing in May of this year.
The alleged recording is connected to a story that YaÄŸmur broke last year, which exposed that the Turkish intelligence agency MÄ°T was sending weapons to Syria.
YaÄŸmur tweeted at 4:35pm, several hours after he had been detained, that he had been released.
At 4:36, YaÄŸmur tweeted, ""They said the images were taken outside the hearing but I said it was impossible for me to enter the hall because of privacy.""
YaÄŸmur was given the Best Investigative Report Award at the European Union Investigative Journalism Awards for the report.",36.99142,35.33083,"Arrest/Detention,Interrogation,Police/State security,Journalist,Male,Legal Aid,Candidate countries","- [https://twitter.com/fatihyagmur/status/664829033805455360](https://twitter.com/fatihyagmur/status/664829033805455360)
- [http://www.radikal.com.tr/turkiye/gazeteci-fatih-yagmur-gozaltina-alindi-1471518/](http://www.radikal.com.tr/turkiye/gazeteci-fatih",,
19209,2015-11-12,Turkey: Journalist faces 23 years in prison for corruption investigation,"12 November, 2015 - Canan Çoşkun, a reporter for daily newspaper Cumhuriyet, is facing 23 years and four months in prison for a piece on government corruption she published in February 2015.
In her investigation, Coskin exposed that officials within the judiciary, connected to the governing AKP party, were able to purchase homes for a very low price.
Çoşkun is charged with insulting public officials - eight prosecutors and one judge - by publishing their names in the report.
Çoşkun has tweeted a picture of a list from an Istanbul court that shows her hearing for 12 November, 2015. The first hearing was attended by parliamentarians from the opposition party CHP.
She has another hearing scheduled for 15 March, 2016.",41.008238,28.978359,"Civil lawsuits,Criminal charges,Legal measure,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Female,Legal Aid,Candidate countries","- [http://www.todayszaman.com/national_cumhuriyet-reporter-facing-23-years-in-jail-appears-before-court_404087.html](http://www.todayszaman.com/national_cumhuriyet-reporter-facing-23-years-in-jail-appears-before-court_404087.html)
- [https://twitter.com/canancoskun/status/664709745270521860](https://twitter.com/canancoskun/status/664709745270521860)
- [http://www.cnnturk.com/turkiye/gazeteci-canan-coskunun-23-yil-hapsi-istendi](http://www.cnnturk.com/turkiye/gazeteci-canan-coskunun-23-yil-hapsi-istendi)
- [http://www.dw.com/en/turkish-reporter-on-trial-for-doing-her-job/a-18841460](http://www.dw.com/en/turkish-reporter-on-trial-for-doing-her-job/a-18841460)
",,
19212,2015-11-12,United Kingdom: British journalist targeted by defamatory social media campaign,"12 November, 2015 - 19 fake Twitter accounts were used to direct traffic toward a defamatory Facebook page accusing human- rights journalist Clare Rewcastle-Brown of fabricating reports on corruption in Malaysia.
Two of the fake twitter accounts have used dead people's identities.
The public Facebook page, entitled, “The Real Clare Rewcastle Brown,” includes an animated film of the journalist making defamatory statements, such as, “It’s all rubbish, but who cares? I just point the finger.”
The slanderous statements reference the many exposés she has published on the Sarawak Report regarding the controversial 1Malaysia Development Berhad and a 2.6 billion Malaysian Ringgit (393 million GBP) deposit into Prime Minister Najib Razak’s personal bank accounts in 2013.
The apparent expert production of the defamatory film adds to the suspicion that the campaign against the journalist is being financed significantly.
Rewcastle-Brown has been barred from entering Malaysia, where she was born.
The journalist contacted Facebook about the campaign, but was told that the page did not violate the Facebook Community Standards, and would not be taken down. Twitter has also failed to remove the fake profiles on its site.
According to Rewcastle-Brown, social media sites are “now being targeted as key instruments for professional dirty PR campaigns” like the one funded against her.",51.507351,-0.127758,"Defamation/Discredit,Trolling/Cyberbullying,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Female,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- [http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2015/11/12/fake-twitter-accounts-used-to-smear-clare-rewcastle/](http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2015/11/12/fake-twitter-accounts-used-to-smear-clare-rewcastle/)
- [http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/smearing-of-journalist-shows-how-modern-technology-makes-a-mockery-of-libel-law-a6732501.html](http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/smearing-of-journalist-shows-how-modern-technology-makes-a-mockery-of-libel-law-a6732501.html)
",,
19200,2015-11-13,Serbia: Investigative journalists victim of smear campaign,"13 November, 2015 - A smear campaign against independent and investigative journalists working for the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN), the Centre for Investigative Journalist (CINS) and the Crime and Corruption Reporting Network (KRIK) in Serbia has been reported by the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ).
According to BIRN Serbia, the Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic publicly supported “the theory that independent investigative centres in Serbia are paid by foreign donors to destabilise the government†and the prime minister “is using his position to dismiss opponents, qualifying them as mobsters, thieves and criminals despite no evidence or opportunity for them to defend themselves. This creates an atmosphere where unpredictable and sometimes lethal consequences exist.â€
BIRN Serbia has created a specific page to collect and report about all the attacks against the network.
Making a reference to the IFJ Declaration of Principles on the Conduct of Journalists, Mogens Blicher Bjerregaard, EFJ President, is expressing his solidarity with affected journalists and is reminding that “journalist shall regard as grave professional offence calumny, libel, unfounded accusationsâ€. Further, EFJ President calls on the Serbian authorities “to avoid creating a hostile environment for journalists and media workers who already suffer from the poor working conditions in Serbia.â€
As mentioned by the latest EU Progress Report 2015, Serbian authorities should in particular “create an enabling environment in which freedom of expression can be exercised without hindrance; threats, physical assaults and cases of incitements to violence against journalists and bloggers should be reacted to and publicly condemned†and “statements by state officials in relation to investigative work of journalists have not been conducive to creating an environment in which freedom of expression can be exercised without hindranceâ€.",44.78657,20.44892,"Intimidation,Defamation/Discredit,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Another media,Publicity,Candidate countries",- [http://europeanjournalists.org/blog/2015/11/13/serbia-must-avoid-creating-hostile-environment-for-investigative-journalists-birnunderfire/](http://europeanjournalists.org/blog/2015/11/13/serbia-must-avoid-creating-hostile-environment-for-investigative-,,
19225,2015-11-18,Belgium: Médor investigative magazine censored by judiciary,"18 November, 2015 - A new investigative magazine in Belgium, Médor, has been censored by the Belgian judiciairy because of a request made by a Walloon businessman.
In its first issue, Médor published a story about the financial structure of a pharmaceutical company that is largely supported by regional authorities.
The Association of professional journalists (AJP, an EFJ-IFJ affiliate) has immediately reacted by protesting against the censorship case and offering legal support to the magazine and its investigative reporter David Leloup.
UPDATE: 12 December, 2015 - A court has ruled that Medor magazine was indeed censored and that the decision to censor it was unconstitutional. The judge has reauthorised the publication.",50.50389,4.469936,"Limitation to Media Freedom,Civil lawsuits,Case of Censorship,Article/Work didn't appear at all,Source of the Threat/Violation/Abuse,Court/Judicial,Known private individual(s),Type of Journalist,Journalist,Gender,Male,Support Needed,Legal Aid,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,EU membership,EU member states","- [http://www.ajp.be/lajp-scandalisee-par-la-censure-imposee-a-medor/](http://www.ajp.be/lajp-scandalisee-par-la-censure-imposee-a-medor/)
- [https://medor.coop/fr/en-attendant-medor/2015/11/19/la-justice-censure-la-sortie-de-medor/](https://medor.coop/fr",,
19247,2015-11-25,Romania: Investigative journalist under surveillance,"25 November, 2015 - The apartment of Catalin Tolontan, a journalist investigating a massive fire at a night club in Bucharest, was under surveillance on the night of 24 November, 2015 until the early morning.
An unidentified woman and man were seen outside the journalist's home by the journalist's neighbour, who tried to photograph the pair.
“I returned home after I finished the newspaper edition at 3.00 AM. A neighbor stopped me; he said he had just tried to photograph two people who were keeping the apartment under surveillance,"" Tolontan recounted, adding that his neighbor said that it was a man and a woman.
“He returned inside his home to take his phone to photograph them, but when they noticed, they jumped into their car – a blue Renault – and left.â€
The journalist, who works as the director of the Gazeta Sporturilor newspaper, said this is not the first time he has been spied on.
“The exact same thing happened when I was investigating the Gala Bute affair,"" Tolontan said. ""A man and a woman kept my home under surveillance for several days. This is what my neighbors told meâ€
During his investigation into the fire, Tolontan discovered a fax that proved that Romanian authorities knew about the existence of the club where the fire killed more than 150 people. Previously, the authorities said that they had no knowledge of this place.
ActiveWatch Media Monitoring Agency, a human rights organisation that promotes free communication in the public interest, said that the surveillance was clearly an attempt to intimidate the journalist, and there it was an attack on the freedom of the press. They have called for an investigation of this case.",44.42677,26.10254,"Limitation to Media Freedom,Intimidation,Psychological abuse,Source of the Threat/Violation/Abuse,Police/State security,Other/Unknown,Type of Journalist,Journalist,Gender,Male,Support Needed,Publicity,Solidarity,EU membership,EU member states",- [http://www.paginademedia.ro/2015/11/filaj-la-tolontan-in-noaptea-dezvaluirilor-despre-isu-tolo-s-a-intamplat-la-fel-in-gala-bute/](http://www.paginademedia.ro/2015/11/filaj-la-tolontan-in-noaptea-dezvaluirilor-despre-isu-tolo-s-a-intamplat-la-fel-in-ga,,
19286,2015-12-21,Bosnia and Herzegovina: Judicial council puts pressure on FTV following corruption report,"21 December, 2015 – The High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina (VSTV) has published a critical statement on public channel FTV for its website, putting pressure on the channel's right to create its own editorial policy, the Association of BH Journalists (BHJ) reports.
The BHJ reported that the VSTV has applied this pressure to the channel after FTV editors and journalists reported on corruption within the country's judicial system.
The association notes that the judicial council did not send a formal complaint to the Communications Regulatory Agency nor communicate directly with FTV, but instead published a public statement calls FTV ""unprofessional"".
In reaction, the BHJ writes: “This (pressure by the council) was launched with the aim of taking away the right of FTV, but also of the entire media community of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to report on the work of judicial institutions and critically review the work, income and behaviour of individual judges that are not in accordance with existing laws, moral norms or a high degree of public accountability...”
Association of BH Journalists strongly condemns the institutional pressure on FTV, highlighting that this represents a serious attack on press freedom guaranteed by Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.",43.856259,18.413076,"Defamation/Discredit,Court/Judicial,Broadcaster,Other,Not Applicable,Publicity,Potential candidates","- [http://bit.ly/1IFE5I0](http://bit.ly/1IFE5I0)
- [http://bit.ly/1Z1EPP3](http://bit.ly/1Z1EPP3)
- [http://bit.ly/1TzkJ7T](http://bit.ly/1TzkJ7T)
",,
19318,2016-01-08,Italy: Journalist investigated for publishing secret documents,"The Anti-Mafia Investigative Directorate (DIA), an interagency investigative orgainisation, of Reggio Calabria has started an investigation into Marco Lillo, a reporter for the daily Il Fatto Quotidiano, accusing him of having publishing secret information, Ossigeno reports.
The journalist, along with an unknown public official, are under investigation for a piece entitled The Secrets of Power (ITA: I Segreti del Potere, about the Reggio Calabria prosecutor tapping phones in order to examine public funds.
On 8 January 2016 eight agents reportedly stopped Lillo in Rome, to show him the order and asked him to present documents related to the article.
-----------------------------------
Italia: Fondi Lega Nord. Indagini su autore inchiesta giornalistica
La Direzione Investigativa Antimafia di Reggio Calabria ha aperto un’indagine sul giornalista Marco Lillo, cronista giudiziario del Fatto Quotidiano, accusandolo avere pubblicato informazioni coperte da segreto nell’inchiesta giornalistica a puntate dal titolo “I segreti del potereâ€. In particolare l’accusa riguarda le intercettazioni disposte dalla procura di Reggio Calabria per accertare la destinazione dei finanziamenti pubblici della Lega Nord con l’incheista denominata “Breakfastâ€. Il giornalista è indagato in concorso con un pubblico ufficiale rimasto ignoto. Lo ha riferito il Fatto Quotidiano.
La notizia è stata rilanciata dal Corriere della Calabria, l’8 gennaio 2016 precisando che otto agenti hanno fermato il cronista a Roma, intimandogli di ottemperare a un ordine di esibizione dei documenti in suo possesso per evitare che fossero ricercati con una perquisizione su ordine del procuratore Federico Cafiero De Raho e degli aggiunti Calogero Gaetano Paci e Gerardo Dominijanni.",38.1113,15.64729,"Civil lawsuits,Court/Judicial,Journalist,Male,Legal Aid,EU member states","- [http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2016/01/lega-nord-funds-investigations-on-author-of-journalistic-inquiry-65710/](http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2016/01/lega-nord-funds-investigations-on-author-of-journalistic-inquiry-65710/)
- [http://www.ilfattoquoti",,
20749,2016-01-18,Germany: Editor threatens to take legal action against investigative non-profit Correctiv,"18 January 2016 – Editor-in-chief of populist online publication Deutsche Wirtschafts Nachrichten, Michael Maier, threatened German nonprofit investigative journalism newsroom Correctiv and a representative of its main funding partner, the Brost Foundation, because of an article they had written which mentioned DWN, Correctiv reported.
On 27 December 2016, Correctiv published an article on media outlets followed by right-wing supporters in Germany, which included the weekly version of the publication, Deutsche Wirtschafts Woche.
On 17 January 2017, Maier sent a letter to Bodo Hombach, vice chair of the Brost Foundation, asking him to “use [his] influence to delete libelous claimsâ€, and threatening to sue otherwise.
After Hombach refused to amend the article, Maier announced, on 18 January, he would take legal steps against Correctiv.
Maier’s email also included what Correctiv called “a barely hidden threat†to Hombach, alluding to allegations which had been
which he was cleared of in court in 2000. According to Correctiv, a few days later, weekly Der Spiegel published an article co-authored by Maier, reiterating the allegations against Hombach without mentioning he had been cleared.
According to Correctiv’s own statements, this is one of the numerous recent attacks against the investigative network. Populist commentator Roland Tichy's commentary on Correctiv’s relationship with Deutsche Bank, published on 17 January, prompted online abuse of Correctiv supporters by right-wing activists. All of Correctiv’s funding partners were said to have been directly contacted and encouraged to withdraw support.",52.52001,13.40495,"Intimidation,Civil lawsuits,Defamation/Discredit,Psychological abuse,Publicity,EU member states","- [https://correctiv.org/blog/2017/01/29/uebergriffe-und-wirkungen/](https://correctiv.org/blog/2017/01/29/uebergriffe-und-wirkungen/)
- [https://correctiv.org/recherchen/neue-rechte/artikel/2016/12/27/medien-editorial/](https://correctiv.org/recherchen/n",,
19399,2016-01-26,France: Investigative journalist barred from police union event,"26 January, 2016 - Investigative journalist Frédéric Ploquin, who works for weekly magazine Marianne, was barred from attending a New Year party held by the right-wing police union Alliance.
Ploquin has written stories on the links between Alliance and right-wing party Les Républicains.
Interior minister Bertrand Cazeneuve attended the reception.",48.85661,2.352222,"Blocked access,Police/State security,Journalist,Male,Publicity,EU member states","- [http://www.lettreaudiovisuel.com/frederic-ploquin-recal-du-syndicat-de-police-alliance/](http://www.lettreaudiovisuel.com/frederic-ploquin-recal-du-syndicat-de-police-alliance/)
- [https://twitter.com/aliasmarianne/status/692055202090897408](https://tw",,
19423,2016-02-03,Italy: Lawyer insults journalist under protection during trial,"2 March, 2016 - Lirio Abbate, a journalist for the weekly magazine L'Espresso, was repeatedly insulted by Bruno Naso, a lawyer during court proceedings, La Repubblica reports.
The journalist has been under police protection since 2007 when he revealed an alleged network of corruption and mafia-related affairs in Rome
He is one of the main witnesses to testify in the current court hearings for a case dubbed Mafia Capitale where Abbate has been a constant target for the main defendant accused of mafia crimes, Massimo Carminati.
According to La Repubblica, Bruno Naso, Carminati's counsel, has been insulting the journalist and trying to sully his reputation during the proceedings.",41.902783,12.496366,"Psychological abuse,Known private individual(s),Criminal organisation,Journalist,Male,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,EU member states","- [http://www.repubblica.it/cronaca/2016/01/30/news/mafia_capitale_la_minaccia_in_aula_contro_il_cronista-132339725/](http://www.repubblica.it/cronaca/2016/01/30/news/mafia_capitale_la_minaccia_in_aula_contro_il_cronista-132339725/)
- [http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2016/01/30/lirio-abbate-lavvocato-di-carminati-lo-attacca-in-aula-delirio-abbate-ecco-laudio/2419174/](http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2016/01/30/lirio-abbate-lavvocato-di-carminati-lo-attacca-in-aula-delirio-abbate-ecco-laudio/2419174/)
- [http://tv.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2015/10/15/mafia-capitale-legale-carminati-contro-lirio-abbate-merita-pulitzer-per-capacita-divinatorie/427061/](http://tv.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2015/10/15/mafia-capitale-legale-carminati-contro-lirio-abbate-merita-pulitzer-per-capacita-divinatorie/427061/)
",,
19446,2016-02-09,Hungary: Proposal exempts postal service from freedom of information law,"9 February 2016 – A proposal was submitted to parliament, which could exempt the state-owned postal service, Magyar Posta Zrt, from abiding by the freedom of information law (FOIA).
The proposal, submitted by governing party Fidesz, would limit the postal service from releasing or publishing any information that could cause disproportionate harm to its business.
Legal experts from investigative outlet Atlatszo. hu are concerned the postal service could then deny answering any requests and that the proposal could lead to other state-owned companies to lobby for similar exemptions.
UPDATE: 1 March 2016 – Hungary's parliament approved an amendment which restricts access to public information about state-owned postal services, and businesses and foundations established by the National Bank of Hungary, AP reports.
However, on 9 March, Hungarian president János Ãder, instead of signing the law, sent the legal amendments to the Constitutional Court for review.
The proposals were endorsed by lawmakers from Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz party despite warnings from critics, including the country's freedom of information watchdog, that some of the changes could be unconstitutional.
The post office, for example, will no longer be required to divulge public data if it or its enterprises were to suffer ""disproportionate damages"" should the information provide an advantage to competitors.
Critics say the changes greatly limit the transparency of state institutions, further weakening the system of democratic checks and balances.
Investigative journalists said the new rules would have a ""very negative"" effect on their work.
""In recent years, it was clear that information about most suspected corruption cases could only be obtained with public information requests,"" said Tamas Bodoky, chief editor of the atlatszo.hu news website. ""This is what they want to eliminate with these laws.""",47.49791,19.04024,"Legal measure,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Political party,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states,Other (Please indicate in report text)","- [http://www.parlament.hu/irom40/08829/08829.pdf](http://www.parlament.hu/irom40/08829/08829.pdf)
- [http://igyirnankmi.atlatszo.hu/2016/02/10/uj-ulesszak-uj-lex-most-a-postat-bujtatnak-ki-az-infotorveny-alol/](http://igyirnankmi.atlatszo.hu/2016/02/10/u",,
19465,2016-02-12,France: Canal Plus limits investigative reports,"During a conversation organised by Arrêts sur Images, Jean-Baptiste Rivoire, editor- in- chief of the investigative programme Spécial Investigation on Canal Plus, revealed that the channel's management is now refusing to create the majority of investigative stories pitched.
Rivoire has claimed the number of rejections was lower before Vincent Bolloré became chairman of the channel in September 2015.
""[Now] we are submitted to an investigation committee every two months. We need to go and see the management and ask for permission to do the investigations. Under the old management, roughly 80% of what we pitched would be accepted. Since Vincent Bolloré (has taken over the company) it doesn't go that well. Our projects are regularly refused.""
The channel has already censored two documentaries about banks, including one on Crédit Mutuel. Management reportedly rejected seven out of eleven proposals in the last editorial meeting.
These rejected pitches include: an investigation about Wolskvagen, one on Youtube, one on François Hollande and wars, one on the way France exports security to authoritarian regimes, one on the shortcomings of the security services during the recent terrorist attacks in Paris, one on jobs of fake jobs in the Republic and one an investigation into Nutella.
Rivoire was reportedly targeted by a lay off procedure by Canal Plus management after the Crédit Mutuel censorship case, but has still kept his role, LesinRocks reports.",48.82453,2.274342,"Article/Work didn't appear at all,Employer/Publisher/Colleague(s),Corporation/Company,Journalist,Broadcaster,EU member states,Other (Please indicate in report text)",- [http://www.arretsurimages.net/emissions/2016-02-12/Bollore-et-Hollande-ont-un-interet-conjoint-a-etouffer-l-investigation-id8475](http://www.arretsurimages.net/emissions/2016-02-12/Bollore-et-Hollande-ont-un-interet-conjoint-a-etouffer-l-investigation-,,
19521,2016-02-29,Greece: State minister accused of preventive censorship by DOL media group,"29 February, 2016 - The Greek media group DOL has accused state minister, Nikos Pappas of “preventive censorship"" following an extrajudicial document written by the minister which criticses local newspapers.
In the document, Pappas writes that several articles published in Ta Nea and To Vima newspapers --which are both owned by DOL-- imply the “involvement†of the minister “as a partner of a network of extortioners journalists revealed in recent days†and make other corruption- related accusations.
“All the articles are part of an unethical attack against me which has continued for several months†writes Pappas, stating that the purpose is “obvious, since the above fraudulent, preplanned and concerted attack escalated alongside my actions for the clearance of the broadcasting landscapeâ€.
In reaction, DOL has accused the state minister of preventive censorship, claiming is had made “a model... which wants to replace the investigative journalism and criticism with hymns and psalms to the pious work of powerâ€
The group also discusses “selective leaks†and “threats†by the people close to the prime minister.
Nikos Pappas is the minister responsible for the new legislation regarding granting licenses for TV channels. The Greek government claims that the purpose of this legislation is to fight “vested interestsâ€, however it has been accused of aiming at giving more control to the government over the private TV channels.",37.98392,23.72936,"Intimidation,Defamation/Discredit,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Not Applicable,EU member states","- [http://www.matrix24.gr/2016/02/sklireni-i-kontra-exodiko-tou-n-pappa-sto-dol/](http://www.matrix24.gr/2016/02/sklireni-i-kontra-exodiko-tou-n-pappa-sto-dol/)
- [http://www.tovima.gr/politics/article/?aid=780889](http://www.tovima.gr/politics/article/?a",,
19520,2016-02-29,Spain: Politician repeatedly asks journalist to reveal corruption sources,"29 February, 2016 - Former president of the province of Valencia (Comunidad Valenciana), Francisco Camps, tried to convince radio journalist for Cadena SER, Miguel Ángel Campos, to reveal the source that accused him of corruption, El Pais reports.
According to the journalist, a source whose name was not revealed, said that Camps collected money from a local businessman to finance his center-right People's Party (Partido Popular).
Campos called the former president to ask him about the alleged corruption.
Camps, who was filming the phone conversation, told the journalist: ""I have to know who I need to talk to in order to not have a big mess tomorrow. Just that, it's easy. I am telling you that this is a lie. You called me, I didn't call you. I am asking you a favour, please, tell me what source told you that I was collecting money. I need to talk to that person and to defend myself“.
The journalist still refused to reveal identity of his source. The politician continued to deny the allegations and asked to involve the journalist's boss: ""Please call him (the manager) right now and tell him that you talked to me. And please tell him not to talk or to do something because all of this is a lie. Please, this is really important, talk to your boss, and if he would like to talk to me I am available“.
The People's party governed until the parliamentary elections that were held on 20 December, 2015.
Cadena SER and centre left leaning daily newspaper El País published the conversation between the politician and the journalist.",39.469907,-0.376288,"Intimidation,Violation of anonymity,Political party,Known private individual(s),Broadcaster,Male,Publicity,Union intervention,EU member states","- [http://cadenaser.com/ser/2016/02/29/tribunales/1456720028_391562.html](http://cadenaser.com/ser/2016/02/29/tribunales/1456720028_391562.html)
- [http://elpais.com/elpais/2016/02/29/videos/1456734382_865784.html](http://elpais.com/elpais/2016/02/29/videos/1456734382_865784.html)
",,
19522,2016-03-01,Hungary: Parliamentary amendment restricts access to public information,"1 March, 2016 – Hungary's parliament approved an amendment which restricts access to public information about state-owned postal services, and businesses and foundations established by the National Bank of Hungary, AP reports.
However, on 9 March, Hungarian president János Ãder, instead of signing the law, sent the legal amendments to the Constitutional Court for review.
The proposals were endorsed by lawmakers from Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz party despite warnings from critics, including the country's freedom of information watchdog, that some of the changes could be unconstitutional.
Critics say the changes greatly limit the transparency of state institutions, further weakening the system of democratic checks and balances.
Investigative journalists said the new rules would have a ""very negative"" effect on their work. ""In recent years, it was clear that information about most suspected corruption cases could only be obtained with public information requests,"" said Tamas Bodoky, chief editor of the atlatszo.hu news website. ""This is what they want to eliminate with these laws"", he added.
UPDATE: The Constitutional Court rejected both proposals, deeming them unconstitutional.",47.49791,19.04024,"Legal measure,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- [http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2016-03-01/hungary-limits-access-to-data-from-post-office-central-bank](http://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2016-03-01/hungary-limits-access-to-data-from-post-office-central-bank)
- [http://www.foxnews.co",,
19531,2016-03-03,France: Marsactu website offices victim of two break-ins,"Le Monde reveals that offices of the independent local information website Marsactu, based in Marseille, were broken into two in less than a week.
The first break- in occurred during over the course of the last weekend of February 2016 (27 - 28th of the month). All the computers belonging to the editorial team and a camera were stolen.
The second break-in took place on the night of 3 March, where nothing was stolen but the office was thoroughly searched.
Marsactu website specialises in controversial topics, investigating politics (and notably the Front National), financial and ecological scandals in Marseille. ""Our journalistic activity has been targeted"", Marsactu journalists wrote in a press release.",43.296482,5.36978,"Attack to property,Other/Unknown,Not Applicable,Informational resources,EU member states,Other (Please indicate in report text)","- [http://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2016/03/04/marseille-etranges-cambriolages-a-la-redaction-de-marsactu_4876972_3224.html](http://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2016/03/04/marseille-etranges-cambriolages-a-la-redaction-de-marsactu_4876972_3224.html)
- [http://www.arretsurimages.net/breves/2016-03-05/Le-site-local-Marsactu-cambriole-deux-fois-id19709](http://www.arretsurimages.net/breves/2016-03-05/Le-site-local-Marsactu-cambriole-deux-fois-id19709)
- [https://marsactu.fr/agora/blog-equipe-marsactu/marsactu-de-nouveau-cambriole/](https://marsactu.fr/agora/blog-equipe-marsactu/marsactu-de-nouveau-cambriole/)
",,
19578,2016-03-18,Serbia: Investigative portal claims to be monitored by pro-government tabloid,"18 March 2016 - The Crime and Corruption Reporting Network (KRIK) claims that Informer, a Serbian pro-government tabloid, has been following and photographing their editor-in-chief and has published details from pending investigations.
On 18 March 2016, Informer published a photo of editor-in-chief Stevan Dojcinovic on the front page with a headlines that insinuates that the internet portal KRIK is “cooperating with criminals†and planning to publish “a false affair†against Serbia’s prime minister Aleksandar Vucic.
The Informer article stated that KRIK is planning to publish a series of articles about major assets Vucic owns in Belgrade through members of his family. Informer exposed details from an investigative report that KRIK had not yet published.
“Besides the fact that KRIK's editor was followed and photographed on the street, we are most concerned about the details presented in the article about specifics of our current journalistic research on the assets of politiciansâ€, Jelena Vasic from KRIK told Index on Censorship. “This raises a serious question about who is monitoring KRIK and how they know the details of our unpublished stories.â€
NUNS, one of Serbia's Journalist Unions, condemned the “lynch campaign against portal KRIKâ€, saying that Informer’s allegations could endanger Dojcinovic’s safety. NUNS has urged the authorities to launch an investigation and called for the public to boycott Informer.
UPDATE: Ombudsman orders security agency to respond to KRIK editor's complaint
17 May 2018 - The Serbian Ombudsman has issued an order to the Security Information Agency (BIA) to respond to a complaint filed by KRIK editor-in-chief Stevan Dojcinovic in August 2016 within 21 days, the website of the independent cable news channel N1 reported.
The Ombudsman’s office said it had sent BIA the order because the agency had failed to respond to Dojcinovic’s complaint, despite the fact that the Ombudsman had met BIA officials in September 2016. The agency had then asked for more time to respond.
“I hope that BIA will observe the order, but the lack of a response is an answer tooâ€, Dojcinovic told Serbian daily newspaper Danas.
Dojcinovic's complaint was related to the fact that BIA had placed him under surveillance, and he demanded to know whether that action had been carried out in a legal and legitimate way. His complaint was also related to the fact that BIA had made all the material it collected available to Informer, which then used it as the basis of a negative campaign against him and KRIK.
Dojcinovic said that lack of effective control meant the intelligence agencies were open to political manipulation and that in his case, there had been an abuse of process. “Intelligence agencies’ job is to protect the national interests, and I cannot imagine how it is protected by following journalists or opposition politicians,†he said.
UPDATE - High Court orders Informer editor to pay Dojcinovic damages
29 May 2018 - The Belgrade High Court ordered the editor-in-chief of pro-government tabloid Informer, Dragan Vucicevic, to pay 1,270 euros in damages to KRIK editor-in-chief Stevan Dojcinovic, N1 reported. Vucicevic was found guilty of insulting Dojcinovic’s honour and invading his privacy by labelling him “sadistic masochist French spy, mafia associate and a terroristâ€, among other things, N1 added.",44.78657,20.44892,"Intimidation,Defamation/Discredit,Known private individual(s),Another media,Editor,Male,Informational resources,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,Candidate countries","- http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/serbian-pro-government-tabloid-raises-doubts-of-journalist-monitoring-03-17-2016
- http://nuns.rs/info/statements/27111/nuns-poziva-na-bojkot-informera.html
- http://rs.n1info.com/a391911/English/NEWS/Belgrade-t",,
19582,2016-03-20,Kosovo: Investigative journalist claims prime minister threatened him,"Vehbi Kajtaz, a journalist for the investigative reporting portal insajderi.com has claimed Kosovo’s Prime Minister Isa Mustafa has threatened him by phone on Sunday 20 March, 2016.
Kajtazi had published an article about Mustafa’s brother who had asked for asylum in Germany and France because of his health.
On Monday 21 March he wrote on his Facebook page that the PM Mustafa had called him on his mobile phone on Sunday afternoon. Kajtazi claims that Mustafa was angry about the article and said that his brother has throat cancer and that he will pay heavily for thisâ€.
Kajtazi’s article pointed out that the state of health care in Kosovo is so poor that even the prime minister's brother has to seek asylum in the EU. Thousands of Kosovans have asked in Germany and other EU countries in the past years.
The Associated Press reported that Isa Mustafa has denied threatening the journalist.",42.66291,21.1655,"Intimidation,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Male,Informational resources,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,Potential candidates","- [http://www.insajderi.com/kryeministri-fyen-rende-gazetarin-kajtazi-qen-bir-qeni-ke-pagu-shtrenjte-kete/](http://www.insajderi.com/kryeministri-fyen-rende-gazetarin-kajtazi-qen-bir-qeni-ke-pagu-shtrenjte-kete/)
- [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/ar",,
19586,2016-03-22,"Serbia: B92 journalists receive several death threats, broadcaster claims","22 March, 2016 - Several death threats have been sent to journalists at the investigative journalism portal insajder.net which is owned by broadcaster B92, the site reports.
The threats have been sent via email to several reporters over a weeks time, between 14 and 22 March 2016.
They have also been received by Insajder’s editor-in-chief Brankica Stankovic and B92’s editor-in-chief Veran Matic. Both have been under police protection for years due to severe threats.
Due to a pending police investigation no details of the threats have been revealed, Veran Matic told Index on Censorship.
The Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia (NUNS) condemned the threats and is urging the authorities to identify and prosecute the people responsible.
UPDATE: Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic announced on 23 March that a person has been arrested for threatening Brankica Stankovic and Veran Matic.",44.78657,20.44892,"Intimidation,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Broadcaster,Physical protection,Informational resources,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,Candidate countries","- [http://www.b92.net/eng/news/crimes.php?yyyy=2016&mm=03&dd=22&nav_id=97437](http://www.b92.net/eng/news/crimes.php?yyyy=2016&mm=03&dd=22&nav_id=97437)
- [http://nuns.rs/info/statements/27175/hitno-otkriti-i-kazniti-lica-koja-pret",,
19598,2016-03-28,Spain: Publishing house president to sue media outlets after links to the Panama papers,"28 March, 2016 - President of Prisa Group Juan Luis Cebrián, publisher of national newspapers El PaÃs and sports daily AS, announced he would take legal action against three media outlets which reported on his alleged links to the Panama Papers: La Sexta and online newspapers El Confidencial and Eldiario.es.
In a statement published on its website, Prisa corporation said
""such insinuations are absolutely false,have clear defamatory intent.""
""He doesn't appear in the Panama Papers"", the statement read.
On Wednesday, Radio station Cadena SER, owned by Prisa Group, terminated a contract with Ignacio Escolar, director and founder of Eldiario.es. Escolar used to be a guest on the talk show Hoy por hoy on Cadena SER.
On Tuesday, El Confidiencial revealed that Cebrián had a 2% share in oil company Star Petroleum which kept money in an offshore company.
El Confidencial and La Sexta participated in the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) which revealed documents of Panama-based office Mossack Fonseca.
Daily newspaper El Mundo also reported that journalists who work for Prisa publishing house are prohibited from appearing on programmes on TV channel La Sexta after the channel reported on Cebrián's link to the Panama Papers scandal.
The company didn't confirm the ban.
Centre-right leaning El Mundo and centre-left leaning El Pais are the two highest selling daily newspapers in Spain.",40.59212,-3.70549,"Civil lawsuits,Blocked access,Employer/Publisher/Colleague(s),Legal Aid,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- [http://www.publico.es/sociedad/grupo-prisa-prohibe-periodistas-acudir.html](http://www.publico.es/sociedad/grupo-prisa-prohibe-periodistas-acudir.html)
- [http://www.elmundo.es/television/2016/04/27/572085c7268e3e0d3f8b45a1.html](http://www.elmundo.es/",,
19622,2016-04-01,Hungary: Journalist denied access to real estate data,"01 April 2016 – Anita Vorák, a reporter working for the investigative outlet Direkt36, was refused access to public real estate data by a clerk at the land registry in Bicske.
The Bicske land registry handles data on real estate around Felcsút, the rural town where the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orbán and his family own a house and other properties.
""In the past few weeks, I was a frequent visitor at the Bicske office, as I wanted to find who the owners of several properties around Felcsút were“, Vorák wrote in an article posted on Direkt36.hu website.
""...At first they were helpful and gave me access to public data but on Friday the clerk told me she is not allowed to give me any more files. I asked to speak with the head of the local land registry. She argued that I requested so many documents during the past few weeks that it amounts to a 'bulk data request.' When I asked what was the limit of propriety documents that could be checked at once, she answered that the law on informational self-determination and freedom of information protects all personal data. She then suggested I consult the head of the district office and asked me to wait in the corridor.“",47.49118,18.63701,"Blocked access,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Female,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- [http://www.direkt36.hu/en/2016/04/01/nem-engedtek-a-direkt36-ujsagirojanak-hogy-megnezze-a-nyilvanos-felcsuti-foldadatokat/](http://www.direkt36.hu/en/2016/04/01/nem-engedtek-a-direkt36-ujsagirojanak-hogy-megnezze-a-nyilvanos-felcsuti-foldadatokat/)
-",,
19628,2016-04-03,Bosnia and Herzegovina: Anti-corruption websites target of DDoS attack following Panama papers,"3 April, 2016 – The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) websites became targets of a DDoS attack on Sunday evening, shortly after they started publishing the Panama Papers story, Drew Sullivan, the editor and co-founder of OCCRP announced on Twitter.
""We haven't had a chance to review all the logs, but for about two hours yesterday we had some of our servers experiencing more incoming traffic than outgoing traffic, which for web servers is a very unlikely scenario. That plus the spiking tendency led us to conclude that it might be an attack, and started treating it as such.“ – Smari McCarthy, chief technologist at OCCRP, told Index on Censorship, adding that it took about an hour to resolve the issue.
The Panama papers are a series of leaked documented that have revealed money hidden in offshore bank accounts.",43.856259,18.413076,"DDoS/Hacking,Other/Unknown,Other,Publicity,Solidarity,Potential candidates","- [https://twitter.com/DrewOCCRP/status/672479430221123585](https://twitter.com/DrewOCCRP/status/672479430221123585)
",,
19632,2016-04-05,Italy: Reporter tackled by security after asking minister about wiretapping scandal,"5 April, 2016 - In Rome, the journalist Nello Trocchia, a reporter for the television show La Gabbia (broadcast on La7), was violently blocked from accessing the minister for constitutional reforms Maria Elena Boschi by an agent escorting her.
Trocchia had approached the minister asking if she could reply to a question. There is currently a judicial scandal on wiretapping which implicated minister Maria Elena Boschi and already prompted the resignation of minister of economic development Federica Guidi
A security agent reportedly tackled the journalist, near the council building, and was documented by La7 and aired during the episode of La Gabbia on 6 April. The video shows Maria Elena Boschi and her spokesperson witnessing the incident before getting in a car.
Before leaving, the security agency shouted to Trocchia, who remained motionless on the sidewalk: “Come, come to the hospital”.
---------------------------
Italia: Cronista Trocchia bloccato da scorta ministra Boschi
Il 5 aprile del 2016, a Roma, il giornalista Nello Trocchia, cronista della trasmissione televisiva La Gabbia (La7), è stato placcato come un giocatore di rugby da un agente di scorta della ministra Maria Elena Boschi che lo ha anche deriso e lo ha lasciato andare soltanto dopo che la ministra si è allontanata.
Trocchia si era avvicinato alla ministra chiedendo se poteva farle una domanda. L’argomento era implicito: lo scandalo giudiziario che ha indotto alle dimissioni la ministra Federica Guidi e le intercettazioni telefoniche che chiamerebbero in causa anche Maria Elena (Boschi), già ascoltata dagli inquirenti come persona informata sui fatti.
Il placcaggio, avvenuto in una stradina che dà sul retro del palazzo della Presidenza del Consiglio, è stato documentato dalle telecamere di La7 e mandato in onda durante la puntata de La Gabbia dello scorso 6 aprile. Nel video si vedono Maria Elena Boschi e il suo portavoce assistere alla scena e salire in automobile, incuranti di quanto appena accaduto. Intanto, l’agente di scorta, prima di andar via, ha gridato in maniera ironica a Trocchia, rimasto immobile sul marciapiede: “Vieni, vieni in ospedale”.",41.902783,12.496366,"Physical assaults,Blocked access,Police/State security,Broadcaster,Female,Physical protection,Publicity,Union intervention,EU member states","- [http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2016/04/rome-reporter-trocchia-blocked-from-minister-detail-68664/](http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2016/04/rome-reporter-trocchia-blocked-from-minister-detail-68664/)
- [http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/cronache/ministra-boschi-domanda-e-cronista-viene-placcato-1243484.html](http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/cronache/ministra-boschi-domanda-e-cronista-viene-placcato-1243484.html)
",,
19638,2016-04-06,Macedonia: State Commission for Corruption Prevention intimidates investigative journalists,"6 April, 2016 - A team of journalists from SCOOP – Macedonia, an NGO aimed at promoting investigative journalism, were intimidated over the course of their visit to the state commission for prevention of corruption (DKSK)
SCOOP claims problems began at DKSK offices around 11 am on 6 April. “We entered the building in Dame Gruev Street No. 1 where we were greeted by a security officer in civilian clothes. After seeing our ID card, the officer wrote our names in the book and asked us what we were doing there. We explained that we wanted to file a request for free access to public information from the archives of the institution,†the SCOOP team reported.
The journalists said they tried to file a report for a couple of hours but were prevented from doing so under different excuses.
They were told they had submitted too many requests and that journalists represented ""a threat to the security of the institution and cannot enter.â€, said the chief security officer, reports SCOOP in a story published on their web page.
A member of DKSK security even allegedly threatened to rip their documents and throw them in the bin.
The journalists did manage to file a request thanks to a guest of the commission from Germany who agreed to accompany them to the archives in order to certify the requests.",41.99466,21.42807,"Intimidation,Blocked access,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Male,Union intervention,Candidate countries","- [http://inbox7.mk/archives/4476](http://inbox7.mk/archives/4476)
- [http://www.libertas.mk/skandal-novinarite-zakana-za-bezbednosta-na-dksk/](http://www.libertas.mk/skandal-novinarite-zakana-za-bezbednosta-na-dksk/)
- [http://lokalno.mk/skandal-novinari",,
19689,2016-04-20,Montenegro: Crime reporter charged with drug trafficking,"20 April, 2016 - Jovo Martinovic, an investigative journalist who has exposed criminal networks, war criminals and robberies, has been charged with belonging to a drug trafficking gang and aiding them, Balkan Insight (BIRN) reports.
Martinovic has been in custody since his arrest in October 2015, alongside 17 individuals from Montenegro, arrested in a joint operation with the Croatian police.
Martinovic has insisted he is not guilty, saying that his contacts with suspects were purely linked to his work as a journalist, BIRN reports.
According to the Special Public Prosecutor's Office's investigation in October 2015, which BIRN has seen, Martinovic is suspected of ""helping to form a drug smuggling ring"" and of being a member of that ring.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a media watchdog organisation, wrote to Montenegro’s Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic calling for Martinovic to be freed.
""Given Jovo Martinovic's reputation of professional integrity, his prominence, and his record of meeting a wide variety of people in the course of his work as a reporter, we ask that you instruct relevant authorities either to produce evidence to justify the journalist's continued detention and to charge him, or to release him,"" the letter signed by Joel Simon, director of the CPJ, said.
UPDATE: 4 January, 2017 - A Montenegro court released Martinovic, who spent more than 14 months in prison on charges of drug smuggling, from the detention on 4 January. The journalist told the Committee to Protect Journalists that the court ordered him to check in with police twice a month and confiscated his passport. The charges have not been dropped and his next hearing is scheduled for 19 January.",42.43042,19.25936,"Arrest/Detention,Criminal charges,Police/State security,Journalist,Male,Legal Aid,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,Candidate countries","- [https://www.cpj.org/2016/04/cpj-writes-to-montenegrin-prime-minister-milo-duka.php](https://www.cpj.org/2016/04/cpj-writes-to-montenegrin-prime-minister-milo-duka.php)
- [http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/montenegro-charges-investigative-reporter",,
19694,2016-04-21,Serbia: Investigative journalist arrested and extradited to Macedonia,"21 April, 2016 - Macedonian journalist Zoran Bozinovski, owner of the online portal Burevesnik.org, has been arrested in the Serbian city of Novi Sad on 21 April 2016. He was extradited to Macedonia that same evening.
Bozinovski was detained by the Serbian police following a request by Macedonian authorities based on an international arrest warrant.
Bozinovski is being accused of foreign espionage. He was also one of the defendants in Macedonia’s controversial spy files case. In October 2014 a Macedonian court convicted 17 people in an spying case that involved the passing of classified documents to security services in an other (unnamed) country.
Bozinovaki was arrested back in November 2013 on the same charges. He was released on bail after spending 11 months in jail in Novi Sad awaiting extradition.
According to the Macedonian media, the Serbian Ministry of Justice had a warrant for his arrest from November 2013.
Burevesnik.org is a web portal often referred to as the Macedonian WikiLeaks. Bozirovski has published investigative reports on Macedonia’s intelligence agency and is known as a critic of the government.",45.26714,19.83355,"Arrest/Detention,Criminal charges,Police/State security,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Male,Legal Aid,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,Candidate countries","- [http://meta.mk/en/zoran-bozinovski-extradited-back-to-macedonia-last-night/](http://meta.mk/en/zoran-bozinovski-extradited-back-to-macedonia-last-night/)
- [http://fokus.mk/24-vesti-uapsen-zoran-bozhinovski/](http://fokus.mk/24-vesti-uapsen-zoran-bozhi",,
19710,2016-04-25,Turkey: Cumhuriyet editor-in-chief fined for insulting President Erdogan,"25 April, 2016 - Can Dundar, editor-in-chief of Turkish daily opposition newspaper Cumhuriyet, was fined €8750 for allegedly insulting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The case is related to a series of articles Dunar wrote in relation to the corruption scandal in December 2013, which involved several key people in the Turkish government.
In a separate case, Dunar is facing trial for allegedly seeking to overthrow the government, in relation to his reporting on Turkish government's weapons shipments to Syrian rebel groups. If convicted, Dunar is faces a life sentence.",41.008238,28.978359,"Criminal charges,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Court/Judicial,Editor,Male,Legal Aid,Publicity,Solidarity,Candidate countries,Other (Please indicate in report text)","- [http://bit.ly/1VUKwMM](http://bit.ly/1VUKwMM)
- [http://bit.ly/245PB9A](http://bit.ly/245PB9A)
",,
19719,2016-04-26,Germany: Documentarist and writers face charges for investigative work on illegal arms,"26 April, 2016 - Documentarist Daniel Harrich, along with writers Jürgen Grässlin and Danuta Harrich-Zandberg, are facing criminal charges for their investigative work on illegal arms exports to Mexico by German manufacturer Heckler and Koch, the left-leaning taz newspaper reported.
An attorney for the company is accusing Harrich and the writers of using court documents and and as a result violating art. 353d. of the German criminal code, which prohibits citations from bills of indictment prior to completion of the court case.
Harrich’s documentary film, Deadly Exports – How The G36 Made It To Mexico, was aired by the public TV station ARD on 23 September 2015; The book Networks Of Death based on the same material was also published in September 2015.
The film and book cite internal documents from the federal ministry of economic affairs, as well as the Federal Export Office, “indicating a questionable cooperation of the two offices with the arms manufacturersâ€, taz reported.
These documents are being used as evidence in an additional court case against former H and K employees involved in the alleged arms sales.
However, media watchdog programme ZAPP reported, Harrich’s work was published prior to investigations being taken up against the H and K.
Harrich received the prestigious German TV award, the Grimme Preis, for his work earlier in April 2016.
UPDATE: 12 December, 2016 – The Munich district court rejected the case against Harrich and Grässlin, thereby dropping the accusations of breaching state secrets, the local liberal yellowpress daily Abendzeitung and other media reported.
According to information available to the public channel Südwestrundfunk (SWR), the Munich state attorney announced on the same day it would refrain from an appeal against this ruling.",48.77585,9.182932,"Criminal charges,Court/Judicial,Journalist,Documentarist,Legal Aid,Publicity,EU member states","- [http://www.taz.de/!5298623/](http://www.taz.de/!5298623/)
- [http://www.taz.de/!5295140/](http://www.taz.de/!5295140/)
- [http://www.ardmediathek.de/tv/Zapp/ZAPP-Das-Medienmagazin/NDR-Fernsehen/Video?bcastId=3714742&documentId=35870130](http://www.",,
19715,2016-04-26,Hungary: Journalists banned from parliament,"26 April, 2016 – Journalists working for websites hvg.hu, index.hu, nol.hu and 24.hu have been banned from entering the parliament building on Tuesday 26 April, 2016, the media outlets report.
The ban comes the day after journalists, who the day before, tried to get Fidesz politicians, including Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and House Speaker László Kövér, to respond to a recent scandal involving the National Bank of Hungary. While journalists and camera crews followed MPs, they entered into an area that was prohibited from the press.
In a letter, House Speaker László Kövér banned the journalists for ""filming without a permit“ and ""consciously breaking the rules“.
The editor-in-chief of Népszabadság newspaper (nol.hu), András Murányi, wrote a response to the letter:
""I can assure you that Népszabadság had no intention of breaking the rules. The goal of journalists working at Népszabadság was to ask those who are elected and are paid representatives of the people questions regarding public affairs, and to publish their answers.. As for answers – as we could see this time again – we seldom get any, as we are more and more prevented to act as free press in Parliament (…) lately we can do our job in a constricted area“ – Murányi said.
444.hu published the floor map of the Parliament building, colouring in green the areas where journalists are allowed to ask politicians questions. The map indicates that journalists can only interview politicians in two rooms. MPs can easily avoid these areas and use other corridors, 444.hu reports.
UPDATE: 28 April 2016 – The Hungarian Civil Liberties Union offered free legal counseling to the six journalists banned from Parliament on 25 April. They are appealing against the decision at the Constitutional Court, as well as the European Court of Human Rights.
According to the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union, free movement of the journalists is a basic right, that can be restricted only by law, and not by an internal decision of the Parliament. Physical limitations to press freedom are not something House Speaker László Kövér has a mandate to decide upon – the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union wrote in a statement.",47.497912,19.040235,"Blocked access,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Cameraperson,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,EU member states","- [http://nol.hu/belfold/emiatt-a-video-miatt-ragtak-be-koverek-1612895](http://nol.hu/belfold/emiatt-a-video-miatt-ragtak-be-koverek-1612895)
- [http://444.hu/2016/04/26/kitiltottak-a-hvghu-tudositojat-a-parlamentbol?fbfanpage444+20160426+0931](http://444.hu/2016/04/26/kitiltottak-a-hvghu-tudositojat-a-parlamentbol?fbfanpage444+20160426+0931)
- [http://hvg.hu/itthon/20160426_Kitiltottak_a_hvghu_munkatarsat_a_Parlamentbol](http://hvg.hu/itthon/20160426_Kitiltottak_a_hvghu_munkatarsat_a_Parlamentbol)
- [http://index.hu/belfold/2016/04/26/kitiltottak_az_index_ujsagiroit_a_parlamentbol/](http://index.hu/belfold/2016/04/26/kitiltottak_az_index_ujsagiroit_a_parlamentbol/)
",,
19712,2016-04-26,Luxembourg: Investigative journalist on trial for revealing Luxleaks scandal,"26 April, 2016 - French journalist Edouard Perrin, a reporter for Cash Investigation programme on France channel 2, appears in court today, for accusations that he was heavily involved in leak of documents that revealed the Luxleaks scandal, which uncovered tax evasion of large companies.
He is being accused by financial firm Pricewaterhousecoopers (PwC) of manipulating whistleblower Raphaël Halet to leak documents and of having played ""an active part in the perpetration"" of infractions that she and her former PwC colleague Antione Deltour are also being accused of: domestic theft, disclosure of business secrets, violation of professional secret and money laundering.
Perrin revealed the Luxleaks scandal in May 2012 on the Cash Investigation programme, but the full scandal broke in November 2014, where tax optimisation practises of big firms such as Apple, Ikea and Pepsi were exposed.
Deltour, who has kept a low profile and is now working as a civil servant in Nancy in the Lorraine region of eastern France, contacted journalist and co-defendant Edouard Perrin in 2012.
Deltour had asked that the journalist to withhold PwC’s name in his exposé, and not to publish any of the document.
However, Cash Investigation went ahead and published the details, which were eventually passed on to the New York-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.
PwC sued after the airing of the programme on France 2.
Update:
On 29 June 2016, a Court in Luxembourg acquitted journalist Edouard Perrin, who had revealed the first elements of financial scandal LuxLeaks, in May 2012, of all charges. The two whistleblowers, former PricewaterhouseCoopers employees Antoine Deltour and Raphael Halet received 12 and nine-month suspended sentences respectively for disclosing documents from the auditing firm.
Appeal procedure was announced by the two whistleblowers. Media organisations and associations of journalists condemned the verdict, as having a chilling effect on whistleblowers as journalistic sources and asked for a strong legal protection at the European level of whistleblowers.
Update: 15 March, 2017 - The Luxembourg appeal court reduced the sentences against all three individuals. Perrin was acquitted for the second time. Whistleblower Antoine Deltour was given a 6 month suspended sentence but and fined 1500 euros. Raphael Halet was fined 1000 euros.",49.81527,6.129583,"Civil lawsuits,Corporation/Company,Broadcaster,Male,Legal Aid,EU member states","- [http://www.20minutes.fr/societe/1833335-20160425-proces-scandale-luxleaks-ouvre-demain-luxembourg](http://www.20minutes.fr/societe/1833335-20160425-proces-scandale-luxleaks-ouvre-demain-luxembourg)
- [http://www.france24.com/en/20160425-luxleaks-whistl",,
19776,2016-05-11,Bulgaria: Investigative website Bivol.bg stripped of prize,"11 May, 2016 – Investigative website Bivol.bg was stripped of the most prestigious Bulgarian investigative journalism prize awarded by the Radostina Konstantinova Foundation after its managing board decided to overrule the choice of the jury. The decision became known to the public on the day of the ceremony, 11 May 2016.
Each year the Radostina Konstantinova Foundation collects nominations for investigative journalism. A jury of colleagues from different media outlets awards a grand prize for investigative reporting and other prizes. This year the jury decided to grant the grand prize to Bivol – the investigative news website wrote in a statement.
Bivol.bg has lead many investigations into prominent figure and businesses in Bulgaria, such as current second-term Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, controversial DPS lawmaker and mogul Delyan Peevski, as well as the collapsed Corporate Commercial Bank (CCB), where massive fraud was uncovered in 2014.
After examining the investigations, the jury decided by a majority vote to award the Grand Prize to Bivol, namely to Assen Yordanov – journalist and director of the website and its editor-in-chief – Atanas Tchobanov.
After learning the jury's decision, the managing board reportedly urgently summoned a meeting on how to prevent giving the award to Bivol. To justify the unprecedented withdrawal of this prize, the Board issued a statement that said Bivol is an anonymous website and that it was unclear who the people standing behind it were, causing a serious public outcry and media discussions.
“We condemn this act of hostility towards Atanas Chobanov and Assen Yordanov, two investigative journalists who were named as RSF information heroes in 2014,†said Pauline Adès-Mével, the head of RSF’s EU-Balkans desk.
“The Radostina Konstantinova Foundation is trying to damage their reputation by using spurious and unacceptable arguments. The real problem was the embarrassment caused to certain Bulgarian politicians by the information they revealed.†– an RSF statement said.",42.69771,23.32187,"Known private individual(s),Other/Unknown,Other,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states,Other (Please indicate in report text)","- [https://rsf.org/en/news/hostile-move-bulgarian-investigative-website-stripped-prize](https://rsf.org/en/news/hostile-move-bulgarian-investigative-website-stripped-prize)
- [https://bivol.bg/en/censuring-journalism-awards-in-bulgaria.html](https://bivol",,
19779,2016-05-11,Crimea/Крим: Ukrainian journalist detained and interrogated by Russian authorities,"11 May, 2016 - Journalist for news agency RBK-Ukraina Igor Burdyga was detained in Simferopol by Russian state security services (FSB), RBK reports.
The journalist reported to RBK-Ukraina that he was detained by the police under the premise he looked like a thief.
Burdyga was covering the frequent abductions and arrests of ethnic Crimean Tatars in the peninsula.
He wanted to avoid accreditation and keep a low profile after a recent scandal where journalists accredited in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) were accused of treason by activists and had their personal data published on website Myrotvorets, Mapping Media Freedom reports.
Burdyga was detained when he was visiting a Russian court in Crimea during the trial named the Black Realtors about estate agents who manipulate agreements and documents and/or be involved in other crimes connected to the real estate market.
Police officers told him they were aware he was a journalist and that he worked without official registration. They threatened to detain him for longer for being affiliated with Ukrainian far-right group Pravy Sektor.
Burdyga placed himself within Pravy Sektor and published a scathing report on the group in 2014.
The journalist said he was interrogated by Russian security services (FSB) for seven hours. He gave a statement to senior investigator Mykhaylo Golyshev, a former employee of Ukraine's Security Service, now enrolled with the Russian security forces. The FSB took the journalist’s fingerprints, shoe prints and a sample of saliva.
Afterwards, Burdyga was forced to leave Crimea, and he says he will most likely not be allowed to return to the peninsula for work purposes.
-------------
11 травня журналіста інформагентства РБК-Україна Ігоря Бурдигу затримали співробітники ФСБ у Сімферополі.
Як написав журналіст на сайті РБК-Україна, у Криму він за завданням редакції збирався висвітлювати підготовку до річниці депортації кримських татар і арешти та затримання, які в зв'язку з цим почастішали.
Однак після публікації сайтом “Миротворець” списку і персональних даних представників ЗМІ та наступного скандалу він вирішив не отримувати акредитацію російської влади. “У Криму я збирався по можливості дотримуватися low profile і не ідентифікувати себе як журналіста. Не вийшло”, - написав Бурдига.
За словами журналіста, його затримали, коли він прийшов до підконтрольного Росії Верховного суду Криму на процес над так званими “чорними ріелторами”.
У перерві до нього підійшли двоє поліцейських у цивільному і затримали його під приводом, що розшукують грабіжника, зовні схожого на журналіста.
У райвідділі поліції йому повідомили, що спецслужби знають, що він український журналіст, що він працює в Криму без акредитації і що в силовиків є всі підстави затримати журналіста за підозрою у членстві в “Правому секторі”.
Далі допит на сім годин продовжився в управлінні ФСБ Росії. Журналіст давав свідчення старшому слідчому Михайлу Голишеву, екс-співробітнику СБУ, який перейшов на роботу до російських силовиків. У Бурдиги взяли відбитки пальців, підошв взуття і зразок слини.
Під кінець розмови йому повідомили, що наступного разу він не зможе в’їхати в Крим офіційно як журналіст, бо навряд чи отримає необхідний дозвіл.",44.952117,34.102417,"Arrest/Detention,Interrogation,Blocked access,Police/State security,Journalist,Male,Legal Aid,Publicity","- [https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/opinion/poldnya-fsb-eshche-odna-istoriya-akkreditatsiyu-1463131347.html](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/opinion/poldnya-fsb-eshche-odna-istoriya-akkreditatsiyu-1463131347.html)
- [http://imi.org.ua/news/53487-fsb-dekilka-godin-u-krimu-dopituvala-zatrimanogo-ukrajinskogo-jurnalista.html](http://imi.org.ua/news/53487-fsb-dekilka-godin-u-krimu-dopituvala-zatrimanogo-ukrajinskogo-jurnalista.html)
- [http://detector.media/rinok/article/115150/u_krimu_fsb_zatrimala_i_dopitala_zhurnalista_laquorbk-ukrayinaraquo_za_pidozroju_v_ekstremizmi/](http://detector.media/rinok/article/115150/u_krimu_fsb_zatrimala_i_dopitala_zhurnalista_laquorbk-ukrayinaraquo_za_pidozroju_v_ekstremizmi/)
- [https://mappingmediafreedom.org/#/2264](https://mappingmediafreedom.org/#/2264)
",,
19824,2016-05-19,Finland: Tax authorities threaten to raid employees of Yle broadcasting company,"19 April, 2016 - The Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle reported, that the Finnish tax authorities have threatened to raid Yle employees’ workplaces and homes to access all documentation concerning the Panama Papers.
The tax authorities demanded Yle on 19 April to either release all of their documents related to the Panama Papers by 29 April or have their offices and houses searched by officials.
Jussi Salokangas, a lawyer for the Union of Journalists in Finland, noted that while the tax administration does have a legal right to access to tax information, the “state power must be rooted in law and human rights treaties”, referring to article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, in which it is stated that journalists’ sources are a core area of freedom of expression.
Forcing journalists to surrender their sources to state authorities would therefore be a violation of the article.
Salokangas also stressed that searching journalists’ workplaces and homes to seize sources is illegal, and if authorities start interfering to journalists’ sources, private citizens might stop sharing information with journalists.
According to Yle's lawyer Kirsi-Marja Okkonen, Yle will not comply with the request, and the broadcaster will appeal to the Helsinki Administrative Court over the demand.",60.169856,24.938379,"Intimidation,Legal measure,Violation of anonymity,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Broadcaster,Legal Aid,Union intervention,EU member states,Other (Please indicate in report text)","- [http://yle.fi/uutiset/yle_ei_luovuta_panama-papereita_verottajalle__suomi_ainoa_maa_jossa_viranomainen_painostaa_case_panaman_lahdesuojaa/8846526](http://yle.fi/uutiset/yle_ei_luovuta_panama-papereita_verottajalle__suomi_ainoa_maa_jossa_viranomainen_painostaa_case_panaman_lahdesuojaa/8846526)
- [http://bigstory.ap.org/article/7e36c2a7d8ad441988bcafd60c538d02/finnish-broadcaster-fights-taxman-demand-panama-papers](http://bigstory.ap.org/article/7e36c2a7d8ad441988bcafd60c538d02/finnish-broadcaster-fights-taxman-demand-panama-papers)
- [http://www.journalistiliitto.fi/uutiset/sjl-n-lakimies-panama-jutusta-verottajan-kotietsinnat-olisivat-lainvastaisia/](http://www.journalistiliitto.fi/uutiset/sjl-n-lakimies-panama-jutusta-verottajan-kotietsinnat-olisivat-lainvastaisia/)
- [http://yle.fi/uutiset/nakokulma_sananvapautta_ei_saa_vaarantaa_panama-papereiden_takia/8846875](http://yle.fi/uutiset/nakokulma_sananvapautta_ei_saa_vaarantaa_panama-papereiden_takia/8846875)
",,
19859,2016-05-27,Italy: Mayor files lawsuit against reporter after story on vote fraud,"27 May, 2016 - Raffaele Lettieri, mayor of Acerra in the province of Naples, announced on Facebook that he was suing Antonio Crispino, a journalist for Corriere della Sera online edition, for libel over Crispino’s video inquiry into electoral bribery and vote trading in his municipality, Ossigeno reported.
In the video, the journalist had interviewed people who claimed that they had received money and favors in exchange for voting for him and Pino Puopolo, the city councilor who received the most votes.
These statements, the mayor asserted, were “beyond any objective feedback”. Lettieri also complained about a reference in the video that linked his name with clan De Sena, a unit of the Camorra crime syndicate.
The inquiry was published on Corriere.it.
-------------------------
Italia: Voto di scambio? Sindaco querela cronista
27 maggio, 2016 - Raffaele Lettieri – sindaco di Acerra (Napoli) – ha annunciato su Facebook di aver querelato per diffamazione, il giornalista Antonio Crispino, autore di una video inchiesta sul voto di scambio nello stesso Comune.
Il primo cittadino contesta al cronista le testimonianze di alcuni intervistati che asseriscono di aver ricevuto soldi e favori in cambio della richiesta di voti per lui e per uno dei consiglieri più votati, Pino Puopolo.
Si tratta, sostiene il sindaco, di affermazioni “fuori da ogni riscontro obiettivo”. Inoltre, elemento che Lettieri ritiene ancor più lesivo della sua dignità, è il riferimento del suo nome in relazione al clan camorristico De Sena. L’inchiesta è stata pubblicata su il Corriere.it.",40.944109,14.371438,"Civil lawsuits,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Male","- [http://video.corriere.it/benvenuti-ad-acerra-dove-voto-si-compra-20-euro/c04eaa30-21d5-11e6-91cf-0087f336776f](http://video.corriere.it/benvenuti-ad-acerra-dove-voto-si-compra-20-euro/c04eaa30-21d5-11e6-91cf-0087f336776f)
- [http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2016/07/acerra-exchange-vote-mayor-files-lawsuit-against-reporter-71467/](http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2016/07/acerra-exchange-vote-mayor-files-lawsuit-against-reporter-71467/)
",,
19884,2016-06-05,Italy: Journalist insulted by relative of former mafia boss after investigative report,"5 June, 2016 - La Repubblica journalist Salvo Palazzolo was insulted on Facebook by the son-in-law of former Sicilian mafia boss Toto Riina, for an article published on 5 June 2016, Ossigeno reported.
In the story, Palazzolo wrote that the procession of Saint John Evangelist in Corleone (in the province of Palermo), had made an unscheduled stop, and taken a bow, under the balcony of Riina’s house, on which Ninetta Bagarella, wife of the former mafia boss, was standing, Ossigeno reported.
The procession marched through the streets of the Sicilian village on 29 May.
After Palazzolo's article was published on 5 June, Ciavarello insulted the journalist on Facebook, as well as a CGIL trade union leader from Palermo, Dino Paternostro.
“You and your colleague who wrote the article are buffons, since you know very well the Corleonese traditions, and you give visibility to other buffoons that, for two cents, shovel mud on an entire countryâ€, Riina's son-in-law wrote.
---------------------
Italia: Giornalista racconta inchino sotto casa di Riina. Insultato da boss
Il giornalista di Repubblica, Salvo Palazzolo, è stato insultato su Facebook dal genero di Totò Riina, Tony Ciavarello, per un articolo pubblicato il 5 giugno 2016, nel quale Palazzolo raccontava la sosta non prevista, con tanto di inchino, della processione di San Giovanni Evangelista a Corleone (in provincia di Palermo), sotto il balcone della casa di Riina, al quale era affacciata Ninetta Bagarella, moglie del boss. La processione ha sfilato per le strade del paese siciliano il 29 maggio 2016. Lo stesso giorno della pubblicazione dell’articolo di Palazzolo, il 5 giugno, sono arrivate le offese da parte di Ciavarello che prende di mira il giornalista e il dirigente del sindacato Cgil di Palermo, Dino Paternostro.
“Buffone lei e il suo collega che ha scritto l’articolo…. visto che conosce benissimo le tradizioni corleonesi e dà visibilità ad altri buffoni che per due lire spalano fango su un intero paeseâ€: ha scritto il genero del boss.",37.81382,13.29879,"Defamation/Discredit,Criminal organisation,Journalist,Male,Solidarity,EU member states","- [http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2016/06/sicily-tells-of-bow-under-riinas-house-insulted-on-facebook-70708/](http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2016/06/sicily-tells-of-bow-under-riinas-house-insulted-on-facebook-70708/)
- [http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2",,
19884,2016-06-05,Italy: Journalist insulted by relative of former mafia boss after investigative report,"5 June, 2016 - La Repubblica journalist Salvo Palazzolo was insulted on Facebook by the son-in-law of former Sicilian mafia boss Toto Riina, for an article published on 5 June 2016, Ossigeno reported.
In the story, Palazzolo wrote that the procession of Saint John Evangelist in Corleone (in the province of Palermo), had made an unscheduled stop, and taken a bow, under the balcony of Riina’s house, on which Ninetta Bagarella, wife of the former mafia boss, was standing, Ossigeno reported.
The procession marched through the streets of the Sicilian village on 29 May.
After Palazzolo's article was published on 5 June, Ciavarello insulted the journalist on Facebook, as well as a CGIL trade union leader from Palermo, Dino Paternostro.
“You and your colleague who wrote the article are buffons, since you know very well the Corleonese traditions, and you give visibility to other buffoons that, for two cents, shovel mud on an entire country”, Riina's son-in-law wrote.
---------------------
Italia: Giornalista racconta inchino sotto casa di Riina. Insultato da boss
Il giornalista di Repubblica, Salvo Palazzolo, è stato insultato su Facebook dal genero di Totò Riina, Tony Ciavarello, per un articolo pubblicato il 5 giugno 2016, nel quale Palazzolo raccontava la sosta non prevista, con tanto di inchino, della processione di San Giovanni Evangelista a Corleone (in provincia di Palermo), sotto il balcone della casa di Riina, al quale era affacciata Ninetta Bagarella, moglie del boss. La processione ha sfilato per le strade del paese siciliano il 29 maggio 2016. Lo stesso giorno della pubblicazione dell’articolo di Palazzolo, il 5 giugno, sono arrivate le offese da parte di Ciavarello che prende di mira il giornalista e il dirigente del sindacato Cgil di Palermo, Dino Paternostro.
“Buffone lei e il suo collega che ha scritto l’articolo…. visto che conosce benissimo le tradizioni corleonesi e dà visibilità ad altri buffoni che per due lire spalano fango su un intero paese”: ha scritto il genero del boss.",37.813817,13.298785,"Defamation/Discredit,Criminal organisation,Journalist,Male,Solidarity,EU member states","- [http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2016/06/sicily-tells-of-bow-under-riinas-house-insulted-on-facebook-70708/](http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2016/06/sicily-tells-of-bow-under-riinas-house-insulted-on-facebook-70708/)
- [http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2016/06/sicilia-racconta-inchino-sotto-casa-riina-insultato-su-fb-70392/](http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2016/06/sicilia-racconta-inchino-sotto-casa-riina-insultato-su-fb-70392/)
- [http://www.articolo21.org/2016/06/due-cronisti-siciliani-insultati-sui-social-network-dal-genero-di-salvatore-riina/](http://www.articolo21.org/2016/06/due-cronisti-siciliani-insultati-sui-social-network-dal-genero-di-salvatore-riina/)
- [http://palermo.repubblica.it/cronaca/2016/06/04/news/l_inchino_della_processione_a_lady_riina-141243890/](http://palermo.repubblica.it/cronaca/2016/06/04/news/l_inchino_della_processione_a_lady_riina-141243890/)
",,
19890,2016-06-07,France: Council for Denis Baupin discredits investigations against his client,"7 June, 2016 - In a column published in The Huffington Post, Emmanuel Pierrat, sollicitor of politician Denis Baupin, discredited the methods used by investigative website Mediapart and France Inter radio to investigate allegations that his client had sexually assaulted women he worked with.
In his column, Pierrat claimed that text messages exchanged between the women and his client revealed they had not been abused. He published some excerpts in the column.
He denounced journalists of the two outlets for not having published them and for having presented an unbalanced version of facts.
He claimed the press had been sensationalistic and had failed to respect his client's private life.
In response, Mediapart editorial team reiterated that their investigation had been lengthy and thorough and that Beaupin had always refused to meet the Mediapart journalist investigating him.",48.85661,2.352222,"Defamation/Discredit,Known private individual(s),Journalist,Union intervention,Solidarity,EU member states","- [http://www.huffingtonpost.fr/emmanuel-pierrat/affaire-denis-baupin-quand-la-presse-se-fait-juge_b_10333250.html](http://www.huffingtonpost.fr/emmanuel-pierrat/affaire-denis-baupin-quand-la-presse-se-fait-juge_b_10333250.html)
- [https://blogs.mediapart",,
19906,2016-06-10,Italy: Businessman threatens to kill journalist investigating voter corruption,"10 June, 2016 - Gaia Bozza, a journalist who works for news website FanPage, was threatened by Ciro Froncillo, founder of AvoG, an association that manages food stands in Napoli, Fanpage website reported.
“I’m going to kill her. I’m going to rip her head off”, Froncillo yelled at Gaia Bozza.
The journalist was investigating episode of corruption during the local elections of 5 June 2016 where food was allegedly given in exchanges for votes.
---------------
Italia: Giornalista Fanpage minacciata di morte
Voti in cambio di generi alimentari: la giornalista di FanPage, Gaia Bozza, ha provato a fare luce su un episodio di presunto voto di scambio a Napoli, in occasione delle elezioni amministrative del 5 giugno 2016, ma è stata aggredita e minacciata di morte da Ciro Froncillo, fondatore della AvoG, l’associazione che gestisce il banco alimentare della parrocchia Don Guanella a Scampia.
L’episodio si è verificato il 10 giugno 2016 e l’aggressione è documentata da un video. Con la cronista c’era il collega Peppe Pace, anch’egli giornalista di FanPage. Il servizio è firmato da Bozza, Pace, Carmine Benincasa e Antonio Musella.",40.851775,14.268124,"Intimidation,Known private individual(s),Journalist,Female,EU member states","- [http://youmedia.fanpage.it/video/aa/V13pueSwkP49KVcA](http://youmedia.fanpage.it/video/aa/V13pueSwkP49KVcA)
- [http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2016/06/naples-fanpage-investigation-on-exchange-vote-journalist-receives-death-threat-70774/](http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2016/06/naples-fanpage-investigation-on-exchange-vote-journalist-receives-death-threat-70774/)
",,
19941,2016-06-20,Belgium: Justice minister seeks to increase sentence for divulging confidential information,"20 June, 2016 - Belgian justice minister Koen Geens announced his intention to double the length of a prison sentencing for divulging confidential information, in cases where professional confidentially is breached, newspaper La Libre Belgique reported.
According to the Belgium General Association of Journalists, the move is meant to include it amongst the category of offenses which allow specific investigative methods such as phone-tapping or electronic tracing.
""Journalistic sources have to be protected"", the Association stated, reminding of the 7 April 2015 law protection journalistic sources.
A second proposed law is also worrying journalists, which would enable the intelligence service to scrap the protection of a professional journalist if he/she is not considered a real journalist.",50.85034,4.35171,"Legal measure,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Informational resources,EU member states",- [http://www.lalibre.be/actu/belgique/protection-des-sources-des-journalistes-menacee-koen-geens-va-t-il-museler-la-presse-576a5f2135705701fd8c4352](http://www.lalibre.be/actu/belgique/protection-des-sources-des-journalistes-menacee-koen-geens-va-t-il-mu,,
19957,2016-06-24,Serbia: Investigative journalist reports of surveillance,"24 June, 2016 - An investigative journalist for the Vojvodina Investigative - Analytical Center in Novi Sad reported to the police that she was followed by two unknown individuals, website N1 revealed.
The journalist, Maja Zivanovic, was on her way to work when she noticed two men “with headphones connected to electronic devices†following all the way to her workplace. It is not known who the men were or why they were following Zivanovic.
Zivanovic reported this to the police in downtown Novi Sad.
The Independent Journalist Association of Vojvodina (NDNV) has condemned the incident. The association is concerned and believes that cases like this are occurring “to put pressure on journalists and their freedom to workâ€.
NDNV urged the authorities to investigate who followed the journalist and why.",45.26714,19.92144,"Intimidation,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Female,Physical protection,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,Candidate countries","- [http://rs.n1info.com/a171378/Vesti/Vesti/Novinarka-VOICE-pracena-u-Novom-Sadu.html](http://rs.n1info.com/a171378/Vesti/Vesti/Novinarka-VOICE-pracena-u-Novom-Sadu.html)
- [http://nuns.rs/info/news/28186/podrzi-rtv-osudjuje-zastrasivanje-novinarke-voice.",,
19960,2016-06-24,Turkey: Cumhuriyet newspaper receives death threats from businessman,"24 June, 2016- Turkish businessman Mehmet Cengiz threatened newspaper Cumhuriyet with death threats over the phone, Turkish Minute reported.
Cengiz whose name was mentioned during the corruption scandal in December of 2013, called the newspaper headquarters telling them “I will fight you. Don’t make this man a killer”, reported Ozgur Dusunce news website.
The threat came shortly after Cumhuriyet newspaper announced it was set to publish a series of documents leaked through the Panama Papers, which would include Mehmet Cengiz, and other well known businessmen with ties to the ruling government of Justice and Development Party (AKP).",41.008238,28.978359,"Intimidation,Known private individual(s),Journalist,Physical protection,Publicity,Candidate countries","- [http://bit.ly/28RNBav](http://bit.ly/28RNBav)
- [http://bit.ly/28TrGlJ](http://bit.ly/28TrGlJ)
- [http://bit.ly/28T8F0C](http://bit.ly/28T8F0C)
",,
19965,2016-06-27,France: Canal Plus management set to discontinue two investigative programmes,"27 June, 2016 - While presenting next autumn's programmes, the management of Vivendi group announced it would discontinue Zapping and Special Investigation, Liberation.fr reported.
Zapping had been very critical of Bollore. On 8 October 2015 half of the programme was dedicated to the alleged censorship of an investigative Special Investigation documentary on the Credit Mutuel bank initiated by Bollore.
Special Investigation, has been thought to be under threat since the alleged censorship of this documentary and its editor had said half of the majority of pitches they proposed to the management were being refused, Mapping Media Freedom reported.
Both programmes have been thought to displease Vincent Bollore, the CEO of the Vivendi group, which now controls the private channel Canal Plus.",48.85661,2.352222,"Article/Work didn't appear at all,Employer/Publisher/Colleague(s),Journalist,Broadcaster,Documentarist,Cameraperson,Informational resources,Solidarity,EU member states,Other (Please indicate in report text)","- [http://www.liberation.fr/futurs/2016/06/27/canal-bollore-enterre-le-zapping-et-special-investigation_1462393](http://www.liberation.fr/futurs/2016/06/27/canal-bollore-enterre-le-zapping-et-special-investigation_1462393)
- [http://www.arretsurimages.net",,
19988,2016-07-02,Netherlands: Crime Blogger Finds Explosive Device Under Car,"2 July, 2016 - Dutch crime blogger Martin Kok found an explosive device under his parked car in the centre of Amsterdam, broadcaster AT5 reported.
Kok is the founder of Vlinderscrime.nl, a blog about the Dutch criminal underworld. An ex-criminal, he started writing about criminal cases when he was in prison himself.
Kok discovered the explosive when he returned to his car from a restaurant. The police confirmed the presence of a heavy explosive and defused it.
This was not the first time Martin Kok was targeted. In November 2015, shots were fired at his car and house. No one was hurt.",52.370216,4.895168,"Intimidation,Other/Unknown,Blogger/Citizen journalist,Male,Physical protection,Training,Informational resources,Publicity,EU member states","- [http://www.at5.nl/artikelen/157848/bom_onder_auto_martin_kok](http://www.at5.nl/artikelen/157848/bom_onder_auto_martin_kok)
- [http://nos.nl/artikel/2115351-explosief-gevonden-onder-auto-misdaadblogger.html](http://nos.nl/artikel/2115351-explosief-gevonden-onder-auto-misdaadblogger.html)
",,
20002,2016-07-06,Hungary: Politician discredits media covering corruption,"6 July, 2016 – László Tasó, the Hungarian Minister of State for Infrastructure, published a Facebook post discrediting media outlets for covering alleged discrepancies in his asset declarations, Népszabadság daily reported.
In a Facebook post on 5 July, László Tasó claimed that articles alleging that he left out valuable real estate and state subsidies from his asset declarations were ""paid provocations"". He also suggested that media campaigns were orchestrated around the electoral cycle, adding that he thought that index.hu and a gang of other media outlets had gone further than ever before.
The Facebook post was removed 10 minutes after publication, but the Népszabadság daily published excerpts from the post.
Additionally, two journalists working for index.hu were approached by a police patrol and asked for identification while they were waiting in front of László Tasó‘s house in NyÃradony, index.hu reported.
UPDATE: 9 August, 2016 - László Tasó filed a complaint with the police claiming that he was harassed by the journalists writing about his asset declarations. The police started an investigation based on the complaint, Direkt36, the investigative journalism outlet which uncovered the story reported.",47.68994,21.9086,"Defamation/Discredit,Police/State security,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- [http://index.hu/belfold/2016/07/05/allamtitkar_ilyen_harciasan_meg_nem_vedte_a_hianyos_vagyonnyilatkozatat/](http://index.hu/belfold/2016/07/05/allamtitkar_ilyen_harciasan_meg_nem_vedte_a_hianyos_vagyonnyilatkozatat/)
- [http://nol.hu/belfold/oriasi-hi",,
21308,2016-07-07,Serbia: Home of investigative journalist broken into,"7 July 2016 - The home of investigative journalist for Crime and Corruption Reporting Network (KRIK), Dragana Peco, was broken into while she was out of town, KRIK reported. The journalist discovered that her apartment in Belgrade was broken into and that her belongings were in disarray.
No valuables were missing. The police have started an investigation.
KRIK is known for its investigations into crime and corruption in Serbia and is often targeted by pro-government tabloids.
According to KRIK’s director Stevan Dojcinovic, it’s not yet clear if the incident is linked to Peco’s work, but it would not be a surprise. “Cases involving journalists must be treated with higher seriousness exactly because they might be related to their work,†he said.
KRIK is urging the police to do a thorough investigation.
UPDATE: 10 July 2018 - A year after investigative journalist Dragana Pećo’s apartment was broken into, Serbian police had failed to identify and bring the perpetrators to justice, Crime and Corruption Reporting Network - KRIK reported. Following the incident, the police filed criminal charges in July 2017 against an unknown person for grand larceny, despite the fact that nothing was stolen - not even Pećo’s private laptop and cell phone. Since the criminal charges were filed, the police have not submitted any documents regarding the case to the prosecution, the First Basic Public Prosecutor's Office told KRIK.
KRIK reminded that the door lock was broken and the journalist’s apartment was searched and rummaged through. In December 2017 after there were no developments in the investigation, Pećo spoke to TV N1 expressing concerns that the incident was related with her work and that it might be an attempt to intimidate and pressure her.",44.78657,20.44892,"Attack to property,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Female,Physical protection,Informational resources,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,Candidate countries","- [https://www.krik.rs/en/kriks-journalist-apartment-broken/](https://www.krik.rs/en/kriks-journalist-apartment-broken/)
https://www.krik.rs/godinu-dana-nije-poznato-ko-je-obio-stan-novinarke-krik/
http://rs.n1info.com/a402893/Vesti/KRIK-Godinu-dana-posle",,
20042,2016-07-15,Hungary: Mayor denigrates journalist and chases him in car,"15 July, 2016 – Investigative journalist Csaba Móricz was insulted, then chased by the mayor of Érpatak, Orosz Mihály Zoltán, in a car, Ãtlátszó.hu reported.
On 15 July, the journalist went to Érpatak to document a city council meeting, where the mayor was expected to be asked questions on a series of financial irregularities journalist Csaba Móricz uncovered.
During the meeting, the council also had to approve the 2015 final accounts, a step necessary to be able to vote for the 2016 budget. The meeting was expected to be tense, as the councilors say that the mayor‘s office in Érpatak is close to bankruptcy – Ãtlátszó reported.
Instead of opening the council meeting, the mayor launched into a 15 minute speech about the journalist, calling him a ""media rat"" and ""secret agent"" multiple times, insinuating that Móricz lied about the situation in Érpatak for money.
Two individuals then entered the room including, Richárd Fügedi, a councilor of far-right party Jobbik in the town of MezÅ‘kövesd. According to a recording of the meeting published by Ãtlátszó.hu, one of them started threatening the journalist and then asked: ""Are you going to push me, Mr. Móricz?“
The journalist then drove away from the meeting, but soon realised that his vehicle was followed by three other cars – of which two belonged to the Érpatak mayor‘s office. All cars were reportedly driving above the speed limit towards the nearby town of Mezőkövesd, when the journalist noticed a police patrol and decided to stop and ask for protection.
Instead of protecting the journalist, the police officers checked the ID of Csaba Móricz, in the midst of a group of five people, including Orosz Mihály Zoltán and Jobbik MP Zagyva György Gyula.
The group filmed the incident despite the fact that the journalist explicitly asked them to stop recording when his personal details such as his home address were read aloud by the police. The police officers first refused to escort the journalist to safety, but later agreed to do so after he insisted.
UPDATE: 15 August, 2016 - The police have started an investigation against Csaba Móricz for breaking the speed limit, after Atlatszo.hu, the investigative website he works for, wrote that he had to speed up to 140-150 km/h to escape his followers.",47.80795,21.75644,"Intimidation,Defamation/Discredit,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Male,Physical protection,Informational resources,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- [https://atlatszo.hu/2016/07/20/bekamerazzuk-a-mediapatkanyt-fenyegettek-es-autokkal-uldoztek-munkatarsunkat-erpatakon/](https://atlatszo.hu/2016/07/20/bekamerazzuk-a-mediapatkanyt-fenyegettek-es-autokkal-uldoztek-munkatarsunkat-erpatakon/)
- [https://s",,
20090,2016-07-22,France: Bolloré group sues France 2 for libel,"22 July, 2016 - Investment and industrial holding Bolloré group is suing France 2 television channel over the re-airing of an investigative documentary programme into the business methods of its owner, businessman and media owner Vincent Bolloré, claiming it is defamatory, newspaper Le Monde reported.
Ironically titled ""Vincent Bolloré, un ami qui vous veut du bien"" (""Vincent Bolloré, a friend who’s here to help""), the programme depicts the billionaire’s reportedly rough management methods at Bolloré Group and Vivendi-owned Canal Plus Group.
Initially aired on 7 April as part of a TV magazine series called Complement d’Enquete, it was rebroadcast on 21 July on France 2.
""This repeat showing, just a few weeks after the tendentious and totally biased programme in question was first broadcast, demonstrates a proven desire to harm the Group by seriously discrediting it. This is undermining its commercial interests,"" said Bolloré Group in a statement.
The portion of the documentary that reportedly drew the most objection from Bolloré Group dealt with the work carried out by Socapalm, an industrial palm oil company owned by Bolloré Group in Cameroon. The programme denounced the alleged degrading conditions for workers there and contained interviews with underage workers.
Bolloré disputed the workers were underage.
The trial is to take place before the Commercial Court in Paris.
UPDATE: 1 December, 2016 - A preliminary investigation on the case has been opened, Nanterre's Public Prosecutor's department told Agence France Presse.",48.85661,2.352222,"Civil lawsuits,Corporation/Company,Broadcaster,Documentarist,Publicity,EU member states",- [http://mobile.lemonde.fr/actualite-medias/article/2016/07/22/le-groupe-bollore-reclame-50-millions-d-euros-a-france-2-pour-avoir-rediffuse-complement-d-enquete_4973162_3236.html?xtref=http://lm.facebook.com/lsr.php](http://mobile.lemonde.fr/actualite-m,,
20102,2016-07-24,Bosnia and Herzegovina: Doctor insults journalist after article on private clinic,"24 July, 2016 - Emir Talirevic, a doctor who owns Moja Klinika, a private healthcare institution, in Sarajevo used Facebook to insult Selma Ucanbarlic, a journalist for the Centre for Investigative Journalism (CIN), following her articles about Moja Klinika, regional TV outlet N1 reported.
ON 24 July Talirevic wrote on Facebook, among other things, that “judging by her psycho-physical attributes [the journalist] should never be allowed to do more complex work than grilling a barbecueâ€. He alleged hers were “imbecilic findingsâ€, and wrote “her work requires higher IQ than 65â€.
In his second post, published on 27 July, Talirevic wrote that “as the toilet tank is taking away my associations on Selma and her CIN(ical) website I am thinking about the oldest profession in the world – prostitutionâ€. He also wrote: “CIN is financed by gifts, like prostitutesâ€, and “after today’s article at least we know for whom Selma Ucanbarlic and her CIN colleagues are spreading their legs.â€
Mirjana Popovic, CIN’s deputy editor-in-chief, told N1 the publication was aware of Talirevic’s posts.
“We are wondering what has so dramatically changed between Friday and Sunday night (22 July to 24 July) and who influenced him to make that kind of U turn, bearing in mind that in a telephone conversation with Ucanbarlic,†which was recorded and has been posted on TV N1 website, “Talirevic said that the piece was correct and that if necessary he would speak again with CIN,†Popovic said in a statement to TV N1.",43.85626,18.41308,"Defamation/Discredit,Psychological abuse,Sexual harassment,Trolling/Cyberbullying,Corporation/Company,Known private individual(s),Journalist,Female,Union intervention,Potential candidates","- [http://ba.n1info.com/a106888/Vijesti/Vijesti/Prim.-dr.-Emir-Talirevic-zestoko-izvrijedjao-novinare-CIN-a.html](http://ba.n1info.com/a106888/Vijesti/Vijesti/Prim.-dr.-Emir-Talirevic-zestoko-izvrijedjao-novinare-CIN-a.html)
- [http://ba.n1info.com/a10691",,
20104,2016-07-25,Turkey: Arrest warrants issued for 42 journalists,"25 July, 2016 - Turkey's authorities have issued arrest warrants for 42 journalists as part of an inquiry into the failed coup of 15 July, private broadcaster NTV reported.
Well-known commentator and former parliamentarian Nazli Ilicak was among those for whom a warrant was issued, NTV said.
Another well-known name among the 42 journalists is Ercan Gun, the head of news department at Fox TV in Turkey, Cumhuriyet newspaper reported.
Former Huriyyet newspaper reporter Bulent Mumay was included in the list.
Well-known commentator and former parliamentarian Nazli Ilicak was among those for whom a warrant was issued, NTV said. Another well-known name among the 42 journalists is Ercan Gun, the head of news department at Fox TV in Turkey, Cumhuriyet newspaper reported.
According to BBC, ""another name on the list is Fatih Yagmur, an investigative journalist sacked from another liberal daily, Radikal, after writing a story alleging the Turkish government was arming militants in Syria.""
Platform for independent journalism P24 wrote on Twitter that five journalists on the list were already detained. They are: Yakup Sağlam, İbrahim Balta, Seyit Kılıç, Bayram Kaya and Cihan Acar.
Here is the list of journalists sought for arrest:
Abdullah Abdulkadiroğlu, Abdullah Kılıç, Ahmet Dönmez, Ali Akkuş, Arda Akın, Nazlı Ilıcak, Bayram Kaya, Bilal Şahin, Bülent Ceyhan, Bülent Mumay, Bünyamin Köseli, Cemal Azmi Kalyoncu, Cevheri Güven, Cihan Acar, Cuma Ulus, Emre Soncan, Ercan Gün, Erkan Akkuş, Ertuğrul Erbaş, Fatih Akalan, Fatih Yağmur, Habib Güler, Hanım Büşra Erdal, Haşim Söylemez, Hüseyin Aydın, İbrahim Balta, Kamil Maman, Kerim Gün, Levent Kenes, Mahmut Hazar, Mehmet Gündem, Metin Yıkar, Muhammet Fatih Uğur, Mustafa Erkan Acar, Mürsel Genç, Selahattin Sevi, Seyit Kılıç, Turan Görüryılmaz, Ufuk Şanlı, Ufuk Emin Köroğlu, Yakup Sağlam, Yakup Çetin",41.00824,28.97836,"Arrest/Detention,Police/State security,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Female,Male,Legal Aid,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,Candidate countries","- [http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/07/turkey-arrest-warrants-issued-42-journalists-160725065127488.html](http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/07/turkey-arrest-warrants-issued-42-journalists-160725065127488.html)
- [https://twitter.com/P24Punto24/status/7",,
20157,2016-08-02,Germany: Journalists forcefully enter Correctiv offices over MH17 story,"2 August, 2016 – British blogger Graham Phillips and freelance journalist Billy Six, forcibly entered the offices of non-profit investigative journalism outlet Correctiv, filmed without permission and accused them of spreading lies, the outlet reported on their Facebook page on Wednesday 3 August.
According to Correctiv’s statement, Phillips had been seeking to confront Marcus Bensmann, the author of a Correctiv article which claimed that Russian officers had shot down the passenger airplane crossing over Ukraine in July 2014.
Phillips maintains the Ukrainian military is responsible for this.
Phillips has been blogging from Ukraine where he reports on Russia; Six reports for German right-wing publication Young Freedom, Junge Freiheit.",52.35927,13.66863,"Defamation/Discredit,Known private individual(s),Journalist,Male,Publicity,EU member states","- [https://www.facebook.com/correctiv.org/posts/1715636455352461](https://www.facebook.com/correctiv.org/posts/1715636455352461)
- [https://twitter.com/Euan_MacDonald/status/760795968023490560](https://twitter.com/Euan_MacDonald/status/760795968023490560)",,
20231,2016-08-25,Hungary: News website accused of censoring piece on losses at national trade house,"25 August, 2016 – Leonárd Máriás, an investigative journalist working for vg.hu news website was allegedly stopped from writing a story about the Hungarian National Trading House losing 6 billion HUF (€19 million), atlatszo.hu reported.
The editorial management of the website decided not to extend the contract of the journalist, who was on a trial period when the incident happened.
Máriás had pitched a piece on the 2015 activities report compiled by the Hungarian National Trading House, which discussed its huge losses. The editors at vg.hu decided not to publish the piece, atlatszo.hu wrote.
Instead vg.hu published an interview with Zsanett Oláh, the CEO of the Hungarian National Trading House five days later. In the interview, Oláh spoke about the successes of the Hungarian National Trading House.
In a statement, vg.hu editor-in-chief dismissed the censorship accusations.
In an interview published by atlatszo.hu on 17 September, Leonárd Máriás said he still could not find any other explanation for the decision than censorship.
The accusations of censorship come after news of a possible purchase of Mediaworks, the company behind vg.hu by Lőrincz Mészáros, a businessman close to Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán.",47.49791,19.04024,"Loss of employment,Article/Work didn't appear at all,Employer/Publisher/Colleague(s),Journalist,Male,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states,Other (Please indicate in report text)","- [https://atlatszo.hu/2016/09/17/a-palyamon-meg-nem-utkoztem-ilyen-akadalyba-marias-leonard-ujsagiro/](https://atlatszo.hu/2016/09/17/a-palyamon-meg-nem-utkoztem-ilyen-akadalyba-marias-leonard-ujsagiro/)
- [https://blog.atlatszo.hu/2016/09/maris-cenzuraz",,
20251,2016-08-30,Italy: Car of investigative reporter damaged,"30 August, 2016 - Holes were drilled into the wheels of a car belonging to Marco Omizzolo, a freelance reporter investigating illegal labour practices and president of the In Migrazione association, Ossigeno reported.
The car was parked outside his house in Sabaudia.
The reporter, who collaborates with several newspapers and is also a university researcher, reported the incident to the police headquarters in Latina on 31 August.
Omizzolo believes the incident is related to his journalistic activities, Ossigeno reported.
Omizzolo has published an articles on the exploitation of field laborers the day before on 29 August on the site Possibile.it.
--------------------------
Italia: Danneggiata l'auto di cronista che scrive di caporalato
30 agosto, 2016 - Ignoti hanno forato due ruote dell’auto di Marco Omizzolo, cronista freelance, che si occupa del fenomeno del caporalato, e presidente dell’associazione “In Migrazione “, racconta Ossigeno.
L’auto era parcheggiata sotto la sua abitazione a Sabaudia (Latina). Il cronista, che collabora con diverse testate e svolge anche l’attività di ricercatore universitario, ha denunciato l’episodio alla Questura di Latina, il 31 agosto 2016, affacciando l’ipotesi che l’episodio potrebbe essere collegato alla sua attività . L’ultimo articolo scritto da Omizzolo sul tema dello sfruttamento dei braccianti è stato pubblicato il 29 agosto 2016 sul sito Possibile.it. Già in passato ha denunciato episodi di danneggiamento a causa del suo impegno sociale e della sua attività .",41.30158,13.02758,"Attack to property,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Male,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- [http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2016/09/sabaudia-damaged-car-of-reporter-writing-on-the-illegal-labour-practices-72919/](http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2016/09/sabaudia-damaged-car-of-reporter-writing-on-the-illegal-labour-practices-72919/)
- [http://",,
20286,2016-09-06,France: In run up to elections France Télévisions delays airing documentary on Sarkozy funding,"6 September, 2016 - Michel Field, the head of news at France Télévisions, a French public national television broadcaster, tried to stop a documentary on Nicolas Sarkozy's alleged illegal 2012 election funding from airing, satirical and investigative newspaper Le Canard enchaîné revealed.
The investigative documentary, part of Envoyé Special TV show, was due to air on 29 September. According to Le Canard, around mid July, Field told Elise Lucet, the new director of Envoyé Special, that the documentary could only be shown after the primary elections of the Républicain party, at the end of November. Field explained he was negotiating with Sarkozy, who had agreed to be the first guest of France Télé's new political programme but that Sarkozy's team would not have him appear on this programme if the documentary was shown.
Lucet accused Field of censorship and the director of France Télévisions, Delphine Ernotte Cunci, is taking some time to decide whether to air the documentary or not.
According to Le Canard, Field also tried to have a heavily-edited version of the documentary air 8 September, which Lucet refused to comply with.
The next day on 7 September, France Télévisions confirmed that the documentary would be aired ""before the end of the year"" and that a long excerpt containing an exclusive interview with Franck Attal who organised Nicolas Sarkozy meetings during the campaign, would be shown during the news presented on France 2 by David Pujadas.",48.85661,2.352222,"Article/Work didn't appear at all,Employer/Publisher/Colleague(s),Political party,Broadcaster,EU member states,Other (Please indicate in report text)",- [http://television.telerama.fr/television/psychodrame-a-france-televisions-a-propos-d-un-envoye-special-sur-bygmalion%2C147081.php?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#link_time=1473184384](http://television.telerama.fr/tel,,
20304,2016-09-10,Serbia: Pro-government tabloid smears investigative journalist,"10 September, 2016 - The pro-government tabloid Informer smeared Slobodan Georgiev, a journalist for Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN), Balkan Insight reported.
The daily tabloid published an article stating that Georgiev was one of many journalists who are “paid by the European Union to create chaos in Serbiaâ€.
That same evening, Informer’s editor-in-chief, Dragan Vucicevic, repeated the contents of the article on national TV-channel TV Pink.
Georgiev had been the subject of a smear campaign by Informer for more than a year. He was called a traitor and a foreign spy.
He also suffered continuous threats on social media, which he believes is a result of the tabloid’s smear campaign against him.
The Independent Association of Journalists in Serbia (NUNS) condemned the latest threats. It notified the special public prosecutor for online crime of social media threats towards Georgiev. NUNS urged the prosecutor to act quickly.",44.78657,20.44892,"Defamation/Discredit,Another media,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Male,Legal Aid,Informational resources,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,Candidate countries","- [http://www.informer.rs/stampano-izdanje/655/10-09-2016](http://www.informer.rs/stampano-izdanje/655/10-09-2016)
- [http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/attacks-on-serbian-media-aim-to-cut-their-funding-09-12-2016](http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/art",,
20381,2016-09-28,Poland: State-owned printing works sues Axel Springer for investigative report,"28 September 2016 – The state-owned Polish Security Printing Works (PWPW), which prints currency and government documents, is suing publisher Ringier Axel Springer Polska and its weekly Newsweek, for reputational damage, the company CEO announced in a press conference on 03 October, the left-liberal daily newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza reported.
PWPW is demanding 1 million PN (€ 233,000) in compensation.
PWPW is accusing Newsweek of running a denigration campaign against the company, as the weekly had been reporting on staff dismissals and other changes at the company after Piotr Woyciechowski, who is allegedly close to the defence minister Antoni Macierewicz, was named CEO in January 2016.
In the charges submitted to the Warsaw Distrct Court, PWPW is also demanding an apology to be printed on Newsweek’s print and online version, as well as on the website of another Springer publication, the most widely read daily Fakt.
At the press conference, Woyciechowski announced that he also submitted a private defamation case against Newsweek on 29 September for an article the weekly had published in July.
PWPW allegedly investigated its employees with regards to illicit sharing of information with unauthorised third parties, which the district court of the central-eastern city of Radom is looking into.
UPDATE:26 January 2017 - PWPW-CEO Woyciechowski withdrew defamation suit against Newsweek Polska journalist Krzymowski, the weekly Newsweek reported.
After the Newsweek report, PWPW publicly stated that the company would uphold the charges on PWPW reputational protection, the weekly WPROST reported.",52.229676,21.012229,"Civil lawsuits,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Corporation/Company,Legal Aid,EU member states","- [http://wyborcza.pl/1,75398,20785162,zarzad-pwpw-zada-miliona-zlotych-od-newsweeka-to-tlumienie.html](http://wyborcza.pl/1,75398,20785162,zarzad-pwpw-zada-miliona-zlotych-od-newsweeka-to-tlumienie.html)
- [http://www.newsweek.pl/polska/wielki-strach-w-fabryce-dokumentow-co-sie-dzieje-w-pwpw-,artykuly,398047,1.html](http://www.newsweek.pl/polska/wielki-strach-w-fabryce-dokumentow-co-sie-dzieje-w-pwpw-,artykuly,398047,1.html)
- [http://www.tvp.info/27185775/milion-zlotych-zadoscuczynienia-pwpw-pozywa-wydawce-newsweeka](http://www.tvp.info/27185775/milion-zlotych-zadoscuczynienia-pwpw-pozywa-wydawce-newsweeka)
- [http://biznes.onet.pl/wiadomosci/media/pwpw-idzie-na-wojne-sadowa-z-newsweek-polska-i-jego-informatorami/1n2q3b](http://biznes.onet.pl/wiadomosci/media/pwpw-idzie-na-wojne-sadowa-z-newsweek-polska-i-jego-informatorami/1n2q3b)
- [http://www.newsweek.pl/polska/polityka/szef-pwpw-wycofal-oskarzenia-przeciw-michalowi-krzymowskiemu-z-newsweeka,artykuly,404184,1.html](http://www.newsweek.pl/polska/polityka/szef-pwpw-wycofal-oskarzenia-przeciw-michalowi-krzymowskiemu-z-newsweeka,artykuly,404184,1.html)
- [https://www.wprost.pl/kraj/10040422/PWPW-odpowiada-na-publikacje-Newsweeka.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wprost-kraj+(Wydarzenia+Wprost+24%3A+Kraj)](https://www.wprost.pl/kraj/10040422/PWPW-odpowiada-na-publikacje-Newsweeka.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wprost-kraj+(Wydarzenia+Wprost+24%3A+Kraj))
",,
20451,2016-09-30,Spain: Prisa sues El Confidencial for 8.2 million euros for Panama Papers story,"30 September, 2016 - President of Prisa Group Juan Luis Cebrián, publisher of national newspapers El PaÃs and sports daily AS, is suing online newspaper El Confidencial which reported on his alleged links to the Panama Papers, director of El Confidencial Nacho Cardero told Mapping Media Freedom.
On 30 September Cardero received a written claim in which Prisa demanded 8.2 million euros in court. The claim had been sealed on 20 September by solicitors.
On 26 April Prisa issued a statement on its website stating that its president had taken legal action against the media outlet for “clear defamatory intent†by linking Cebrián to the Panama Papers “in which he absolutely does not appearâ€.
In March El Confidiencial revealed that Cebrián had a 2% share in oil company Star Petroleum which kept money in an offshore account.
El Confidencial participated in the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists which revealed documents of Panama-based office Mossack Fonseca.
El Confidencial director Cardero said Cebrián is using his position in Prisa Group for his own purpose, preventing media freedom and defending his personal wealth, while trying to destroy smaller online competitor El Confidencial.
In May Mapping Media Freedom approached Cebrián for comment but received no response.",40.42044,-3.70348,"Civil lawsuits,Another media,Editor,Male,Legal Aid,Solidarity,EU member states",- [http://www.elconfidencial.com/comunicacion/2016-10-12/prisa-demanda-el-confidencial-competencia-desleal-papeles-panama_1273872/](http://www.elconfidencial.com/comunicacion/2016-10-12/prisa-demanda-el-confidencial-competencia-desleal-papeles-panama_1273,,
20414,2016-10-06,Italy: Brother of interior minister warns broadcaster to not air documentary,"6 October, 2016 - Alessandro Alfano, brother of Interior Minister Angelino Alfano, warned three journalist and producers to not broadcast the investigation conducted by journalist Giorgio Mottola, about Alfano's success within public company Poste Italiane, Ossigeno reported.
Alfano directed his request to the director of RAI 3, Daria Bignardi, the presenter and author of the investigative TV show, Milena Gabanelli, and the executive producer of the broadcast, Paola Bisogni.
Alfano announced on 6 October that he would resort to legal actions if the programme was aired.
The report still was aired as planed on 17 October 2016.
------------------------
Italia: Fratello ministro Alfano diffida messa in onda di un servizio
6 ottobre, 2016 - Alessandro Alfano, fratello del ministro dell’Interno Angelino, ha diffidato il direttore di Rai 3, Daria Bignardi, la conduttrice e autrice del programma Report, Milena Gabanelli, e il produttore esecutivo della trasmissione, Paola Bisogni, dal mandare in onda un’inchiesta, condotta dal giornalista Giorgio Mottola, sulla sua scalata professionale nell’azienda Poste Italiane, riporta Ossigeno.
Nonostante Alfano avesse annunciato di adire le legali qualora il servizio fosse andato in onda, Report ha trasmesso l’inchiesta di Mottola il 17 ottobre 2016.",38.11569,13.36127,"Intimidation,Known private individual(s),Journalist,Male,Legal Aid,EU member states",- [http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2016/11/report-brother-of-minister-alfano-sends-warning-on-broadcasting-of-a-documentary-74426/](http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2016/11/report-brother-of-minister-alfano-sends-warning-on-broadcasting-of-a-documentary-74,,
20442,2016-10-13,Albania: Mayor accused of censoring TV report,"13 October, 2016 - Albania journalists protested over the alleged censorship of an investigative documentary, blaming the mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj as culprit, Balkan insight reported.
The producer of an investigative TV show claims it was pulled on Sunday because it probed the Mayor of Tirana’s links to a controversial recycling plant, although the TV station denies the show's content was the issue.
After broadcasting only three episodes, the investigative TV show Publicus aired on Vision Plus TV station was scrapped on Sunday, sparking accusations of political censorship, BIRN reported.
The show was abruptly canceled on Sunday, just as it was due to broadcast an investigation into Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj and the municipality’s ties to a recycling plant in the city’s Sharra landfill, where a 17-year-old worker died in early August.
The controversy involves a private company named 3 R that was allowed in secret agreement with the Municipality to recycle waste from the town landfill under murky circumstances. The CEO of the company Edurim Teqja is currently on the run from police who is investigating the accidental death of the 17 year old Ardit Gjoklaj, who was allegedly an undocumented worker working during the night shift.
The opposition Democratic Party claimed the TV show was silenced on the direct orders of Mayor Veliaj.
The administrator of Vizion Plus TV, Genc Dulaku station told BIRN that the show has not been censored but that the staff producing it were late in editing it.
However, the staff decided to publish the documentary on YouTube late on Tuesday. The documentary showed that the Municipality Mayor Erion Veliaj has signed a contract that was kept secret from the public with two private companies without public procurement procedures.
Veliaj denied allegations that he has intervened to block the transmission of the show on Vision Plus. ""I challenge any journalist to prove it"", he said, according to the media.
However, the producer of the show, Artan Rama, told BIRN that after researching the programme on the landfill, and after contacting the Municipality to ask questions about the issue, the administrator of the TV station summoned him and told him to explain the content of the episode.
“On Sunday, we were notified that the show wasn't going to air, with no explanation given,†Rama said.
Rama is the second journalist in Albania to have lost work after investigating the death of 17-year-old Arditt Gjoklaj – a worker at a controversial recycling plant promoted by Mayor Veliaj.
In August, after trying to air a report on the topic, the editor-in-chief of A1 News TV, Alida Tota, was also dismissed. Tota blamed her sacking on pressure from the Mayor of Tirana on the owners of the TV station.",41.32755,19.8187,"Loss of employment,Article/Work didn't appear at all,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Broadcaster,Not Applicable,Solidarity,Candidate countries","- [http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/albania-s-capital-mayor-accused-of-censoring-tv-show-10-10-2016](http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/albania-s-capital-mayor-accused-of-censoring-tv-show-10-10-2016)
- [http://www.reporter.al/publikohet-ne-yo",,
20454,2016-10-17,Hungary: Investigation against journalist who reported on State purchase of bank,"17 October, 2016 – A criminal investigation was started against Gergely Brückner, an investigative journalist working for news website Figyelő, following articles published in January 2015 about the acquisition of MKB Bank by the Hungarian State, index.hu reported.
On 17 October, the journalist was summoned by the police, who asked him who the source for his articles was. The Hungarian National Bank had filed a complaint against him for breaching trade secrets.
At the time the articles were published, none of the involved parties had asked for a correction.",47.49791,19.04024,"Interrogation,Criminal charges,Violation of anonymity,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Male,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states",- [http://index.hu/gazdasag/2016/10/27/mkb_mnb_per_bruckner_figyelo_feljelentes_eladas_szijj_laszlo_uzleti_titok_sajtoszabadsag/](http://index.hu/gazdasag/2016/10/27/mkb_mnb_per_bruckner_figyelo_feljelentes_eladas_szijj_laszlo_uzleti_titok_sajtoszabadsag/,,
20462,2016-10-19,Hungary: 444.hu journalists banned from Parliament,"19 October, 2016 – 444.hu news website announced that the accreditation of its journalists has been suspended.
The reason behind the decision is a video made by two of its journalists, Bence Gáspár Tamás and Gergely Plankó, where they ask MP-s of the governing parties about a scandal Antal Rogán, the Minister of the Prime Minister's Cabinet Office was recently involved in. He took a luxury helicopter ride to a wedding on the day of the refugee quota referendum, and then he tried to deny everything.
According to the press officer of the Parliament, the two journalists on 10 October 2016 broke the rules of press coverage when they tried to obstruct the entrance of state secretary János Halász into a corridor. They also filmed in an area that is forbidden for the press. The house speaker decided to suspend the accreditation of all journalists working for 444.hu because they constantly break the rules concerning press coverage, the letter said.
The journalists admitted they entered for few meters into an area that is forbidden to the press. They also added that János Halász is the spokesperson of the Fidesz fraction, his job is to inform the public, and this is why they tried to get his reaction before he entered into an area where the journalists are forbidden to follow him.",47.497912,19.040235,"Blocked access,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Political party,Journalist,Cameraperson,Editor,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states,Commercial interference","- [http://444.hu/2016/10/19/az-egesz-444-et-kitiltottak-a-parlamentbol](http://444.hu/2016/10/19/az-egesz-444-et-kitiltottak-a-parlamentbol)
- [https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjN9MySlenPAhXLNj4KHf1RDhQQFgggMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Findex.hu%2Fbelfold%2F2016%2F10%2F10%2Fkitiltottak_a_444.hu_ujsagiroit_a_parlam](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjN9MySlenPAhXLNj4KHf1RDhQQFgggMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Findex.hu%2Fbelfold%2F2016%2F10%2F10%2Fkitiltottak_a_444.hu_ujsagiroit_a_parlam)
",,
20478,2016-10-24,Sweden: Journalist receives a hand written death threat,"24 October, 2016 - Lasse Arnell, a Swedish journalist and sports reporter at Nya Wermlands Tidningen, received a hand written death threat after criticising the doping scandals among Norwegian skiers, expressen.se reported.
“It was a handwritten letter sent to our office and appointed to Arnell, and it stated that ‘if you ever come to Norway, you will be a head shorter’”, the NWT's chief editor Staffan Anderson said to Expressen.
Anderson said he has a policy to notify the police all the threats that his employees receive.
“We are not particularly afraid, but a hand written death threat should be taken seriously”, Anderson said to Aftonbladet.
The letter has been report to the police.",59.402181,13.599389,"Intimidation,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Male,Physical protection,Informational resources,EU member states","- [http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/vintersport/skidor/article23781857.ab](http://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/vintersport/skidor/article23781857.ab)
- [http://www.expressen.se/sport/langdskidor/anrell-dodshotad-efter-sin-kronika-om-norge/](http://www.expressen.se/sport/langdskidor/anrell-dodshotad-efter-sin-kronika-om-norge/)
",,
20510,2016-11-02,Serbia: Journalists for investigative portal claim they are being surveilled,"2 November, 2016 - Journalists for the Center for Investigative Reporting in Serbia (CINS) claim they have been followed and photographed by unknown individuals over the past week, the journalist association NUNS reported.
Four CINS reporters have noticed they were photographed around the entrance of their office. They also found they were followed around the streets of Belgrade and inside cafes. They reported that pictures were taken of them with mobile phones.
“We don’t know who is behind thisâ€, said CINS editor-in-chief Dino Jahic. “We are working on dozens of investigations all the time, and each of them could trigger somebody’s anger.â€
The case was reported to the Ministry of Interior and the public prosecutor’s office in Belgrade, CINS reported on their website. “We consider this an attempt to intimidate usâ€, the portal added.
CINS is known for its investigative publications about corruption and organised crime.",44.78657,20.44892,"Intimidation,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Female,Male,Legal Aid,Informational resources,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,Candidate countries","- [http://nuns.rs/info/news/29348/cins-nase-novinarke-neko-prati-i-fotografise.html](http://nuns.rs/info/news/29348/cins-nase-novinarke-neko-prati-i-fotografise.html)
- [https://www.cins.rs/srpski/news/article/zastrasivanje-novinarki-cins-a](https://www.c",,
20533,2016-11-14,Romania: Journalist reports she was asked to delete video footage containing discussion with politician,"14 November, 2016 - Ştefania Matache, a journalist working for investigative website Casa Jurnalistului, reported that she was asked to delete a video showing a discussion between Leon Dănăilă, a candidate of the National Liberal Party (PNL) and Angelin Ioan, a campaign advisor for the same party.
Matache was working on a report about Leon Dănăilă, a neurosurgeon and a PNL candidate at this year's parliamentary elections. On 13 November, she filmed the doctor in the operating room, then a day later Dănăilă attended a meeting at PNL's headquarters, where the journalist followed him.
There, Dănăilă started speaking with campaign advisor Angelin Ioan about issues in campaign communication, seemingly without paying attention to the journalist.
“The camera was very visible, yet they did not ask for the conversation to remain off the recordâ€, Matache told Mapping Media Freedom.
After a while, Ioan turned to the journalist, and asked her to send him the edited material before publication, because he wanted to decide what should be published.
“The discussion was partly privateâ€, the campaign advisor said, according to a voice recording published on the Facebook page of Casa Jurnalistului.
Matache refused to comply with the request. Then the advisor threatened her with a lawsuit, and asked her to delete the footage. The president of the Bucuresti branch of the PNL, Cristian BuÅŸoi also appeared, asking her the same thing, refusing to answer when Matache asked why they wanted her to delete the footage.",44.42677,26.10254,"Intimidation,Political party,Journalist,Cameraperson,Female,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states",- [https://www.facebook.com/casa.jurnalistului/videos/1283790568358936](https://www.facebook.com/casa.jurnalistului/videos/1283790568358936),,
20560,2016-11-21,Italy: Two journalists fined on libel charges after story on alleged corruption,"21 November, 2016 - The Fourth Criminal Chamber of the Court of Milan charged Il Sole 24 Ore newspaper journalist Marco Ludovico and editor-in-chief Roberto Napoletano for libel, Ossigeno reported.
Ludovico received a €600 fine and Editor Napoletano received a €400 fine.
The case was brought by the former deputy commander of the State Police Nicola Izzo following articles written by Ludovico in 2012 alleging Izzo had been involved in a corruption scheme at the Interior Ministry.
-------------------------------
Italia: Condannati due giornalisti del Sole 24 Ore per il caso del Corvo del Viminale
21 novembre, 2016 - La IV sezione penale del tribunale di Milano ha condannato per diffamazione a mezzo stampa a 600 euro di multa il giornalista del Sole 24 Ore, Marco Ludovico, e a 400 euro il direttore Roberto Napoletano, lo riporta Ossigeno.
La causa era stata intentata dall’ex vicecapo della Polizia di Stato Nicola Izzo per gli articoli scritti da Ludovico nel 2012 sulla vicenda del “corvo del Viminale” e l’esposto anonimo con il quale si accusava Izzo di episodi di malaffare collegati all’acquisto di materiale tecnologico per il ministero.",45.465422,9.185924,"Civil lawsuits,Court/Judicial,Journalist,Male,Legal Aid,EU member states","- [http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2016/12/the-crow-of-the-viminale-two-journalists-of-the-sole-24-ore-sentenced-75368/](http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2016/12/the-crow-of-the-viminale-two-journalists-of-the-sole-24-ore-sentenced-75368/)
- [http://it.blastingnews.com/cronaca/2016/10/il-sole24ore-a-processo-per-diffamazione-a-mezzo-stampa-pm-chiede-condanna-001165545.html](http://it.blastingnews.com/cronaca/2016/10/il-sole24ore-a-processo-per-diffamazione-a-mezzo-stampa-pm-chiede-condanna-001165545.html)
- [http://www.varesepress.info/2016/11/diffamazione-al-prefetto-izzo/](http://www.varesepress.info/2016/11/diffamazione-al-prefetto-izzo/)
",,
20609,2016-12-02,Spain: Judge prohibits publishing of all content related to Football Leaks,"2 December, 2016 - Spanish judge Arturo Zamarriego prohibited the publishing of all content related to Football Leaks to 12 European media outlets which were publishing confidential information about clubs and football players, the daily newspaper El Mundo reported.
El Mundo is one of the 12 media outlets which created a joint investigative consortium to publish secret information about football players, coaches, clubs, contracts and tax evasion material provided and distributed by website Football Leaks.
Zamarriego ruled to prohibit the publication after legal firm Senn Ferrero in Madrid claimed that its emails and confidential correspondence were hacked and stolen by Football Leaks.
Senn Ferrero works with Portuguese football management agency Gestifute which represents players who reportedly didn't pay taxes in Spain where they play and live.
Football Leaks revealed existing tax authority investigations over various players including Real Madrid top star Cristiano Ronaldo who reportedly opened secret banking accounts in the British Virgin Islands to avoid paying tax in Spain.
The Federation of Press Associations in Spain condemned the verdict and El Mundo kept publishing material regardless of the ruling.",40.4265,-3.69346,"Legal measure,Court/Judicial,Journalist,Female,Male,Legal Aid,EU member states,Article/Work was heavily cut omitting important information","- [http://www.elmundo.es/deportes/football-leaks/2016/12/05/5845c434468aeb060c8b4608.html](http://www.elmundo.es/deportes/football-leaks/2016/12/05/5845c434468aeb060c8b4608.html)
- [http://fape.es/la-fape-califica-de-ataque-a-la-libertad-de-prensa-la-proh",,
20651,2016-12-13,Croatia: Broadcaster assaulted in the centre of Zagreb,"13 December, 2016 – Domagoj Margetic, an investigative journalist and editor of the show “No censorship†aired on TV Mreza, has been attacked, first verbally and then physically, in a broad daylight in the centre of the capital Zagreb, the Croatia Journalists’ Association (HND) reported.
According to the testimony given by phone to HND, Margetic said he was approached by a man. He thought he wanted to ask him something, but the man shouted he would “silence†him, adding “You will never write againâ€. He went on with threats and began punching him. The attacker then fled the scene.
“I don’t think it was professionally done… but an ‘atmosphere of hate’ is being created in society where all of us who criticise some processes or incidents are marked out as ‘enemies of Croatia’ or as enemies of the so-called national interest,†Margetic told BIRN.
Margetic noted that on Monday, 12 December, a right-wing news portal had published a hostile story about him, due to his testimony before the Serbian War Crimes Prosecution Office in 2010 about war crimes committed by the Croatian army against Serbs in Croatian town of Sisak in 1991 and 1992, BIRN reported.
HND condemned the incident emphasizing that this attack is just one in the chain of attacks against journalists partly due to increasing intolerance in Croatian society and lack of adequate reaction of relevant institutions.
Four days after the incident police arrested a suspect, but no further details regarding the motive nor identity of the suspect have been revealed, HND said.
The Association said that Margetic received at least 4 serious threats in the last three years. In summer 2014 he was beaten in front of the building he lives by two individuals. Neither of perpetrators was found, HND informed.",45.81502,15.99748,"Physical assaults,Injury,Intimidation,Known private individual(s),Broadcaster,Male,Solidarity,EU member states","- [http://www.hnd.hr/eng/journalist-domagoj-margetic-beaten-again-in-the-center-of-zagreb](http://www.hnd.hr/eng/journalist-domagoj-margetic-beaten-again-in-the-center-of-zagreb)
- [http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/croatian-journalist-accuses-atmos",,
20653,2016-12-14,Finland: Two TV journalists resign saying they were prevented from doing their job,"14 December, 2016 – Jussi Eronen, a senior current affairs reporter at Yle resigned from his position, stating that his superiors at Yle had pressured him to act in contradiction with his journalistic ideals. The same day another Yle journalist, Salla Vuorikoski, announced her resignation, explaining that Yle has restricted her from doing investigative journalism, Finnish channel MTV reported.
Vuorikoski played a central role in the recent press freedom scandal at Yle, where she had been advised to discontinue her research on Prime Minister Juha Sipilä’s conflict of interest in a government investment. According to Vuorikoski, Sipilä tried to stop her from doing her work, and she was left without support from her employer who seemed to be taking the side of powerful elite politicians instead, Vuorikoski told Iltalehti newspaper.
On a Facebook post Eronen wrote his role as a journalist is to seek out the truth and not to protect politicians against negative publicity - which is what he feels Yle is doing.
However Vuorikoski and Eronen both said no one had put pressure on them to resign.",60.16986,24.93838,"Intimidation,Article/Work didn't appear at all,Employer/Publisher/Colleague(s),Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Broadcaster,Female,Male,EU member states,Article/Work was heavily cut omitting important information",- [http://www.mtv.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/artikkeli/ylen-esimies-jussi-eronen-irtisanoutui-tiimiani-on-pyydetty-vahentamaan-paljastusjournalismin-tekemista/6211708](http://www.mtv.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/artikkeli/ylen-esimies-jussi-eronen-irtisanoutui-tiimiani-on-,,
20680,2016-12-23,Bulgaria: Reporter repeatedly threatened over high-level corruption report,"23 December, 2016 – Dimitar Stoyanov, a journalist for Sofia-based news website Bivol.bg, has reported to receive threats in the run up and after publishing several major investigative reports in recent months about alleged embezzlement of public funds with links between Bulgarian government officials and criminal groups, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) wrote in a statement issued on 23 December 2016.
The officials and oligarchs mentioned in the report have allegedly subjected Stovanov, along with other Bivol journalists, to various kinds of harassment and intimidation with the aim of dissuading them from continuing their work, RSF wrote.
A police investigation was opened into the grave threats Stoyanov has been receiving for more than a year, but he has not been told anything about the investigation’s findings. The threats have meanwhile grown steadily in intensity.
On 13 December, Stoyanov received a summons to report to the police in Troyan (120 km east of Sofia) to be questioned in connection with his story about the unexplained wealth acquired by Momchil Mondeshki, a lawyer allegedly linked to high-level politicians and judges in the so-called “Yanevagate†case of influence trafficking.
RSF called on the Bulgarian authorities to protect Stoyanov and provide a progress report on their investigation.",42.69771,23.32187,"Intimidation,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Criminal organisation,Journalist,Male,Physical protection,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states",- [https://rsf.org/en/news/bulgarian-reporter-threatened-over-high-level-corruption-coverage](https://rsf.org/en/news/bulgarian-reporter-threatened-over-high-level-corruption-coverage),,
20702,2017-01-04,Romania: Former editor accuses publisher of censorship,"4 January, 2017 – A former editor of the op-ed column on news website maszol.ro, Hugó Ãgoston, accused the publisher of the website, Progress Foundation Of Censorship, investigative website Ãtlátszó Erdély revealed.
“Progress Foundation asked the editor-in-chief to send me every 'suspicious' piece†Ãgoston said, in an interview with Ãtlátszó Erdély after he was dismissed from his role.
On 19 December 2016, Hugó Ãgoston was told by the publisher that his contract with maszol.ro would not be renewed.
He added that this was a common practice for some time at maszol.ro, and that in some cases, these articles were not published.
Ãtlátszó Erdély reported that in December 2016 a piece written by foreign policy expert and long-time collaborator of maszol.ro, Mária Gál was censored where she criticised Hungarian foreign minister Péter SzÃjjártó for having forbidden Hungarian diplomat to celebrate Romanian national day.
The article was later published on Facebook by the author.
Along with the editor, a number of regular contributors to the op-ed section were also told by beginning on 1 January 2017, that their work was no longer needed.",46.77121,23.62364,"Loss of employment,Article/Work didn't appear at all,Employer/Publisher/Colleague(s),Journalist,Other,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- [https://erdely.atlatszo.hu/2017/01/04/fenyegetes-az-amikor-az-ember-fel-a-kollegai-felnek-igy-cenzuraz-a-progress/](https://erdely.atlatszo.hu/2017/01/04/fenyegetes-az-amikor-az-ember-fel-a-kollegai-felnek-igy-cenzuraz-a-progress/)
- [http://kettosmerc",,
20707,2017-01-06,Romania: Reporter assaulted and threatened by local councillor,"6 January, 2017 – Zoltán Egyed Ufó, a reporter working for local news website Udvarhelyi Híradó, was threatened by a group of people in Szentegyháza, the journalist reported for the website.
The men were presumably involved in a timber theft scandal the reporter was working on, he wrote.
When the reporter started to ask questions, they first threatened him by saying “We will kick your head off”. Then one of them grabbed his camera and damaged it, a video on YouTube shows.
Finally the reporter was pushed away by a local councilor who screamed, “Get lost!”
The journalist filmed the entire incident. He published the video alongside his article.",46.326699,25.514807,"Physical assaults,Intimidation,Attack to property,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Known private individual(s),Photographer,Male,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- [http://uh.ro/itthon/tarsadalom/27067-szentegyhazi-famaffia-a-plebanost-is-megfenyegettek](http://uh.ro/itthon/tarsadalom/27067-szentegyhazi-famaffia-a-plebanost-is-megfenyegettek)
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dciGM2kxVws](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dciGM2kxVws)
",,
20716,2017-01-10,Sweden: Public broadcaster sent suspicious powder with threatening messages,"10 January, 2017 - The Gothenburg offices of Swedish public service TV and radio, SVT, were evacuated on Tuesday 10 January after a suspicious package containing white powder and written threats was sent to one employee, the broadcaster reported.
The package was sent to Janne Josefsson, a staff member working on the investigative TV show, Uppdrag Granskning, produced by public service broadcaster SVT.
SVT reported that ""the letter was opened and the contents spread on a coffee machine and stairs"".
SVT Chief Executive Hannah Stjärne commented on the incident: ""This threat has disabled a socially important journalistic operation for several hours and is a blow to the open society which we must protect.""
Police have begun an investigation into the source of the threat. The powder was later found to be harmless.",57.70887,11.97456,"Intimidation,Other/Unknown,Broadcaster,Male,Not Applicable,Solidarity,EU member states","- [http://www.aftonbladet.se/senastenytt/ttnyheter/inrikes/article24226157.ab](http://www.aftonbladet.se/senastenytt/ttnyheter/inrikes/article24226157.ab)
- [http://www.expressen.se/gt/svt-utrymdes-efter-larm-om-vitt-pulver/](http://www.expressen.se/gt/sv",,
20764,2017-01-20,Romania: Family of investigative journalist intimidated,"20 January, 2017 – Slanderous messages were written on utility poles and bench in Slanic Moldova, the home town of investigative journalist Daniel Befu. The journalist is no longer based there but his elderly parents are.
The journalist wrote a post on Facebook about the graffiti and shared two photos showing utility poles with “Befu†and “faeces†written in red not far from his parents' home.
Befu is an uncommon family name in Romania and Slanic Moldova is a small town with a population of around 4,000.
“I always tried to protect my pensioner parents, so I never told them when I was about to publish investigative pieces about Slanic Moldova... Now someone has taken revenge on my mother and my father for my articles, who have nothing to do with all this.""
Befu recently published a series of investigations about the businesses of the former mayor of Slanic Moldova, Andrei Serban, and his brother-in-law, Viorel Hrebenciuc, a powerful politician of the Social Democrat Party.
Two Romanian NGOs advocating for press freedom, Active Watch and the Center for Independent Journalism asked the Interior Ministry and the General Police Inspectorate to start an investigation into the threats.",46.21146,26.44095,"Intimidation,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Male,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states,Other (Please indicate in report text)",- [http://epochtimes-romania.com/news/familia-jurnalistului-de-investigatie-daniel-befu-sub-teroare-ziaristul-cere-ajutor---256510](http://epochtimes-romania.com/news/familia-jurnalistului-de-investigatie-daniel-befu-sub-teroare-ziaristul-cere-ajutor---25,,
20775,2017-01-24,Italy: Company cancels adverts after paper publishes piece on bribes,"24 January, 2017 - The energy company Eni cancelled an advertising campaign worth €20,000 with the newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano, after the paper published a story on the alleged corruption within the company, Ossigeno reported.
A few days before, on 15 January, the newspaper published an investigation written by journalists Carlo Tecce and Stefano Feltri, entitled: Eni Nigeria Tangents - Jet, Cadillac And Cash: Here's Who Took One Billion. The piece reports on alleged bribes paid in Nigeria.
------------------------------------------
Italia: Eni cancella campagna pubblicitaria su giornale dopo notizia sgradita
24 gennaio, 2017 - L’azienda energetica Eni ha cancellato una campagna – già pianificata – che prevedeva inserzioni pubblicitarie del valore di circa ventimila euro sulle pagine del Fatto Quotidiano. Nei giorni precedenti, il 15 gennaio 2017, il giornale aveva pubblicato un’inchiesta di Carlo Tecce e Stefano Feltri, intitolata: “Tangenti Eni Nigeria – Jet, Cadillac e contanti: ecco chi ha preso il miliardo”, sul presunto pagamento di tangenti in Nigeria.
Il ritiro dell’investimento pubblicitario è stato riferito dallo stesso quotidiano.",45.465422,9.185924,"Corporation/Company,Journalist,Publicity,EU member states,Commercial interference","- [http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2017/01/eni-e-alitalia-boicottano-giornali-con-notizie-sgradite-76864/](http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2017/01/eni-e-alitalia-boicottano-giornali-con-notizie-sgradite-76864/)
- [http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2017/01/27/inchiesta-eni-nigeria-liberi-di-criticare-anche-gli-inserzionisti/3341982/](http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2017/01/27/inchiesta-eni-nigeria-liberi-di-criticare-anche-gli-inserzionisti/3341982/)
",,
20781,2017-01-26,Italy: Juventus football club threatens to sue journalists,"26 January, 2017 - Juventus football club threatened to sue newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano, after they wrote about a disciplinary investigation into alleged links between the leaders of the club and criminals linked to hooligan groups, newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport reported.
In the investigation they published in Il Fatto Quotidiano, reporters Carlo Tecce and Andrea Gianbartolomei wrote of a “presumed agreement between Juventus and the groups to ensure peace in the stadium†and reported excerpts of the investigative documents drawn up by the investigators.
On 18 March Juventus president Andrea Agnelli, was referred to the sports justice for alleged contact between the club and criminal elements alleged to have infiltrated the Juventus fan base.
------------------------------------
Italia: Juventus minacciò di querelare giornalisti
26 gennaio, 2017 - Il club aveva minacciato querela al Fatto che aveva parlato dell’inchiesta disciplinare su presunti rapporti fra i vertici e ambienti malavitosi negli ultrà , come aveva riportato la Gazzetta dello Sport.
Dell’inchiesta avevano scritto il 26 gennaio 2017 sul Fatto Quotidiano i giornalisti Carlo Tecce e Andrea Gianbartolomei, minacciati di querela dalla società bianconera all’indomani della pubblicazione dell’articolo. Nel testo pubblicato dal Fatto Quotidiano, i due giornalisti scrivevano di un “presunto accordo tra la Juventus e i gruppi ultras per assicurare la quiete allo stadio†e riportavano stralci degli atti di indagine redatti dagli inquirenti.
Il presidente della Juventus Andrea Agnelli ha annunciato poi, il 18 marzo 2017, in una conferenza stampa, di essere stato deferito alla giustizia sportiva nel procedimento sui presunti rapporti tra esponenti vicini della malavita organizzata e alcuni manager della società .",45.07031,7.686856,"Intimidation,Corporation/Company,Journalist,Male,Solidarity,Other (Please indicate in report text)",- [http://www.corrieredellosport.it/news/calcio/serie-a/juve/2017/01/26-20591522/juve_indagine_figc_sui_biglietti_il_club_minaccia_querele/?cookieAccept&cookieAccept](http://www.corrieredellosport.it/news/calcio/serie-a/juve/2017/01/26-20591522/juve_i,,
20819,2017-02-06,France: Presidential candidate Fillon smears media outlets who covered alleged corruption case,"6 February, 2017 - During a press conference, conservative presidential candidate François Fillon, attempted to smear media outlets who had been covering an alleged corruption case involving his wife, website Arrêt sur images reported.
Fillon accused investigative programme France 2 TV channel Envoyé Spécial of distorting quotes when reporting on the allegation that his wife had held a fictive job as his Parliamentary assistant.
When Mediapart journalist Ellen Salvi asked Fillon whether he had lied on live TV on the allegation that his wife had held a fictive job, the candidate replied, saying: ""You're from Mediapart, aren't you? Well, let me tell you I have never had a tax reassessment"".
This attempted smear was a reference to the reassessment the online outlet had to go through. They had payed a different VAT rate to protest the fact online publications have to pay more VAT than print publications.
Fillon and his team have repeatedly claimed he has been lynched by the media.
The French union of journalists wrote in a statement: ""Over the last days, François Fillon and his main campaign managers have repeatedly blamed the press, holding them into account, after revelations were published by Canard Enchaîné newspaper and France 2 TV channel.""
The union asked the candidate to stop blaming and targeting journalists ""before a serious incident, of which he would bear the entire responsibility, happens"".",48.85661,2.352222,"Defamation/Discredit,Psychological abuse,Political party,Publicity,EU member states","- [http://www.arretsurimages.net/breves/2017-02-14/Fillon-rengaine-contre-le-lynchage-mediatique-id20447](http://www.arretsurimages.net/breves/2017-02-14/Fillon-rengaine-contre-le-lynchage-mediatique-id20447)
- [http://www.snj.fr/article/halte-au-feu-mons",,
20822,2017-02-08,Bosnia and Herzegovina: News website suffers DDOS attack after corruption story,"8 February, 2017 – News website Prve Novine reported that it suffered a DDOS attack, making it inaccessible for 48 hours, news website Dnevno.ba reported.
The DDOS attack started on Wednesday 8 February 2017 around noon and lasted for two days.
In a written statement published on their website, Prve Novine underlined that the attacks started soon after they published an article on an alleged corruption case involving the Public Enterprise Electric Utility of Bosnia and Herzegovina).",43.915886,17.679076,"DDoS/Hacking,Other/Unknown,Other,Not Applicable,Union intervention,Potential candidates","- [http://www.prvenovine.com/u-fokusu/1186/napad-na-slobodu-medija-u-bih/](http://www.prvenovine.com/u-fokusu/1186/napad-na-slobodu-medija-u-bih/)
- [http://www.dnevno.ba/vijesti/novi-napad-na-slobodu-medija-u-bih-74733/](http://www.dnevno.ba/vijesti/novi-napad-na-slobodu-medija-u-bih-74733/)
",,
20912,2017-03-08,Albania: Investigative journalist severely assaulted in Tirana,"8 March, 2017 - Elvi Fundo, news editor for the online publication Citynews.al, was assaulted on his way to the office in Tirana city centre on 8 March, the publication reported.
He is currently receiving medical treatment in Tirana military hospital. Police said they have opened an investigation, working to identify the assailants and motive.
He told Balkan Insight, “Two individuals attacked me near my office, causing injuries (…) I don’t believe it’s a political attack but the work of criminals financed by corrupt media clans tied to drug-trafficking.â€
Political leaders and journalists condemned the attack and called for investigation and punishment of the attackers.
Fundo had published several investigations about corruption and conflict of interests in his online publication.",41.32755,19.8187,"Physical assaults,Injury,Other/Unknown,Editor,Male,Physical protection,Candidate countries","- [https://www.reporter.al/dhuna-ndaj-gazetarit-elvi-fundo-denohet-ndersa-policia-kerkon-pergjegjesit/](https://www.reporter.al/dhuna-ndaj-gazetarit-elvi-fundo-denohet-ndersa-policia-kerkon-pergjegjesit/)
- [http://www.citynews.al/2017/03/u-sulmua-nga-dy-",,
20930,2017-03-13,"Bulgaria: Book accuses journalists of being ""foreign mercenariesâ€","13 March, 2017 – A book distributed free of charge entitled, Robbers Of Democracy, accused journalists and civil society of being “foreign mercenariesâ€, news website Balkan Insight reported.
The 240-page book was distributed for free with the Telegraph daily newspaper, which is part of the Balkan Media Company linked to controversial media mogul Delyan Peevski.
An entire chapter of the book is dedicated to accusations against Bivol.bg, an investigative journalism outlet, which is a member of the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project.
“This is a terrible, disgusting campaign, which I cannot even call journalism,†Asen Yordanov, a journalist from the investigative website Bivol, told BIRN, adding that he is planning to take Telegraph to court for defamation.
Speaking to MMF, Atanas Tchobanov of Bivol.bg said: ""The part referring to Bivol is basically a compilation of smears the Peevski media published last 3 years. They accuse Bivol’s owners Assen Yordanov and Alberta Alkalay of racketeering businesspeople and politicians with investigations, and that Atanas Tchobanov, who lives in Paris, is cheating on French welfare, and is being investigated by French prosecutors.""
Other chapters cover the main figures from the mass anti-government protests on Bulgaria’s streets in 2013 as well ass NGOs and media outlets funded by Soros’s Open Society Foundation and America for Bulgaria - the main donors to Bulgarian civil society groups.
A prominent Bulgarian analyst, who is also a columnist for the New York Times, Ivan Krastev, is criticised for his family ties with members of the former communist elite and accused of participating in Soros’s “political engineering†at the international level.",42.69771,23.32187,"Defamation/Discredit,Political party,Corporation/Company,Other,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- [http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/free-book-accuses-civil-society-of-robbing-bulgaria-s-democracy-03-14-2017](http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/free-book-accuses-civil-society-of-robbing-bulgaria-s-democracy-03-14-2017)
- [https://twitter.c",,
20935,2017-03-14,Serbia: Journalist sentenced to 27 months in prison for defaming party officials,"14 March, 2017 - Local journalist from the eastern town of Bela Crkva, Stefan Cvetkovic, was sentenced to two years and three months in prison for defaming ruling party officials and the unauthorised publication of documents, news portal N1 reported.
The freelance journalist had reported critically about ruling party officials in his municipality, specifically, on their abuse of public funds and involvement in criminal activities.
Officials from the ruling party Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) filed a complaint against Cvetkovic, claiming that he defamed them along with published recordings and photos that discredited them.
The court in the city of Vrsac found Cvetkovic guilty of defamation and sentenced him to 27 months in prison and a fine of 2,15 million Serbian Dinars (aprox €17,000). He is appealing the verdict.
The Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia (NUNS) and the Independent Journalists Association on Vojvodina (NDNV) have condemned the verdict and said in a joint statement that it’s “a scandalous prosecution”.
“This judgement is an example of a deep lack of understanding of the principles of freedom of expression and freedom of the media,” the journalist associations stated. “It causes serious doubts about the independence of the courts in Serbia.”",45.118193,21.294488,"Arrest/Detention,Legal measure,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Political party,Journalist,Male,Legal Aid,Informational resources,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,Candidate countries","- [http://rs.n1info.com/a234757/Vesti/Vesti/Zatvorska-i-novcana-kazna-novinaru-po-prijavama-clanova-SNS.html](http://rs.n1info.com/a234757/Vesti/Vesti/Zatvorska-i-novcana-kazna-novinaru-po-prijavama-clanova-SNS.html)
- [http://www.nuns.rs/info/news/30374/novinar-iz-bele-crkve-prvostepeno-osudjen-na-dve-godine-i-tri-meseca-zatvora.html](http://www.nuns.rs/info/news/30374/novinar-iz-bele-crkve-prvostepeno-osudjen-na-dve-godine-i-tri-meseca-zatvora.html)
- [http://www.b92.net/eng/news/crimes.php?yyyy=2017&mm=03&dd=14&nav_id=100767](http://www.b92.net/eng/news/crimes.php?yyyy=2017&mm=03&dd=14&nav_id=100767)
",,
20934,2017-03-14,Spain: President of regional parliament bars reporters from session,"14 March, 2017 - President of Balearic Islands regional parliament, Baltasar Picornell, barred reporters who were covering a parliamentary session, ABC.es reported.
Picornell, a member of left-wing party Podemos, ordered journalists to leave the room while his party was calling for the dismissal of centre-right Partido Popular member, Álvaro Gijón, due to accusations of corruption.
Picornell decided to apply article 68.1 of the parliament statute which stipulates that sessions can be closed to public when there are issues linked to the possible suspension of a parliament member are set to be discussed, daily newspaper AB reported.
Signals for TV were switched off.
Picornell made a decision which was unprecedented in the Balearic Islands parliament. It was criticised by his own party and other two parties which are also part of the regional government - center left PSOE and green party MES. The opposition formed by Partido Popular, local party Proposal for Balearic Islands and centrist party Citizens were also against his decision.
Partido Popular eventually went back on the decision, which enabled journalists to come back to cover the session.
Picornell, who became the Parliament president on 14 February, apologised on Twitter. ""I would like to apologise to everyone, especially members of the media, who were disturbed by my decision to apply the rule"", he wrote.",39.569046,2.648091,"Blocked access,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Broadcaster,Photographer,Cameraperson,Legal Aid,Publicity,EU member states","- [http://www.abc.es/espana/abci-presidente-parlamento-balear-ordena-periodistas-abandonar-pleno-durante-debate-201703141420_noticia.html](http://www.abc.es/espana/abci-presidente-parlamento-balear-ordena-periodistas-abandonar-pleno-durante-debate-201703141420_noticia.html)
- [https://comunicacio21.cat/noticies-comunicacio21/121047-el-president-del-parlament-balear-fa-fora-els-mitjans-en-aplicacio-estricta-del-reglament](https://comunicacio21.cat/noticies-comunicacio21/121047-el-president-del-parlament-balear-fa-fora-els-mitjans-en-aplicacio-estricta-del-reglament)
",,
20975,2017-03-23,Italy: Freelance journalist assaulted after publishing corruption video,"23 March, 2017 - Freelance journalist Stefano Andreone was beaten by three men in a bar in Cardito, in the province of Naples.
The Italian press federation (FNSI) links the violence to a website he created and manages, in which an article and a video related to alleged cases of corruption on exhumations in the local cemetery were published.
Andreone had to receive emergency care in the hospital of Frattamaggiore.
The journalist reported the incident to the police in Crispano the following day.
----------------------------
Italia: giornalista freelance picchiato in un bar
23 marzo, 2017 - Il giornalista freelance Stefano Andreone, è stato picchiato in un bar di Cardito (Napoli) da tre persone per aver pubblicato sul sito MetNews, da lui curato e gestito, un articolo e un video relativo a presunte mazzette sulle esumazioni del locale cimitero, lo riporta la Fnsi. Andreone è stato costretto a ricorrere alle cure dei sanitari del Pronto Soccorso di Frattamaggiore.
Il giornalista ha denunciato l’episodio ai Carabinieri di Crispano (Na) il 24 marzo.",40.946398,14.299421,"Physical assaults,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Male,Physical protection,Union intervention,Solidarity,EU member states","- [http://www.fnsi.it/napoli-giornalista-aggredito-dopo-uninchiesta-la-solidarieta-di-fnsi-e-sugc-al-collega-stefano-andreone](http://www.fnsi.it/napoli-giornalista-aggredito-dopo-uninchiesta-la-solidarieta-di-fnsi-e-sugc-al-collega-stefano-andreone)
- [http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2017/04/cardito-naples-freelance-journalist-beaten-in-a-bar-80014/](http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2017/04/cardito-naples-freelance-journalist-beaten-in-a-bar-80014/)
- [http://sindacatogiornalisti.it/giornalisti-minacciati-in-campania-il-caso-allantimafia/](http://sindacatogiornalisti.it/giornalisti-minacciati-in-campania-il-caso-allantimafia/)
",,
21020,2017-04-06,France: Mediapart and Le Canard enchaîné receive death threats,"6 April, 2017 - A letter containing death threats and a bullet was sent to the office Investigative website Mediapart, news website 20 Minutes reported.
The letter read: ""Vigilance and protection don't last Ad Vitam. On that day we will be there for you or one of your close ones.""
20 Minutes reported the letter had been signed by a collective called Collectif d’Epuration 2J, which has a coffin marked with the letters EP (the initials of journalist Edwy Plenel).This was accompanied by the slogan: ""Judges and journalists in the same bag.""
According to Mediapart, the letter was also sent to four magistrates.
An investigation has been opened for death threats.
Le Canard enchaîné told Mediapart they had received a similar letter, where the coffin had been replaced by a duck. They said they did not plan to file a complaint.
During the last months, Mediapart and Le Canard enchaîné have regularly come under fire for having published revelations on alleged corruption cases involving conservative presidential candidate François Fillon.",48.85661,2.352222,"Intimidation,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Photographer,Editor,Not Applicable,Publicity,EU member states",- [http://m.20minutes.fr/societe/2045411-20170406-mediapart-canard-enchaine-quatre-magistrats-vises-menaces-mort?ref=http%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com](http://m.20minutes.fr/societe/2045411-20170406-mediapart-canard-enchaine-quatre-magistrats-vises-menaces-mort,,
21026,2017-04-07,"Spain: Politician announces potential suit against journalists to ""protect his honour""","7 April, 2017 - Politician for centre-right party Partido Popular, José Blas Fernández, said that he is ready to sue various journalists and media for offending his honour by linking him to a corruption scandal during a press conference in southern city of Cádiz, Radio Cádiz reported.
""In the state of justice, persons who are vilified have a right to protect their honour, and I am going to protect my honour"", said Fernández adding that he has ""a huge file of press cuts"" which produced pain and harm.
He has been linked to the Alumbrado case, a reportedly fraudulent tender linked to maintaining city lights.",36.527061,-6.288596,"Limitation to Media Freedom,Intimidation,Source of the Threat/Violation/Abuse,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Type of Journalist,Journalist,Broadcaster,Blogger/Citizen journalist,Support Needed,Legal Aid,EU membership,EU member states","- [http://cadenaser.com/emisora/2017/04/07/radio_cadiz/1491568794_882217.html](http://cadenaser.com/emisora/2017/04/07/radio_cadiz/1491568794_882217.html)
- [http://fape.es/denuncian-las-amenazas-de-un-concejal-gaditano-hacia-los-periodistas/](http://fape.es/denuncian-las-amenazas-de-un-concejal-gaditano-hacia-los-periodistas/)
",,
21065,2017-04-19,"Poland: President of GdaÅ„sk calls investigator reporter a ""liar"", comparing him to Goebbels","19 April, 2017 - PaweÅ‚ Abramowicz, President of GdaÅ„sk, called TVP reporter RadosÅ‚aw Jankiewicz an ""instigator"", a ""liar"" and addressed him as ""Mr. Goebbelsâ€, on the show Magazyn Å›ledczy Doroty Gargas, wirtualnemedia.pl.
Jankiewicz, reporter for investigative news Magazyn śledczy Doroty Gargas on TVP 1, attended a Civic Club of Sopot meeting with the President of Gdańsk where he asked about his financial interests and about concealing a huge amount of taxable funds.
The President of GdaÅ„sk refused to answer the questions and replied by saying ""this is an example of manipulation in Goebbels styleâ€. Later the president addressed the reporter as ""Mr. Goebbels"".
The conversation was broadcast 19 April on the programme Magazyn śledczy Doroty Gargas.
Telewizja Polska (TVP) sent Paweł Abramowicz a letter demanding an apology for infringing on a reporter's personal rights.
National broadcaster TVP has demanded an apology from Adamowicz and is considering legal action.
Paweł Adamowicz has been serving a fifth term as president of Gdańsk and is supported by Civil Platform party (Platforma Obywatelska).
TVP is under control of the ruling Law and Justice party (PiS).",52.22968,21.01223,"Defamation/Discredit,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Political party,Broadcaster,Male,Publicity,EU member states",- [http://www.wirtualnemedia.pl/artykul/telewizja-polska-pozwie-prezydenta-gdanska-za-nazwanie-dziennikarza-goebbelsem-klamca-i-prowokatorem](http://www.wirtualnemedia.pl/artykul/telewizja-polska-pozwie-prezydenta-gdanska-za-nazwanie-dziennikarza-goebbels,,
20985,2017-04-26,Spain: El Mundo accused of publishing confidential information,"26 April, 2017 - Three journalists and two executives of daily newspaper El Mundo have been accused of publishing confidential information about football players of FC Real Madrid allegedly obtained in an illegal way, El Mundo reported.
Following a decision from Judge Arturo Zamarriego their hearing is to take place on 18 May in Madrid.
Director of El Mundo Pedro GarcÃa Cuartango, sports journalist Javier Sánchez, data journalist Paula Guisado, investigative journalist Quico Alsedo and director of publishing house Unidad Editorial, Antonio Fernández Galiano, are accused of publishing secret information provided by platform Football Leaks.
In December, El Mundo, one of twelve European newspapers united in an investigative consortium, claimed that some Spanish football players had evaded taxes.
Madrid based legal firm Senn Ferrero, whose clients were some of mentioned players, claimed its emails were hacked. Judge Zamarriego has prohibited further publication of allegedly stolen data by Football Leaks.
The Spanish branch of Reporters Without Borders and the Madrid Press Association (APS) condemned the legal proceeding against El Mundo calling the work of the newspaper ""professional"" and ""made in the public interest"".",40.42592,-3.69301,"Criminal charges,Court/Judicial,Journalist,Other,Legal Aid,EU member states","- [http://www.elmundo.es/deportes/football-leaks/2017/04/26/58ffd7f6e5fdea05048b4575.html](http://www.elmundo.es/deportes/football-leaks/2017/04/26/58ffd7f6e5fdea05048b4575.html)
- [http://www.apmadrid.es/comunicado/la-apm-insta-al-juez-zamarriego-a-que-r",,
21086,2017-04-28,Netherlands: Investigative journalist barred access to press conference with party president,"28 April, 2017 - Eric Smith, a journalist for the investigative journalism network Follow the Money, was denied access to a press conference organised by the president of the VVD party, public broadcaster NOS reported.
Smith was one of many journalists that showed up for the press conference in which VVD President Henry Keizer would clarify criticism of his company's finances. Keizer had been accused of selling his company below the estimated value. Follow the Money had revealed an investigation into the case.
The press conference was public, but Smith, as well as a crew for the broadcaster PowNed, were denied entry into the building. They were stopped at the fence along the entrance and told they were not welcome.",52.37022,4.895168,"Blocked access,Political party,Known private individual(s),Journalist,Broadcaster,Male,Informational resources,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,EU member states","- [http://nos.nl/artikel/2170510-keizer-ik-wil-vvd-voorzitter-blijven.html](http://nos.nl/artikel/2170510-keizer-ik-wil-vvd-voorzitter-blijven.html)
- [https://www.villamedia.nl/artikel/ftm-en-powned-geweerd-bij-uitelg-keizer](https://www.villamedia.nl/ar",,
21099,2017-05-03,Germany: Six journalists forced to testify following leak,"3 May, 2017- Six journalists were summoned to testify by authorities following their investigations into police errors in the state of Niedersachsen, Osnabrücker Zeitung newspaper reported.
Confidential information from inside an investigative committee on law enforcement errors during terror investigations was leaked to the press.
Subsequently, the public prosecutor for the city of Hanover filed a charge for ""disclosure of official secrets"" against unknown persons.
According to Osnabrücker Zeitung, six journalists from Neue Presse, Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung, Hildesheimer Allgemeine, Rundblick and Nordwestzeitung were summoned to be witnesses and told they would face high fines if they refused to speak.
Thomas Klinge, a spokesperson for prosecutor’s office, called this action “a normal administrative process.†Every journalist would have the right to refuse to give evidence if they submitted a written form, Klinge told the newspaper Hamburger Abendblatt.
The German Journalist Association (DJV) called the procedure “intimidation†and “a risk for source protection.†The opposition parties in the state parliament of Niedersachsen demanded an explanation.",52.37589,9.73201,"Intimidation,Legal measure,Court/Judicial,Journalist,Editor,Female,Male,Legal Aid,EU member states","- [http://www.haz.de/Nachrichten/Politik/Niedersachsen/Staatsanwalt-will-Redakteure-vorladen](http://www.haz.de/Nachrichten/Politik/Niedersachsen/Staatsanwalt-will-Redakteure-vorladen)
- [https://www.noz.de/deutschland-welt/niedersachsen/artikel/889662/ju",,
21136,2017-05-13,Kosovo: Former journalist hospitalised after assault,"13 May, 2017- Prominent journalist Arbana Xharra has been assaulted by unknown individuals in a parking lot close to her apartment in the capital Pristina, daily Gazeta Expres reported.
Xharra was beaten severely and brought to the hospital where she’s in stable condition, according to the police.
A few days before the attack Xharra had announced that she was leaving journalism and joining the largest political party in the country, the PDK. She was the editor-in-chief of Zeri, the biggest newspaper in Kosovo.
Xharra has been threatened before. A few weeks earlier she reported that someone had painted a red cross on the wall next to her front door. It was meant to look like it was painted in blood.
Xharra is a well-known journalist, praised and hated for her investigative reporting on corruption and religious extremism.
Kosovo’s president and the prime minister have condemned the attack, and asked for a thorough investigation to find the individuals responsible.",42.66291,21.1655,"Physical assaults,Injury,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Female,Physical protection,Informational resources,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,Potential candidates","- [http://www.gazetaexpress.com/en/news/journalist-turned-politician-arbana-xharra-brutally-beaten-up-172557/](http://www.gazetaexpress.com/en/news/journalist-turned-politician-arbana-xharra-brutally-beaten-up-172557/)
- [http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/a",,
21140,2017-05-15,Sweden: Crime reporter assaulted in own home,"15 May, 2017 - Investigative crime reporter HÃ¥kan Slagbrand was assaulted in his home by an unknown man early in the morning, local paper Eskilstuna-kuriren reported.
Slagbrand was assaulted by a man in overalls claiming to be a painter, who spoke to him in English, according to an interview the journalist gave to the newspaper.
""I think this could be connected to some of my work from a while back on financial crime,"" Slagbrand said.
He sustained injuries to his face during the assault. By the time police arrived, the assailant had vanished.
The assault was also reported by the newspapers Expressen and Aftonbladet.
Slagbrand had previously had a firebomb thrown at his car.",59.6099,16.54481,"Physical assaults,Intimidation,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Male,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- [http://www.ekuriren.se/inrikes/vlt-journalist-misshandlad-i-sitt-hem/](http://www.ekuriren.se/inrikes/vlt-journalist-misshandlad-i-sitt-hem/)
- [http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/97VqM/journalist-misshandlad--andra-attacken-pa-en-manad](http://www.af",,
21144,2017-05-16,Malta: Facebook censors posts on corruption by Pulitzer prize-winning journalist,"16 May, 2017 - Facebook deleted four posts by journalist Matthew Caruana Galizia which contained allegations of wrongdoing by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and his associates, the Guardian reported.
Galizia was temporarily locked out of his Facebook account over these posts, on the basis that they violated the social network’s community standards.
Each post included images of documents from the Panama Papers leak. Galizia is a member of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists’ award-winning Panama Papers team.
Gallizia’s reporting on offshore companies and Maltese political figures was uploaded on his Facebook page on 7 May using the hashtags #FattiKorrotti and #CorruptionFacts.
The posts include scans of documents from the Panama Papers, including passports, bank statements, and letters, as well as Caruana Galizia’s explanation of their meaning.
Few days later the prime minister announced that he would sue Caruana Galizia for libel over the allegations in one of the posts. The European Federation of Journalists called on Muscat to reconsider his legal action, highlighting the “chilling effect†of such action on media freedom.
According to the Guardian, Facebook is investigating the circumstances of the deletions and declined to comment. The site’s community standards bar the publication of “the personal information of others without their consentâ€, though it is unclear whether this is the standard Facebook deemed Caruana Galizia to have violated.",35.9375,14.37542,"Blocked access,Another media,Journalist,Male,Informational resources,Publicity,EU member states",- [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/19/facebook-blocks-malta-journalist-joseph-muscat-panama-papers?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/19/facebook-blocks-malta-journalist-joseph-muscat-panama-pa,,
22290,2017-05-17,"Sweden: Public radio journalist ""attacked"" by senior doctor","17 May, 2017 - Swedish public radio reporter Emelie Rosen was physically assaulted by the medical director of a hospital in Stockholm, during an interview, Sveriges Radio reported.
According to reports in the newspaper Aftonbladet and Sveriges Radio, the incident occurred during an interview about the quality of care in the public healthcare system. The interviwew, a physician, who is also the hospital's medical director, appeared to become annoyed by her questions and grabbed her microphone, pushing it in her face.
""What we have is a case of unacceptable behaviour where an interviewee has attacked one of our investigative reporters in a way I simply cannot tolerate"" commented Cilla Benkö, director of Sveriges Radio.
The station has filed a police complaint about the assault.",59.19892,17.6329,"Physical assaults,Intimidation,Known private individual(s),Female,EU member states","https://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=83&artikel=6957787
https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/0E7r1A/sr-polisanmaler-cheflakare-efter-angrepp-pa-reporter",,
21160,2017-05-20,Italy: TV crew pushed whilst reporting on corruption in beauty pageant,"20 May, 2017 - A TV crew for Canale 5 TV was pushed and threatened while reporting on Paolo Ciucci, the organiser of the Miss Mondo Toscana, who the reporters said promised the competitors a win in return for sexual favors.
Ciucci told Chiara Squaglia, a reporter for the show Striscia la Notizia, and her camera operator “You’re not getting out alive”.
------------------------
Italia: Aggredita troupe di Striscia la Notizia per servizio su Miss Mondo Toscana
20 maggio, 2017 - “Non ci uscite voi vivi da qui”: queste le parole rivolte all’inviata di Striscia La Notizia Chiara Squaglia e al suo operatore da tre uomini dell’entourage dell’organizzatore del concorso Miss Mondo Toscana.
La troupe di Strisci è stata aggredita e scacciata in maniera brusca per aver svelato – con l’aiuto di una finta concorrente – che l’organizzatore dell’evento, Paolo Ciucci, gestirebbe in maniera poco leale il concorso, promettendo alle ragazze la vittoria in cambio di favori sessuali.",43.722839,10.401689,"Physical assaults,Intimidation,Blocked access,Known private individual(s),Journalist,Cameraperson,Female,Solidarity","- [http://www.striscialanotizia.mediaset.it/video/selezioni-bollenti-a-miss-mondo-toscana_28771.shtml](http://www.striscialanotizia.mediaset.it/video/selezioni-bollenti-a-miss-mondo-toscana_28771.shtml)
- [http://www.striscialanotizia.mediaset.it/video/selezioni-bollenti-a-miss-mondo-toscana-seconda-parte_28785.shtml](http://www.striscialanotizia.mediaset.it/video/selezioni-bollenti-a-miss-mondo-toscana-seconda-parte_28785.shtml)
- [http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2017/06/pisa-striscia-crew-attacked-for-report-on-miss-world-tuscany-83272/](http://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2017/06/pisa-striscia-crew-attacked-for-report-on-miss-world-tuscany-83272/)
",,
21164,2017-05-22,Hungary: Management of financial weekly attempts to hack staff email accounts,"22 May, 2017 – The management of the Figyelő financial weekly tried to hack the email accounts of several of its employees, investigative news outlet Atlatszo.hu reported.
The Hungarian investigative news outlet obtained leaked screenshots of an email correspondence where a mid-level manager discusses the details of the planned hack with two IT contractors.
From the screenshots, it is unclear how widespread the monitoring of the employee email accounts is at Figyelő. The emails mention the name of three people, working in the administration and distribution departments, whose accounts were set to be accessed. From the screenshots, it is not obvious whether they were hacked or not.
Atlatszo.hu reported that the monitoring attempt was most likely related to a Figyelő stasff member leaking readership numbers.
Based on this leaked data, Atlatszo.hu wrote that the financial weekly lost a considerable number of its readers since it was purchased by Mária Schmidt, a historian and government commissioner, on 5 December 2016.",47.49791,19.04024,"DDoS/Hacking,Employer/Publisher/Colleague(s),Corporation/Company,Other,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- [https://blog.atlatszo.hu/2017/05/lehallgattak-a-munkavallalok-elektronikus-levelezeset-schmidt-maria-figyelojenel/](https://blog.atlatszo.hu/2017/05/lehallgattak-a-munkavallalok-elektronikus-levelezeset-schmidt-maria-figyelojenel/)
- [http://hvg.hu/itt",,
21179,2017-05-25,Albania: TV journalist physically assaulted by policeman,"25 May, 2017 - A state policeman physically assaulted and verbally harassed a TV Klan journalist in Albania, while she was trying to get an interview with the director of Albanian Institute of Nuclear Physics, the channel reported.
Rudina Muca, a journalist working for the investigative television programme Stop, entered the courtyard of the Institute of Nuclear Physics but the policeman, there for the institution's security, pushed her and grabbed very strongly her arms, while forcibly accompanying her out of the area.
The policeman also told her: ""I'm going to cut both of your hands"".
TV Klan reported that Muca sustained bruises as a result.
After the footage was shown on the TV program, police took responsibility for the case, and the policeman - known publicly only with the initials P.N. - was suspended.
Media associations like Union of Albanian Journalists and Association of Professional Journalists of Albania condemned the incident.",41.32755,19.8187,"Physical assaults,Injury,Intimidation,Police/State security,Journalist,Broadcaster,Female,Solidarity,Candidate countries","- [http://tvklan.al/skandal-ti-kepus-te-dy-duart-polici-dhunon-fizikisht-gazetaren-e-stop/](http://tvklan.al/skandal-ti-kepus-te-dy-duart-polici-dhunon-fizikisht-gazetaren-e-stop/)
- [http://tvklan.al/ushtroi-dhune-ndaj-gazetares-se-stop-pezullohet-polici",,
21177,2017-05-25,Belgium: NGO president asks staff to investigate journalists' private life after corruption coverage,"25 May, 2017 - President of the NGO Samusocial, Michel Degueldre, wrote an email to the communications and operational managers of the organisation, asking them to investigate a journalist from Le Vif weekly magazine and a journalist from RTBF broadcaster who reported on a financial scandal at Samusocial, RTBF reported.
The incident was reported publicly on 12 July.
Degueldre told the managers to ""lead an in-depth investigation into the life, studies, habits, beliefs, friends and family of the two journalist stars of Vif and RTBF.” The director added that ""the time for being nice is over.""
The Belgian association of professional journalists denounced Degueldre’s methods, and underlined his evident intention of hurting and targeting journalists.
RTBF also expressed ""outrage at such conduct that infringes on the private life of its collaborators and their family and friends.""",50.850346,4.351721,"Intimidation,Corporation/Company,Journalist,Broadcaster,Publicity,EU member states","- [https://www.rtbf.be/info/regions/detail_samusocial-quand-le-president-du-ca-voulait-enqueter-sur-les-journalistes-et-un-depute?id=9658094](https://www.rtbf.be/info/regions/detail_samusocial-quand-le-president-du-ca-voulait-enqueter-sur-les-journalistes-et-un-depute?id=9658094)
- [http://www.lesoir.be/104420/article/2017-07-13/commission-samusocial-le-responsable-communication-charge-denqueter-sur-des](http://www.lesoir.be/104420/article/2017-07-13/commission-samusocial-le-responsable-communication-charge-denqueter-sur-des)
- [https://www.rtbf.be/auvio/detail_samusocial-tentative-de-pression-sur-les-journalistes?id=2234242](https://www.rtbf.be/auvio/detail_samusocial-tentative-de-pression-sur-les-journalistes?id=2234242)
",,
21226,2017-06-09,Albania: Two media outlets and four journalists sued by judge,"9 June, 2017 - Gjin Gjoni, a judge for a court of appeals in Tirana, filed a lawsuit against four journalists and two media outlets for their reports over his criminal investigations and his family's declared assets, reporter.al reported.
They have filed charges against Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) along with their journalist Besar Likmeta and Aleksandra Bogdani and Shqiptarja newspaper, along with their journalists Adriatic Doci and Elton Qyno.
The judge reported that their media coverage has caused reputational damage and pain.
Gjoni and his wife are asking for 7 million Lek (54, 000 EUR) in compensation from Balkan Investigation Reporting Network, BIRN in Tirana and two of their journalists; They are asking for 4 million Lek (30,000 EUR) from Shqiptarja newspaper and two from their journalists.
BIRN Albania declared that they ""stand by the article and are ready to face all the claims in the court.""
On 12 June, journalist Adriatik Doci wrote on Facebook that ""the lawsuit was an honour for him.""
The Union of Albanian Journalists also condemned the lawsuit:
“The Union of Albania Journalists has been informed judicial assault launched by the member of the High Council of Justice, Gjin Gjoni, against several journalists and respective media, with the legal pretense that his image has been tainted,†the Union said in a statement.",41.32755,19.8187,"Civil lawsuits,Court/Judicial,Journalist,Female,Male,Legal Aid,Solidarity,Candidate countries","- [https://www.reporter.al/gjin-gjoni-padi-11-milione-leke-kunder-medias-me-shkaktoi-vuajtje-shpirterore/](https://www.reporter.al/gjin-gjoni-padi-11-milione-leke-kunder-medias-me-shkaktoi-vuajtje-shpirterore/)
- [https://www.facebook.com/adriatik.doci.9/",,
22192,2017-06-17,Germany: Evidence of police surveillance of journalists reporting on police corruption,"17 June, 2017 – Radio waves at a frequency that police sources say is used for location tracking devices were detected emitting from the front left wheel arch of the vehicle of the editor-in-chief of regional daily newspaper Kieler Nachrichten (KN), reported the KN and the Süddeutsche Zeitung, among others.
In May 2017 KN began its award-winning reporting into the so-called “Rocker Affair”, in which police suppressed exculpatory evidence in a 2010 stabbing incident to protect a long-term informant within a criminal gang, causing another suspect to spend two months in custody.
Following initial publication, further officers came forward and substantiated claims of bullying, intimidation of officers who failed to co-operate, and also of surveillance, to find out who was talking to the press.
Sources whom KN say had proven themselves to be reliable warned reporters they should assume they were under surveillance also. KN then engaged a specialist firm to conduct bug sweeps on their premises. During such a sweep, on Saturday 17 June 2017, radio waves were detected emitting from the front left wheel arch of the car of the editor-in-chief, Christian Longardt.
The following Monday, 19 June, a further test was taken and no radio waves were detected, and a thorough search of the vehicle found no device. Police sources told KN that the front wheel arch would be the preferred location for a tracking device; that the frequency was within the range they would use for tracking devices; and that such a device, which is no larger than a finger nail, can be discretely affixed and removed again in no more than three or four minutes by experienced hands.
The matter was referred to the public prosecutor in Lübeck (as the office of the public prosecutor in Kiel was implicated in the “Rocker Affair”) by the Ministry of Justice for Schleswig-Holstein by the then outgoing Minister of the Interior for Schleswig-Holstein, Stefan Studt. On 3 April 2018 the prosecutor closed the case and announced no charges would be filed, doubting the credibility of the experts and their methodology.
KN said to online media outlet Meedia that the authorities never intended to conduct a serious investigation and the rejection of their evidence does not surprise them; further that the referral to the public prosecutor to consider the matter “for all possibly conceivable criminal acts” was a veiled threat to pursue criminal charges against KN for handling leaked information. Frank Überall, President of the Federation of German Journalists, described this as creating “the impression that the editorial team of the KN should be intimidated for their critical reporting on the police”.
KN sees a concerted effort by the state security apparatus to discredit its award-winning reporting which led to an overhaul of police leadership and a parliamentary inquiry. KN journalists “are massively defamed at service leader assemblies and attacked in open letters” and their reports were “dismissed as baseless before parliamentary committees… and also at the state press conference” said KN chair, Bodo Stade.",54.341816,10.144404,"Intimidation,Defamation/Discredit,Targeting whistleblowers,Police/State security,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Court/Judicial,Editor,Male,Union intervention,EU member states,Other (Please indicate in report text)","http://meedia.de/2018/04/03/ermittlungen-eingestellt-staatsanwaltschaft-sieht-keine-beweise-fuer-journalisten-ueberwachung-in-kieler-rocker-affaere/
http://www.kn-online.de/Nachrichten/Schleswig-Holstein/Rocker-Affaere-Ein-Funksignal-wirft-viele-Fragen-auf
http://www.kn-online.de/Nachrichten/Schleswig-Holstein/Rocker-Affaere-KN-Journalisten-abgehoert-und-ueberwacht
https://www.djv.de/startseite/service/news-kalender/detail/aktuelles/article/beaf61a87601c6717b1da13b3af6bfe9-26.html
https://www.abendblatt.de/region/article211290299/Bespitzelungsvorwuerfe-Staatsanwaltschaft-ermittelt.html
http://www.sueddeutsche.de/medien/rocker-affaere-missstaende-zudecken-1.3594348
http://www.bikersnews.de/motorrad/szene/polizei+unter+verdacht+die+rocker-affaere+von+kiel_17912.html",,
21263,2017-06-26,Italy: Poster depicting investigative journalist in a grave printed in Casarano,"26 June, 2017 - A poster picturing the cartoon-like figure of Marilù Mastrogiovanni, editor-in-chief of local magazine Il Tacco d’Italia, in a grave appeared in the town of Casarano, Southern Italy, La Republicca Bari reported.
Unidentified individuals hung the poster up the day after the local council’s election. It depicts the spoof images of a series of local politicians, in addition to Mastrogiovanni’s, whose head seems to be sticking out of a grave.
Denouncing the incident, local journalists’ associations added that in previous months Mastrogiovanni had repeatedly been the object of “severe intimidation†by criminal groups, forcing him to live under police protection.
Mastrogiovanni has been reporting on the mafia presence in the town of Casarano.",40.01136,18.16143,"Intimidation,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Editor,Female,Physical protection,Solidarity,EU member states","- [http://bari.repubblica.it/cronaca/2017/06/27/news/vignetta_con_cronista_minacciata_nella_fossa_-169262335/](http://bari.repubblica.it/cronaca/2017/06/27/news/vignetta_con_cronista_minacciata_nella_fossa_-169262335/)
- [http://casarano.lecceprima.it/man",,
21266,2017-06-27,Poland: Minister of defence files criminal complaint against investigative journalist,"27 June, 2017 - An investigative reporter for the independent left-leaning newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza, Tomasz PiÄ…tek, is facing a two to three-year prison sentence which will be heard by a military court, the outlet he works for reported.
Minister of Defence Antoni Macierewicz is accusing Piątek of “using force or threats against a public official†and “public insults or humiliation of a constitutional body†in connection with his new book‚ Macierewicz And His Secrets.
The book outlines the minister’s network of collaborators, including alleged contacts with Russian individuals close to the Kremlin, Russian military intelligence agency and the Solntsevskaya Bratva - international criminal organisation, the biggest and most powerful organisation within Russian mafia.
In a Gazeta Wyborcza article published on 11 July, PiÄ…tek has rejected all of the charges, indicating that the minister has not accused him of defamation and has not denied any of the book's claims.
The Deputy Defence Minister Michał Dworczyk said at the press conference that the book was ""composed of lies and lies alone"".
The ministry cited three Criminal Code provisions. In article 244, use of violence or an illegal threat to coerce a public official to undertake or abstain from legal official activity is punishable by up to three years in prison. Art. 226, imposes a fine of deprivation of liberty for up to 2 years for ""publicly insulting or humiliating a constitutional authority of the Republic of Poland"". Art. 231a, extends the legal protection to public officials also if an unlawful attack on this person is carried because of his or her profession or position.",52.22968,21.01223,"Criminal charges,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Male,Legal Aid,Publicity,EU member states","- [http://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,22082032,mon-macierewicza-zarzuca-piatkowi-stosowanie-przemocy-lub-grozby.html](http://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,22082032,mon-macierewicza-zarzuca-piatkowi-stosowanie-przemocy-lub-grozby.html)
- [http://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,22086954",,
21279,2017-06-30,France: France 2 dismisses Envoyé spécial editor-in-chief,"30 June, 2017 - Jean-Pierre Canet, editor-in-chief of Envoyé spécial investigative programme, which is broadcast on France 2 channel, learnt that his contract was not renewed, Télérama website reported.
This happened after three journalists who were sent to Iraq to film a programme about the conquest of Mosul were killed by a mine.
The directors of France 2 blamed Canet for not informing them of the journalists' trip, a task which is usually performed by journalist and presenter Elise Lucet, who was on sick leave.
Journalists who work for Envoyé Spécial have underlined that security protocol was followed, and that the death of the journalists, which was caused by a mine, was not caused by a mistake of the editorial team in Paris.
In a joint statement, Envoyé Spécial journalist said Canet was an excellent editor who they trusted.
Canet is well-known for pushing for the investigation about the Bygmalion case, which surrounded funding of Nicolas Sarkozy's campaign.",48.85661,2.351499,"Loss of employment,Employer/Publisher/Colleague(s),Journalist,Male,Publicity,EU member states","- [http://www.telerama.fr/medias/remous-a-envoye-special-apres-la-tragedie-de-mossoul,160319.php](http://www.telerama.fr/medias/remous-a-envoye-special-apres-la-tragedie-de-mossoul,160319.php)
- [https://informernestpasundelit.org/2017/07/tribune/](https:",,
21305,2017-07-06,Romania: Investigative journalism outlet raided by tax inspectors,"6 July, 2017 – The offices of Rise Project, a Romanian investigative outlet, were raided by tax inspectors, just before they published an important investigation alleging Liviu Dragnea, the president of the governing Social Democratic Party had exerted control over Romanian secret services, Republica.ro reported.
The information was published by Rise Project on their Facebook page. Many believe the timing of the raid was chosen to intimidate the outlet, as Rise Project had previously announced that they would publish an important story on 6 July. The investigative outlet published a number of articles dealing with the business connections of Liviu Dragnea in Brazil and Romania.
Contacted on WhatsApp by journalists from Rise Project, Liviu Dragnea said he was unaware of the raid. The president of the tax authority, Bogdan Stan, said this had been a routine inspection, which followed a denouncement of Rise Project.",44.42677,26.10254,"Intimidation,Attack to property,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Other,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states",- [http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-21860030-presedintele-anaf-despre-controlul-rise-project-inspectia-avut-loc-urma-unei-analize-risc-dupa-depunerea-unei-sesizari-directia-antifrauda.htm](http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-21860030-presedintele-ana,,
21288,2017-07-03,"France: Macron calls for stop of ""never-ending search for scandal""","3 July, 2017 - During a speech to congress, French president Emmanuel Macron called on journalists to show restraint when it comes to allegations of corruption involving members of his government, Le Lab reported.
In his speech, Macron was discussing the law of moralisation of politics that is set to be passed soon.
""Once this law is passed I call for restraint. I call for stopping with this never-ending search for scandal, with the constant violation of the presumption of innocence, with manhunts (...). This frenzy, which has affected all political sides for years, is unworthy of us and of the principles of the Republic.""
If Macron didn't explicitly mention journalists it was clear that he was talking about the media, in a language that was reminiscent of accusations formulated by conservative candidate Francois Fillon during the presidential campaign.
Journalists have made allegations of corruption against several ministers of Macron's government, some of whom have since resigned.",48.804865,2.120355,"Intimidation,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Publicity,EU member states","- [http://lelab.europe1.fr/affaires-macron-appelle-la-presse-a-en-finir-avec-cette-chasse-a-lhomme-apres-le-vote-de-la-loi-moralisation-3378965](http://lelab.europe1.fr/affaires-macron-appelle-la-presse-a-en-finir-avec-cette-chasse-a-lhomme-apres-le-vote-de-la-loi-moralisation-3378965)
- [http://www.lci.fr/politique/congres-de-versailles-macron-epingle-la-presse-et-appelle-a-en-finir-avec-la-recherche-incessante-du-scandale-2057443.html](http://www.lci.fr/politique/congres-de-versailles-macron-epingle-la-presse-et-appelle-a-en-finir-avec-la-recherche-incessante-du-scandale-2057443.html)
- [http://www.huffingtonpost.fr/2017/07/03/au-congres-de-versailles-macron-appelle-les-medias-a-en-finir-presomption-innocence_a_23013895/](http://www.huffingtonpost.fr/2017/07/03/au-congres-de-versailles-macron-appelle-les-medias-a-en-finir-presomption-innocence_a_23013895/)
",,
21344,2017-07-20,Slovakia: Social services conduct inspection of anti-corruption journalist's home,"20 July, 2017 - Monika Tódová, an anti-corruption journalist for Dennik N, and her husband Mirek Tóda, who writes for the newspaper’s international desk, inspected by social services concerning the correct upbringing of their two children, Omediach reported.
The Slovak Spectator newspaper quoted the post Tódová wrote on her Facebook page on 13 July:
“A social worker of the Labour, Social Affairs and Family Office just visited me at home. He was trying to contact me, as he was ordered to make a random inspection on how I care for my children.”
Further in her post Tódová refers to the social worker’s explanations, saying that the head of Labour, Social Affairs and Family Office chose her from the database, and such a random inspection is done once every six months. The social worker explained that he did not know why he was sent for this inspection, since he has rarely been sent for random checks, the journalist said.
Monika Tódová writes about the current government's scandals and has been criticized by Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák, Prime Minister Robert Fico, an alleged crony of the government Marián Kočner, who is accused of tax fraud.
According to the journalist, the inspection is probably connected with her recent reporting on abuse and malfunctions at the Čistý Deň (Clean Day) rehabilitation centre. She sees no other reason for the Social service check on her. ""I was surprised that the Social Service Director has chosen amongst women from all over Bratislava a journalist who is intensively covering the Čistý Deň scandal,"" Tódová told Omédiách.com website.
A spokesperson for the Slovak Social Service Jana Lukáčová said that the selection of target groups for in-home social inspections is up to the heads of the respective departments, so that social workers gradually visit all beneficiaries falling under their office, and these visits are done all over Slovakia.
Moreover, Social Service will check the work of the social worker who was assigned to inspect Monika Tódová, and if it is true that he made such an inspection just once in six months, then he may be fired for not fulfilling his workload.
On 20 July, the Labour Minister Ján Richter apologised to Monika Tódová, indicating a failure in communication from the social worker who visited her. The social worker did not follow the prescribed manual, which might have resulted in confusion and a misinterpretation of the entire situation, the minister said.
Opposition MPs deem the inspection of the journalist's home was deliberate and consider it bullying. As a result, they decided to convene an extraordinary session of the parliamentary committee for human rights. However, the committee lacked a quorum, as only five instead of the required minimum of seven MPs were present. The committee chair Erika Jurínová is to try to convene the session once again in September.",48.148596,17.107748,"Psychological abuse,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Publicity,EU member states,Other (Please indicate in report text)","- [http://www.omediach.com/tlac/item/11389-novinarka-todova-ostala-prekvapena-prisla-k-nej-neobvykla-kontrola-zo-socialky](http://www.omediach.com/tlac/item/11389-novinarka-todova-ostala-prekvapena-prisla-k-nej-neobvykla-kontrola-zo-socialky)
- [https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20605323/social-service-inspection-of-anti-corruption-journalist-raises-questions.html](https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20605323/social-service-inspection-of-anti-corruption-journalist-raises-questions.html)
- [https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20608342/minister-richter-apologises-to-journalist-indicating-a-failure-in-communication.html](https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20608342/minister-richter-apologises-to-journalist-indicating-a-failure-in-communication.html)
- [http://www.omediach.com/tlacove-spravy/item/11402-budu-kritickym-novinarom-a-angazovanym-obcanom-odoberat-deti?](http://www.omediach.com/tlacove-spravy/item/11402-budu-kritickym-novinarom-a-angazovanym-obcanom-odoberat-deti?)
",,
21345,2017-07-21,"Italy: Home of investigative reporter searched, equipment seized","21 July, 2017 - The house and office of a Gianluca Paolucci, a journalist for La Stampa newspaper, was raidecd by police under a court order for allegedly having violated the secret on disclosure on ongoing judicial investigations, La Stampa reported.
The order is related to Paolucci's reporting on how the Italian insurance company Unipol allegedly tried to influence the reform on car insurance policies in 2013.
Carlo Cimbri, CEO of Unipol, denounced what he considered a violation of the law, and the Public Prosecutor of Turin signed an order for the Fiscal Police (Guardia di Finanza) to break into Paolucci’s flat and La Stampa’s newsroom.
The Fiscal Police seized Paolucci’s and his partner’s phones, portable computer, two iPads (of which an old broken one), various usb sticks. At the reporter’s home, police seized private material and DVDs with backups of work from ten years ago and also searched his kids room and toys, his books and his basement and parked Vespa scooter.
Paolucci was given back his phones after a copy was made.
La Stampa issued a statement expressing concern for the security of the reporter sources saved in the phonebook, who have no relevance to the Unipol investigation.
La Stampa explained some of the wired-intercept the reporter used for his articles were available online, and he then found further material which is from three or more years ago but that “clearly still embarasses Unipol and its CEO.â€
Paolucci told Mapping Media Freedom that: “if the Public Prosecution proves to be right and proves the actual violation of the secret on disclosure, then I will simply have had exercised the right to report on three years old facts that in any civilised country would have been already under trial. If, instead, I am right, then we are facing much more serious and illegitimate circumstances.â€",45.07034,7.686864,"Attack to property,Legal measure,Violation of anonymity,Police/State security,Court/Judicial,Journalist,Male,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,EU member states",- [http://www.fnsi.it/perquisiti-casa-e-ufficio-del-giornalista-de-la-stampa-gianluca-paolucci-fnsi-modalita-preoccupanti-e-inaccettabili](http://www.fnsi.it/perquisiti-casa-e-ufficio-del-giornalista-de-la-stampa-gianluca-paolucci-fnsi-modalita-preoccupan,,
21346,2017-07-21,Italy: Reporters' phones seized and houses raided by judiciary,"21 July, 2017 - Marco Lillo, a journalist from Il Fatto Quotidiano newspaper, had his house raided and his phone, computer and USB pen seized by Italian law enforcement agency Guardia di Finanza, under an order from the Prosecutor Office of Naples, Republica.It reported.
The order is because of his book, Di Padre in Figlio, where he published documents that were covered confidentially in a judicial investigation over corruption within Consip, a joint-stock company held by the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance in order to manage public procurements in Italy.
Marco Lillo is not part of the investigation, but the Public Prosecution of Naples ordered a search of his home after the lawyers of the construction tycoon Alfredo Romeo alerted the prosecution to the fact that Lillo could have published secret documents on the Consip scandal.
The scandal involves Consip's former manager sMarco Gasparri and Alfredo Romeo. Romeo was allegedly was trying to obtain tenders in Rome with the help of corruption.
Earlier that month on 27 June, 2017 TV journalist Federica Sciarelli also had her phone seized by police due to links with the investigation. In addition she was put under investigation, along with Naples’ public prosecutor John Woodcock, for allegedly having violated the professional secrets in the Consip investigations.",41.902783,12.496366,"Legal measure,Court/Judicial,Journalist,Female,Male,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states,Other (Please indicate in report text)","- [http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2017/07/05/news/perquisizione_in_casa_di_marco_lillo-170006702/](http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2017/07/05/news/perquisizione_in_casa_di_marco_lillo-170006702/)
- [http://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/cronaca/2017/07/05/consip-perquisizione-in-casa-giornalista-marco-lillo_d7ee906d-c059-453d-b066-10562490c402.html](http://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/cronaca/2017/07/05/consip-perquisizione-in-casa-giornalista-marco-lillo_d7ee906d-c059-453d-b066-10562490c402.html)
- [http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2017/07/05/consip-marco-lillo-perquisito-per-il-contenuto-del-libro-di-padre-in-figlio/3707949/](http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2017/07/05/consip-marco-lillo-perquisito-per-il-contenuto-del-libro-di-padre-in-figlio/3707949/)
",,
18142,2017-07-21,Romania: Influential businessman files criminal complaint against journalists,"A criminal complaint has been filed against two Romanian journalists by companies linked to Sebastian Ghita, an influential businessman and member of the parliament. The two journalists – a local reporter and a reporter from the RISE investigative journalism platform – wrote articles about the trial of a former government counsellor, Marcel Pavaleanu.
According to the complaint, the journalists from RISE used ""confidential information"" obtained from the tax authority in a series of articles about dozens of companies controlled by Sebastian Ghita. Among other things, the journalists proved that there is a connection between Ghita and Pavaleanu.",44.43614,26.10274,"Criminal charges,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Corporation/Company,Journalist,EU member states",- [http://www.riseproject.ro/sebastian-ghita-incearca-sa-intimideze-rise-project/](http://www.riseproject.ro/sebastian-ghita-incearca-sa-intimideze-rise-project/),,
21368,2017-07-27,Italy: Reporter rushed to hospital following assault while reporting on mafia,"27 July, 2017 - A journalist and a camera operator were physically assaulted while covering mafia links in Vieste, a town of Gargano, North of Apulia, the union Federazione Nazionale Stampa Italiana (Fnsi) reported.
Nello Trocchia, from the tv show Nemo-Nessun Escluso on public TV channel Rai2, and his cameraperson Riccardo Cremona, were filming an investigative report in Vieste highlighting how in the Foggia province a murder has been taking place every ten days since last April, when a group of people verbally menaced them, telling them to leave.
When the reporters did not leave, one man from the group started kicking Trocchia and then banged his head against a wall. Trocchia had to be rushed to the hospital.
On his Facebook profile Nello commented: “I was just doing my job as dozens of colleagues do in territories controlled by mafias... They are trying to prevent us from reporting, assaulting and suing us, but I can’t accept to leave my South (of Italy) to criminals who shoot people dead in daylight.â€
Since August 2015 Nello Trocchia has been under protection by the Carabinieri Military Police after having received serious threats by a Camorra boss after having published some investigations on Fattoquotidiano.it.",41.88248,16.35253,"Physical assaults,Injury,Intimidation,Known private individual(s),Criminal organisation,Journalist,Cameraperson,Male,Physical protection,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,EU member states",- [https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2017/07/28/vieste-il-giornalista-nello-trocchia-e-la-troupe-di-nemo-aggrediti-stanno-realizzando-un-servizio-sulla-mafia-foggiana/3760626/](https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2017/07/28/vieste-il-giornalista-nello-trocchi,,
21383,2017-08-02,Croatia: Equipment and documents stolen from investigative journalist,"2 August, 2017 – The Zagreb apartment of Domagoj Margetic, an investigative journalist collaborating with different outlets, was burgled on Wednesday early in the morning, the Croatian journalists' association (HND) reported.
The burglar stole Margetic’s laptop, 1 terabyte external hard disc, several USB memory keys, documents related to an ongoing investigation, and a wallet with money, HND informed.
After the incident Margetic sent an open letter to Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic asking if the ruling party HDZ (Croatian Democratic Union) was behind the burglary.
“It is obvious that the aim of that burglary was not a simple robbery but stealing documents about stories I was working on and my working tools. And as these stories might be sensitive for the current authorities, I feel I have reasons to ask the question: Are HDZ and the State behind today's burglary? Are HDZ and the State behind this attempt on my life?'' Margetic said in the open letter to the Prime Minister, national private broadcaster RTL reported.
Zagreb Police confirmed to state news agency Hina that on Wednesday a report about the burglary was filed at Medvescak Police Station.",45.81501,15.98192,"Attack to property,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Male,Union intervention,EU member states","- [http://www.hnd.hr/eng/investigative-journalist-domagoj-margetic-wrote-pubic-letter-to-the-prime-minister](http://www.hnd.hr/eng/investigative-journalist-domagoj-margetic-wrote-pubic-letter-to-the-prime-minister)
- [http://www.vijesti.rtl.hr/novosti/hrv",,
21404,2017-08-11,Italy: Journalist repeatedly harassed and forced to leave public talk,"11 August, 2017 - During a panel event at a summer festival in Praia a Mare, Calabria, journalist Simone Di Meo was threatened by around twenty people, until he had to be escorted away by police.
Di Meo was at the festival to present his book Gotham City, which tells the story of Gelsomina Verde, who is tortured and killed by the Camorra clan Di Lauro.
While describing the ""stesa"", a kind of rampage where young members of the Camorra clans ride their scooters through their neighbourhoods while shooting their guns around, Di Meo was interrupted by one young man who shouted that Gelsomina Verde “had it coming” and that these books only put Naples under a bad light.
The lead protester was backed by a score of other men, who continuously interrupted the journalist forcing the organisers of the festival to call the police.
The protesters went away before they could be identified, and the police ended up having to escort the author back to his hotel.
In an interview with articolo21.org, Di Meo stated that he was quite scared, particularly since the first young man declared to be from Melito di Napoli
“Melito is just a few kilometres from my home” said Di Meo, “and it’s the domain of the Di Lauro clan about which I’ve wrote a lot of articles.”
The Union of Journalist of Campania expressed full solidarity with Di Meo, demanding that the police act to identify the perpetrators of the threats. “As if the violence of the Calabrian criminality wasn’t enough, we got the supporters of the Camorra on holiday,” reads the press release of the Union.",39.893356,15.783125,"Intimidation,Criminal organisation,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Male,Physical protection,Solidarity,EU member states","- [http://www.giornalisticalabria.it/2017/08/11/simone-di-meo-minacciato-da-turisti-napoletani/](http://www.giornalisticalabria.it/2017/08/11/simone-di-meo-minacciato-da-turisti-napoletani/)
- [http://www.antimafiaduemila.com/home/rassegna-stampa-sp-2087084558/114-mafia-flash/66757-minacce-al-giornalista-simone-di-meo-articolo21-comuni-cosentini-presentino-suo-libro-gotham-city.html](http://www.antimafiaduemila.com/home/rassegna-stampa-sp-2087084558/114-mafia-flash/66757-minacce-al-giornalista-simone-di-meo-articolo21-comuni-cosentini-presentino-suo-libro-gotham-city.html)
",,
21413,2017-08-16,"Croatia: Investigative journalist harassed online, receives death threats","16 August, 2017 – Zeljko Peratovic, a freelance journalist, has been the subject of constant intimidation, death threats and cyberbullying, news website Fairpress.eu reported.
For at least a month Peratovic has been receiving threats via social media and small right wing websites, Fairpress informed.
Tihomir Oreskovic and Dusko Erceg aka Mario Eterovic, among several others, are constantly posting messages with death threats on Peratovic social media pages, Fairpress said.
“When incense doesn't help, then the exorcist recommends using a hawthorn stick†a recent post posted by Oreskovic on the journalist's Facebook page read.
According to Peratovic, threats against him are linked to his research on war crime cases during the war in Croatia in the early 1990s.
Peratovic told Fairpress during an interview that he has reported all of cases harassment to the police in Zagreb.",45.81501,15.98192,"Trolling/Cyberbullying,Known private individual(s),Other/Unknown,Journalist,Male,Union intervention,EU member states","- [http://bit.ly/2usgoRR](http://bit.ly/2usgoRR)
- [http://bit.ly/2w1Qape](http://bit.ly/2w1Qape)",,
21415,2017-08-16,Kosovo: Investigative journalist beaten outside home after story on corruption,"16 August, 2017 - Parim Olluri, the editor-in-chief of investigative website Insajderi was beaten up by unknown individuals in Kosovo’s capital Pristina, Balkan Insight reported.
The journalist was on his way home in the evening when he was assaulted outside his house by three unidentified persons.
After the assault, he went to the hospital to receive treatment for minor injuries.
Olluri believes the attack is linked to his work. Website Insajderi reports on corruption and organised crime.
Just a few days before the assault, Olluri had published an editorial about corruption allegations by former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commanders.
“After the publication I faced threats and abuse on social media,†Olluri told local media. “I believe this assault is linked to my work as a journalist.â€
The OSCE has condemned the assault. “Journalists should be free to state a different opinion without fear of violence or physical injury,†a statement said.
Kosovo’s journalist association has also condemned the assault and is urging the authorities to investigate who is behind it as soon as possible.",42.66291,21.1655,"Physical assaults,Injury,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Male,Physical protection,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,Potential candidates","- [https://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/kosovo-journalist-blames-work-for-unprovoked-assault-08-17-2017](https://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/kosovo-journalist-blames-work-for-unprovoked-assault-08-17-2017)
- [http://www.osce.org/fom/335921](http:",,
21423,2017-08-21,"Italy: Home of investigative journalist burgled, hard disk stolen","21 August, 2017 - The home of, Paolo Borrometi, an investigative journalist, was burgled in Rome, where his documents and equipment were targeted, liberainformazione reported.
The thieves only took a hard disk and paper documents related to his investigations.
Paolo Borrometi has been investigating the Cosa Nostra (the Sicilian mafia) in Ragusa, an area that before recently was considered not infiltrated by the mafia. Borrometi's reporting, published on his website laspia.it, reportedly led to the dissolution of the mafia's infiltration of the municipality of Scicli, a small town in the province of Ragusa.
Borrometi has previous been a target to threats and attacks. The first threat he received was carved on the side of his car with a key, just to words: “Be carefulâ€. In his country house in his native Sicily, he was assaulted from behind and beaten up up to the point of suffering permanent injuries in his shoulder. The front door of his parent’s house’s was set on fire.
After the burglary, both the national press federation (FNSI) and Pietro Grasso, former chief anti mafia attorney and now president of the Senate, expressed solidarity to the journalist. “The threats against Paolo [Borrometi] are threats against each one of us†reads the note of the FNSI"".",41.90278,12.49637,"Attack to property,Criminal organisation,Journalist,Male,Physical protection,Solidarity,EU member states","- [http://www.liberainformazione.org/2017/08/20/49297/](http://www.liberainformazione.org/2017/08/20/49297/)
- [http://roma.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/17_agosto_21/furto-casa-romana-giornalista-anti-mafia-borrometi-rubati-hard-disk-alcune-carte-b2b0a1f8-",,
21430,2017-08-24,Malta: Opposition leader sues journalist Caruana Galizia over links to money laundering,"24 August, 2017 - Opposition leader Adrian Delia filed a lawsuit against investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia over stories linking him to offshore accounts connected to sex work, the Times of Malta reported.
The Independent reported that Delia is being accused, by Caruana Galizia, of money laundering.
According to the report Caruana Galizia claimed that around £1 million earned from prostitution in London flats was processed through Adrian Delia’s Barclays International account in Jersey. She quoted a letter faxed to Adrian Delia from a London firm of solicitors.
According to Malta Independent, Delia denied the claims, saying that he does not have, and never had personal accounts or money held abroad.
He previously acknowledged that he represented a Maltese client who was indeed the landlord of at least one property used for illicit practices, but insisted that his client/landlord was not to be held responsible for the actions of his tenants.
He filed five libel suits against the journalist.",35.9375,14.37542,"Civil lawsuits,Political party,Journalist,Blogger/Citizen journalist,Female,Legal Aid,EU member states",- [https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20170824/local/adrian-delia-to-sue-caruana-galizia-over-overseas-funds-claim.656364](https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20170824/local/adrian-delia-to-sue-caruana-galizia-over-overseas-funds-claim.6563,,
21461,2017-09-05,France: Azerbaijan government sues two French journalists for defamation,"5 September, 2017 - Two French journalists are being sued by the government of Azerbaijan for defamation, independent online news resource Eurasianet.org reported.
The two journalists, Elise Lucet and Laurent Richard, are facing defamation charges after describing Azerbaijan as a dictatorship.
According to Reporters Without Borders, this is the first time a foreign government has brought a defamation suit internationally.
The court will make a ruling on 7 November, 2017.
UPDATE: 7 November, 2017 - A court in Paris, rejected Azerbaijani government's defamation suit against the two investigative journalists.",48.85661,2.352222,"Civil lawsuits,Defamation/Discredit,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Female,Male,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- [https://www.rferl.org/a/azerbaijan-france-court-journalists-tried-for-saying-dictatorship/28717296.html](https://www.rferl.org/a/azerbaijan-france-court-journalists-tried-for-saying-dictatorship/28717296.html)
- [https://rsf.org/en/news/azerbaijani-gov",,
21468,2017-09-13,Czech Republic: Chamber of Deputies recommends tightening of rules for journalists,"13 September, 2017 – The Investigative Commission for Investigation of Information published their proposal to tighten the rules on how journalists should report on investigations.
It has recommended that laws on personal data protection and on free access to information be amended, The Prague Monitor reported.
The Commission's proposal was approved by the Chamber of Deputies on 12 September 2017, including controversial Resolution No. 4. It states that journalists may only report about criminal cases when a court case is already in progress.
In practice that means that politicians would get a lengthy amount of time to plan how to address certain issues such as corruption scandals. Also, the Commission proposed that it becomes mandatory for law enforcement bodies to register and archive their contacts with the media.
The Commission was established due to leaks of recordings of conversations among politician, media tycoon and former finance minister Andrej Babis and Marek Pribil, a journalist for the Mlada fronta Dnes daily at the time, where they discussed leaks from criminal files.
However, the Commission’s report does not deal with this case in particular, but rather tends to tighten up the control of the media.",50.07554,14.4378,"Legal measure,Blocked access,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Another media,Documentarist,Female,Male,Legal Aid,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states",- [http://hlidacipes.org/vysilani-filmu-babisove-podnikani-se-pred-volbami-asi-nestihne-ceska-televize-zvazuje-pravni-kroky-vuci-tvurcum/](http://hlidacipes.org/vysilani-filmu-babisove-podnikani-se-pred-volbami-asi-nestihne-ceska-televize-zvazuje-pravni-k,,
21489,2017-09-19,Serbia: Minister’s party calls journalist “drug addictâ€,"19 September, 2017 - Journalist and editor-in-chief for investigative reporting network KRIK Stefan Dojcinovic was smeared by the party of the Minister of Defense, which called him a “drug addict†in a written statement, news outlet Balkan Insight reported.
KRIK’s editor-in-chief Stefan Dojcinovic was targeted in a statement released by Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin’s Movement of Socialists party, in which he was called a “drug addict that needs to be tested for drugs.â€
The statement came after Dojcinovic had published a report about the Minister’s Belgrade apartment that he, according to a KRIK investigation, had bought with money he borrowed from his wife’s family member in Canada.
The party’s statement also claimed that Dojcinovic was paid by foreigners to discredit the minister.
Dojcinovic said he intended to sue the person responsible for the statement.
Several Serbian journalist associations have condemned the insulting statement.",44.78657,20.44892,"Intimidation,Defamation/Discredit,Political party,Journalist,Male,Legal Aid,Informational resources,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,Candidate countries",- [https://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/serbian-defence-minister-s-party-called-investigative-journalist-drug-addict--09-19-2017](https://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/serbian-defence-minister-s-party-called-investigative-journalist-drug-addict--09,,
21496,2017-09-21,Czech Republic: Documents stolen from journalist's apartment,"20 September, 2017 – Apartment of well-known Czech journalist for Echo24 and Echo weekly Lenka Zlámalová was burgled in Prague, reported news website echo24.cz.
Amongst other items, suitcase filled with confidential documents was stolen.
In addition the journalist's notebook which served as the journalist's archive, along with a mobile phone, an iPad, some jewellery, and cash was also taken.
The perpetrator did not cause any damage to the apartment.
The Prague Criminal Police has started investigation on the case on the same day.
Echo24 and Echo weekly editorial board expressed their belief that this crime is a classic burglary and is not related to the journalistic work of Lenka Zlámalová. However, journalistic community both in Czech Republic and neighbouring Slovakia are discussing this case in terms of her professional activity and investigations of corruption.",50.075538,14.4378,"Attack to property,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Female,Publicity,EU member states,Other (Please indicate in report text)","- [https://echo24.cz/a/w6U5m/kradez-dokumentu-v-byte-komentatorky-lenky-zlamalove](https://echo24.cz/a/w6U5m/kradez-dokumentu-v-byte-komentatorky-lenky-zlamalove)
",,
22375,2017-10-10,France: Front National's Axel Loustau sues Mediapart for libel,"10 October 2017 - Axel Loustau, the treasurer of Jeanne, the association financing Front National leader Marine Le Pen, sued investigative news website Mediapart for having claimed he had done a fascist salute. In a first hearing, a court sentenced Mediapart to pay 1000 euros in damages and 2000 euros in legal fees to Loustau, Libération reported.
UPDATE (13 June 2018) - An appeal court in Paris overturned the verdict reached earlier in Axel Loustau's libel case against Mediapart. The appeal court judges found that Mediapart had carried out a thorough investigation into allegations that Loustau had performed a fascist salute and had succeeded in establishing beyond doubt that he had in fact done such a salute.
Photos showing Loustau performing the salute were taken in 2011 at a party held to celebrate his 40th birthday and were posted by Loustau himself on his Facebook profile. In 2014, Mediapart published them in an article headlined ""The fascist salute of Marine Le Pen's fundraiser"".",48.85661,2.351499,"Civil lawsuits,Political party,Known private individual(s),Male,EU member states","https://oeilsurlefront.liberation.fr/actualites/2017/10/10/fn-loustau-fait-condamner-mediapart-pour-lui-avoir-impute-un-salut-fasciste_1602128
https://oeilsurlefront.liberation.fr/en-bref/2018/06/13/salut-fasciste-poursuivi-pour-diffamation-mediapart-gagne-en-appel-contre-axel-loustau_1658783
https://www.mediapart.fr/journal/france/241114/le-salut-fasciste-de-largentier-de-marine-le-pen?onglet=full",,mappingmediafreedom.api.ushahidi.io/5/b/5b277ce049f04-loustau.png
21589,2017-10-13,Kosovo: Editor-in-chief of investigative website assaulted in Pristina,"13 October, 2017 - The editor-in-chief of investigative website Insajderi was assaulted in the centre of Pristina, Pristina Insight reported.
Vehbi Kajtazi was hit on the head by several unknown individuals, while he was leaving a cafe in the city centre. He went to the hospital to receive treatment for minor injuries to his face.
The police is investigating the assault and have arrested one person.
Kajtazi is a respected and award-winning investigative journalist. Insajderi is known for investigations into corruption in Kosovo.
Kosovo’s journalist association has condemned the assault.",42.66291,21.1655,"Physical assaults,Injury,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Male,Physical protection,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,Potential candidates","- [http://www.insajderi.com/policia-e-kosoves-kajtazi-u-sulmua-nga-disa-persona/](http://www.insajderi.com/policia-e-kosoves-kajtazi-u-sulmua-nga-disa-persona/)
- [http://prishtinainsight.com/kosovo-investigative-journalist-attacked/](http://prishtinainsi",,
21692,2017-10-15,Malta: Official posts photos of investigative journalist on Facebook,"15 October, 2017 - Twenty four hours before the investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was murdered, an employee of the Government of Malta within the Office of the Prime Minister, Neville Gafa, posted surveillance-style photos on Facebook taken of her at different locations in the suburb of Floriana, Malta.
The post included a description of her movements and was uploaded to Facebook while the victim was still in the area.",35.89234,14.5029,"Intimidation,Psychological abuse,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Blogger/Citizen journalist,Female,EU member states,Other (Please indicate in report text)","- [https://www.facebook.com/nevillegf/posts/1913263512022103](https://www.facebook.com/nevillegf/posts/1913263512022103)
- [https://lovinmalta.com/news/police-ignored-daphne-caruana-galizia-familys-request-for-protection-murder-investigation-updates](http",,
21598,2017-10-19,Malta: Investigative blogger killed in car bomb explosion,"16 October, 2017 - Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed when the car she was driving exploded in Bidnija, near Mosta, around 15.00, the BBC reported.
The blast left her vehicle in several pieces, the Malta Times reported.
Galizia filed a police report 15 days ago saying she was being threatened, the Malta Times reported.
Galizia had conducted a series of high profile corruption investigations and has been sued as a result of them.
On 11 March, 2017 Silvio Debono, owner of real estate investment company DB Group, filed 19 libel cases against her.
Galizia published a number of articles about Debono cutting a deal with Malta's government to take over a large tract of high value public land on which he had planned to build a Hard Rock Hotel and two towers of flats for sale.
Galizia also conducted an investigation linking PM Joseph Muscat and his wife to the Panama Papers scandal.
The couple denied claims that they had used secret offshore bank accounts to hide payments from Azerbaijan's ruling family.
UPDATE: 17 October, 2017 - According to the Times of Malta, the Duty Magistrate Consuelo Scerri Herrera will abstain from investigating the murder of Caruana Galizia following an urgent application from her family because of the court's ""flagrant conflict of interest"".
In their application, the Caruana Galizias said that the magistrate had frequently been targeted by the blogger.
The magistrate had initiated court proceedings in 2011 against Ms Caruana Galizia over comments she had made about her.",35.89898,14.51368,"Death,Other/Unknown,Blogger/Citizen journalist,Female,Legal Aid,Physical protection,EU member states","- [https://mappingmediafreedom.org/#/3811](https://mappingmediafreedom.org/#/3811)
- [http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41637730](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41637730)
- [https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20171016/local/car-goes-u",,
21623,2017-10-21,Czech Republic: Far right party blocks journalists' access to election headquarters,"21 October, 2017 – Freedom and Direct Democracy politician Tomio Okamura (SPD) did not let previously accredited journalists into the party's electoral headquarters. When one of the reporters refused to leave the site, the SPD called the police, Czech news website Aktuálně.cz reported.
When he arrived at the SPD electoral headquarters, Adam Kotrbatý, a journalist for news website Info.cz, was informed that his accreditation was cancelled. When he refused to leave the premises without receiving an explanation, the SPD called the police. Police officers, according to Kotrbatý, listened to both sides but did not intervene in any way.
Previously, the SPD refused accreditation to journalists of Aktuálně.cz, Hospodářské Noviny newspaper. Party representatives explained that they disagreed with the way the outlet had reported on its activities. However, it confirmed that cameraman Tomáš Cetkovský, who worked for Aktuálně.cz, would be accepted. But fifteen minutes after the closure of polling stations, the SPD cancelled his accreditation.
The SPD also called the police regarding journalist of the Reportéři ČT, an investigative magazine of the Czech Television, news website info.cz reported.",50.07554,14.4378,"Blocked access,Political party,Journalist,Cameraperson,Female,Male,Publicity,EU member states",- [https://zpravy.aktualne.cz/domaci/okamurova-spd-zavolala-policii-na-novinare-ze-stabu-vyhazuje/r~a54aaccab65d11e7b128002590604f2e](https://zpravy.aktualne.cz/domaci/okamurova-spd-zavolala-policii-na-novinare-ze-stabu-vyhazuje/r~a54aaccab65d11e7b1280025,,
21666,2017-11-06,"Serbia: Crime journalist car broken into, files stolen","6 November, 2017 - The car of a crime journalist for daily Blic newspaper was broken into, and his laptop and confidential files were stolen, Blic reported.
Journalist Vuk Cvijic found out his car had been broken into late afternoon in the centre of Belgrade. His laptop and a few printed documents had been taken from the trunk.
Cvijic is specialised in investigative journalism on topics of organized crime and corruption. It’s unknown what the content of the stolen documents was.
Blic believes the theft was not random.
“Taking into account the fact that this journalist mostly deals with uncovering organised crime and corruption, we suspect that crime was motivated by getting data and information,†Blic writes in an article on its website.
The police have started an investigation. Journalist associations NUNS and UNS condemned the break in and urged police to urgently investigate and communicate its findings.",44.78657,20.44892,"Attack to property,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Male,Informational resources,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,Candidate countries",- [https://www.blic.rs/vesti/hronika/novinaru-blica-ukraden-laptop-sa-vaznom-dokumentacijom-reagovala-novinarska-udruzenja/gvzg346](https://www.blic.rs/vesti/hronika/novinaru-blica-ukraden-laptop-sa-vaznom-dokumentacijom-reagovala-novinarska-udruzenja/gvz,,
21672,2017-11-08,Croatia: News site hacked after publishing investigative articles,"8 November, 2017 – News website Fairpress.eu that it was hacked after publishing a series of investigative articles on connections between Zagreb's mayor, Milan Bandic, and a businessman, Slobodan Ljubicic.
The Fairpress.eu editor-in-chief Munir Podumljak wrote an open letter about the hack, which was published on the site. He reported that all the previously published articles on the topic were deleted during the incident.
Podumljak explained that before the hack the outlet had received a threat: ""We are going to fuck your mother"", which was issued to the Fairepress.eu editorial board.
According to the site's editor, the threat and the topic of the deleted material points to the possible source of the hack.
Podumljak reported the incident to the police, but, so far, there is no information on the outcome of the investigation.",45.81501,15.98192,"DDoS/Hacking,Article/Work didn't appear at all,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Editor,Not Applicable,Union intervention,EU member states",- [http://www.fairpress.eu/hr/blog/2017/11/08/nakon-pisanja-fairpress-o-poveznicama-grada-zagreba-slobodana-ljubicica-decki-s-knezije-hakiran-fairpress-portal-no-mi-nastavljamo/](http://www.fairpress.eu/hr/blog/2017/11/08/nakon-pisanja-fairpress-o-povezni,,
21693,2017-11-15,Poland: Court orders journalist to reveal sources after report on death at police station,"15 November 2017 - Wojciech Bojanowski, an investigative reporter for privately-owned television TVN24, received a court order to disclose his sources after broadcasting a programme entitled Death At A Police Station, website okopress.pl reported.
In his report, the journalist published videos showing the police interrogating a young man and tasering him. The young man, Igor Stachowiak, died shortly after the images were filmed, on 15 May 2016.
Bojanowski reported that the police officers were not punished.
After the broadcast in May 2017, the Ministry of the Interior and Administration denied that prosecutors had access to those videos.
The journalist has refused to disclose any information.
UPDATE
23 August 2018 - The Office of the District Attorney in Warsaw decided to close the investigation against journalist Wojciech Bojanowski.
Bojanowski refused to reveal his sources of information in front of the court.
The journalist told the daily Rzeczpospolita that it was ""a sensible and reasonable decision,"" adding that â€I hope it will encourage my colleagues to reveal shocking and uncomfortable information in the public interest.â€",52.22968,21.01223,"Legal measure,Violation of anonymity,Court/Judicial,Journalist,Male,Publicity,EU member states","- [https://oko.press/bojanowski-nagrodzony-smierc-komisariacie-kapitula-prokuratura-zastrasza-dziennikarzy/](https://oko.press/bojanowski-nagrodzony-smierc-komisariacie-kapitula-prokuratura-zastrasza-dziennikarzy/)
- [https://www.tvn24.pl/debata/smierc-w",,
21763,2017-12-18,United Kingdom: Offshore company sues Guardian and BBC over Paradise Papers,"18 December, 2017 - Offshore company Appleby, which was at the heart of The Panama Papers scandal, has launched breach of confidence proceedings against the Guardian and the BBC to force them to disclose the documents that they used for the investigation, The Guardian reported.
The documents detailed hundreds of thousands of offshore entities used by companies and wealthy individuals, many in the public eye, to hide their wealth. The documents were leaked to the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, which shared them with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, who coordinated the Paradise Papers Project with 380 journalists from 96 media organisations across 67 countries.
Appleby is also seeking damages for the disclosure of what it says are confidential legal documents. It said the documents were stolen in a cyber-hack and there was no public interest in the stories published about it and its clients.
A Guardian spokesperson said: “This claim could have serious consequences for investigative journalism in the UK. Ninety-six of the world’s most respected media organisations concluded there was significant public interest in undertaking the Paradise Papers project and hundreds of articles have been published in recent weeks as a result of the work undertaken by partners. We will be defending ourselves vigorously against this claim as we believe our reporting was responsible and a matter of legitimate public interest.â€
A BBC spokesperson said: “The BBC will strongly defend its role and conduct in the Paradise Papers project. Our serious and responsible journalism is resulting in revelations which are clearly of the highest public interest and has revealed matters which would otherwise have remained secret. Already we are seeing authorities taking action as a consequence.â€",51.50735,-0.12776,"Legal measure,Corporation/Company,Publicity,EU member states","- [https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/dec/18/guardian-bbc-legal-action-paradise-papers](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/dec/18/guardian-bbc-legal-action-paradise-papers)
- [http://www.legalweek.com/sites/legalweek/2017/12/18/appleby-to-purs",,
21775,2017-12-21,Malta: Henley and Partners threatens legal action against independent online publication,"Henley and Partners, a company based in the Channel Islands that describes itself as ""the global leader in residence and citizenship planning"", has threatened punitive legal action in the USA and the UK against The Shift, an independent online publication based in Malta which engages in investigative journalism, The Shift reports.
In a letter addressed to co-founder and editor Caroline Muscat and journalist Jurgen Balzan, Henley and Partners threatens legal action unless an article, authored by Balzan, which states that Henley and Partners was involved in the cash-for-passport scandal, was removed from The Shift website.
“We want to make it clear that Henley and Partners and the Government of Grenada have repeatedly and categorically denied any involvement in the purported attempt to obtain diplomatic passports from Grenada or indeed anywhere else,†the letter, which was sent via email, states.
Henley and Partners also stated that the letter was not to be made public.
The Shift has refused to comply with either the removal of the article or the confidentiality of the letter, stating that any further attempts to threaten its right to freedom of expression would be ""reacted to in the fullest manner allowed by law"".
Henley and Partners made similar legal threats to Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia based on her reporting in the months before she was assassinated.",35.89891,14.51455,"Intimidation,Civil lawsuits,Legal measure,Corporation/Company,Journalist,Not Applicable,Legal Aid,Informational resources,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states,Commercial interference","- [http://theshiftnews.com/2017/12/24/henley-and-partners-threatens-legal-action-against-the-shift/](http://theshiftnews.com/2017/12/24/henley-and-partners-threatens-legal-action-against-the-shift/)
- [http://theshiftnews.com/2017/12/20/henley-and-partner",,
21814,2018-01-12,Serbia: Minister sues investigative network KRIK over Paradise Papers revelations,"12 January, 2018 - A Serbian minister is taking KRIK, a renowned investigative reporting network, to court over revelations about offshore companies and assets in the Paradise Papers, KRIK reported.
Minister without portfolio, Nenad Popovic, was the main Serbian official mentioned in the Paradise Papers, a huge leak of financial documents in November 2017, exposing offshore assets of politicians and celebrities around the world. KRIK revealed that Popovic had offshore companies and assets worth 100 million dollars (80 million euro).
Popovic claims the publication has damaged his reputation and he demands a compensation of a million dinars (8,500 euros).
KRIK was one of 96 media organisations from 67 countries that analysed the leaks.
The Independent Association for Journalists of Serbia (NUNS) condemned the lawsuit, stating that its a means of intimidating KRIK.",44.78657,20.44892,"Civil lawsuits,Defamation/Discredit,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Not Applicable,Legal Aid,Informational resources,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,Candidate countries","- [https://www.krik.rs/en/serbian-minister-sues-journalist-paradise-papers/](https://www.krik.rs/en/serbian-minister-sues-journalist-paradise-papers/)
- [http://nuns.rs/info/statements/33820/nuns-i-ndnv-tuzba-nenada-popovica-protiv-krika--zastrasivanje-sa",,
21819,2018-01-16,Cyprus: Government issues arrest warrant for murdered Maltese journalist's source,"16 January, 2018 - Cyprus has issued an EU arrest warrant against a whistleblower on high-level corruption in Malta, Cyprusbusinessmail.com reported.
Maria Efimova, a Russian national, made headlines in August, when it was reported she had tipped off Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia -- who was murdered three months ago -- that the wife of Malta’s Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Michelle Muscat, was the owner of Egrant Inc., a Panamanian offshore company.
Efimova says the charges, that she allegedly stole money from the Fragrance Distribution, a Cypriot firm where she worked four years ago, are part of a plot to discredit her.
“After four years, they have now remembered this?†said Efimova, in a phone conversation with the Cyprus Business Mail, adding she had been responsible for preparing the company’s accounts and had never been accused of stealing.
As a result, Efimova applied for political asylum in an unspecified European Union country and asked from the European Parliament’s PANA Committee to provide her with a letter, so she can be considered as a whistleblower.
The European Parliament, asked EU member states, including Malta, to protect Efimova and grant her asylum, after a delegation led by Portuguese MEP, Ana Gomes visited Malta in late November. However, Cyprus has now become the first EU country to take heed of the Maltese order.
Efimova had wanted to settle in Cyprus with her family since leaving Malta last August due to fears that her life was endangered.",35.18557,33.38228,"Arrest/Detention,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Other,Female,Legal Aid,EU member states","- [http://cyprusbusinessmail.com/?p=57952](http://cyprusbusinessmail.com/?p=57952)
- [https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/7522-cyprus-issues-arrest-warrant-against-whistleblower](https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/7522-cyprus-issues-arrest-warrant-against-whistleb",,
21935,2018-01-25,Poland: Right-wing media organisation demands TVN reveal its sources,"25 January, 2018 - Media organisation Stowarzyszenie Dziennikarzy Polskich demanded private-owned TV channel TVN reveal its sources and the methods of investigative reporting used on their last documentary, news website Wirtualnemedia.pl reported.
Journalists of Superwizjer on TVN infiltrated Polish neo-Nazi’s groups. They collected footage for more than a year, filming with hidden cameras. Broadcast on 20 January, the documentary showed celebrations of Adolf Hitler birthday organised in a forest by nationalist group Duma i Nowoczesność (Pride and Modernity). During a speech, a young man dressed in a Wermacht uniform made a toast ""to Adolf Hitler and our homeland, beloved Polandâ€.
The documentary has lead to a national debate on how strong the support of the ruling Law and Justice party for nationalists groups and for their illegal activities is.
Stowarzyszenie Dziennikarzy Polskich has urged Adam Pieczyńskiego, TVN's editor-in-chief to explain why the TV channel to inform the police about nationalists breaking the law. The media organisation demanded the channel reveal the names and qualifications of journalists involved in obtaining and editing the footage as well as the methods they used.
That demand was criticised by many journalists on social media. Michał Wróblewski from daily Fakt, wrote that this is an attempt to gag the media.
Stowarzyszenie Dziennikarzy Polskich is the oldest media organisation in Poland. The majority of its management is currently constituted of right-wing journalists, loyal to the conservative government.",52.23192,21.00673,"Limitation to Media Freedom,Intimidation,Source of the Threat/Violation/Abuse,Corporation/Company,Type of Journalist,Journalist,Gender,Not Applicable,Support Needed,Publicity,EU membership,EU member states","http://www.wirtualnemedia.pl/artykul/zdaniem-sdp-telewizja-tvn24-zataila-fakt-popelnienia-przestepstwa-w-reportazu-o-neonazistach
https://www.tvn24.pl/superwizjer-w-tvn24,149,m/superwizjer-tvn-z-kamera-w-srodowisku-polskich-neonazistow,807953.html
http://www.press.pl/tresc/51863,zdaniem-sdp-stacja-tvn-24-_zataila-fakt-popelnienia-przestepstwa_",,
21975,2018-02-02,Poland: Minister spokesperson allegedly leaks questions from investigative reporter to other media,"2 February, 2018 - Stanisław Żaryn, the spokesperson for the special services coordinator, leaked questions from investigative journalist Wojciech Czuchnowski to a right-wing pro-governmental media outlet, the website Wirtualnemedia.pl reported.
Journalists for Gazeta Wyborcza Wojciech Czuchnowski and Iwona Szpala, collected information linking the special services coordinator Mariusz KamiÅ„ski, his deputy Maciej WÄ…sik (Law and Justice party) and Jakub R. (a man accused of taking part in the hand over of state-owned properties to private owners in Warsaw). In the final stage of their investigation, Wojciech Czuchnowski asked the coordinator’s spokesperson for an interview. They received no answer but on the following day, the right-wing website wpolitce.pl published an article about the interview request. CzÅ‚uchnowski wrote on Twitter: â€excerpts from the letter we sent to the Coordinator's spokesperson appeared in the articleâ€.
Stanisław Żaryn, the spokesperson blamed for leaking the letter to Wpolityce.pl, denies the accusation. The website Wirtulnmedia revealed that Żaryn is a former journalist of wpolityce.pl.
Gazeta Wyborcza is the largest Polish newspaper and it is sharply critical of the new government.
Wpolityce.pl is a conservative website that supports the ruling party.",52.23192,21.00673,"Limitation to Media Freedom,Blocked access,Defamation/Discredit,Source of the Threat/Violation/Abuse,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Another media,Type of Journalist,Journalist,Gender,Female,Male,Support Needed,Publicity,EU membership,EU member states","http://www.wirtualnemedia.pl/artykul/wojciech-czuchnowski-kontra-stanislaw-zaryn-dziennikarz-gazety-wyborczej-oskarza-rzecznika-mariusza-kaminskiego-ze-ujawnil-wpolityce-pl-nad-czym-pracuje-gw
https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/379488-czuchnowski-w-histerii-chce-odwrocic-uwage-od-ordynarnej-ustawki-czerskiej-z-lapowkarzem-sluzby-pis-chca-rozbroic-tekst-w-wyborczej",,
21878,2018-02-05,France: Commercial court orders Challenges magazine to take down article on Conforama financial difficulties,"5 February, 2018 - The Paris commercial court ordered business magazine Challenges to take down an article about financial difficulties of the company Conforma, invoking the law on business confidentiality, Le Monde reported. Investigative website Mediapart revealed that company is Conforma, Europe's second largest home furnishings retail.
According to le Monde, the company sued Challenges on 16 January demanding they take down the article published six days before on 30 January, 2018. The piece outlines the use of an ad hoc mandate (a procedure used by companies experiencing financial difficulties, which protects their anonymity). The company asked the outlet be prevented from mentioning this case in the future.
Challenges decided to inform its readers arguing that since Conforama is a big company, the news was of general interest to its readers.
Mediapart decided to go ahead and reveal the name of the company, denouncing the use of a new law on business confidentiality, which allowed for the commercial court to order the article to be taken down.
Journalists denounced the first use of the European directive on business confidentiality passed in 2016.",48.85661,2.352222,"Civil lawsuits,Article/Work didn't appear at all,Corporation/Company,Other,Not Applicable,Publicity,EU member states",- [http://www.lemonde.fr/actualite-medias/article/2018/02/02/challenges-condamne-pour-avoir-enfreint-le-secret-des-affaires_5250670_3236.html](http://www.lemonde.fr/actualite-medias/article/2018/02/02/challenges-condamne-pour-avoir-enfreint-le-secret-des-,,
21927,2018-02-09,Slovakia: Investigative journalist fired after alleging connections between mafia and interior ministry,"9 February, 2018 - Slovak weekly Plus 7 dnà abruptly fired its long-time journalist Ivan Mego, Slovak media news website Omédiách.com reported.
Mego's termination came a day after the journalist published an investigative article focused on the Slovakian interior ministry.
Mego's investigation, published on 9 February, alleged apartments had been transferred from the interior ministry to the individuals associated with the mafia, which caused the ministry to lose thousands of euros. The first part of the article was published on the website plus7dni.pluska.sk and the complete article appeared in the print edition of the Plus 7 dnà weekly. The journalist was fired when the print edition appeared.
Mega had reportedly also provided assistance in the writing of another article, written by junior journalist Pavel Knapko. The second article alleged that Milan LuÄanský, head of the internal affairs inspectorate of the interior ministry, was close to people with ""a troubled past.â€
Knapko reported on LuÄanský's vacation with two businessmen, who were alleged to have had criminal backgrounds. The second article only appeared in Plus 7 dnÃ's print edition.
Mego was employed by Plus 7 dnà for about 10 years, and wrote mainly about organised crime and police.
Plus 7 dnà belongs to the News & Media Holding, controlled by Penta Investments group.
Updated: 26 February 2018 - During a talk show on TA3 TV channel Ivan Mego said that he worked on the investigation of the Italian mafia Ndranghet activities in Slovakia and its links to Slovak political elites and claimed that his work was stopped ""from above"" at the Plus 7 dnà publishing house.",48.14816,17.10674,"Loss of employment,Article/Work didn't appear at all,Soft censorship,EU member states","https://www.omediach.com/tlac/item/12542-v-plus-7-dni-necakane-skoncil-dlhorocny-redaktor-mego
https://slovensko.hnonline.sk/1701492-novinar-ivan-mego-posunul-kuciakovi-temu-talianskej-mafie-uz-to-mal-skoro-hotove-tvrdi
https://plus7dni.pluska.sk/Slovenska-mafia/ODHALENIE-pozadi-skandalom-opradeneho-domu-je-mafia",,
21971,2018-02-23,"Austria: General secretary of FPÖ calls journalist's public statement ""a downright lie""","23 February, 2018 - Harald Vilimsky, general secretary of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), called a public statement by the editor-in-chief of the left-wing weekly newspaper Der Falter, Florian Klenk, ""a downright lie"", the daily newspaper Die Presse reported.
Vilimsky's accusation was related to an article by Der Falter journalist Nina Brnada about FPÖ politician and member of parliament Marlene Svazek.
Svazek tweeted on 23 February 2018: ""Der Falter reaches a new low of pseudoinvestigative journalism. To sniff around my private circle in order to get the most intimate details. We seem to be the type of politicians that the press want to dismiss. Are you serious?""
Vilimsky supported Svazek by calling Der Falter's methods ""appalling"".
Der Falter editor Klenk responded to Svazek's post by tweeting that ""a colleague simply called the [FPÖ ] Youth Association and asked about Svazek"". Vilimsky called Klenk's assertion ""a downright lie"".
Klenk followed up in a tweet on 24 February 2018: ""My colleague Brnada writes a portrait and inquires about the political socialisation and work of Svarzek. That's it. No one sniffs around her personal life. This is taboo. Take back the false accusation or I will file a complaint.""
Vilimsky then revised his statement declaring: ""Lying would presuppose knowledge. I, hereby, take back this accusation. But to sniff around parents, their relationship and other private matters is distasteful. I stick to this. Is that really okay for you?""
Vilimsky did not delete his tweet, including the accusation that Klenk was lying. Klenk announced he would sue Vilimsky for defamation and discredit unless Vilimsky is willing to donate € 1,000 to a care center for torture and war victims.
The FPÖ is part of the coalition government of the country.",48.22021,16.37122,"Limitation to Media Freedom,Defamation/Discredit,Source of the Threat/Violation/Abuse,Political party,Type of Journalist,Journalist,Gender,Female,Male,Support Needed,Legal Aid,Publicity,Solidarity,EU membership,EU member states","https://diepresse.com/home/kultur/medien/5380412/Falter-droht-Vilimsky-mit-Klage-wegen-uebler-Nachrede
https://derstandard.at/2000075140225/Spende-oder-KlageFalter-droht-Vilimsky-wegen-Vorwurfs-der-Luege
https://twitter.com/vilimsky/status/967093665909936128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fderstandard.at%2F2000075140225%2FSpende-oder-KlageFalter-droht-Vilimsky-wegen-Vorwurfs-der-Luege",,
21919,2018-02-26,Slovakia: Slovak investigative journalist killed at home,"26 February, 2018 - Slovak investigative journalist Ján Kuciak was shot dead at his home.
Journalist Ján Kuciak, who had been reporting on tax fraud among businessmen connected to the country’s ruling party, was shot dead at his home over the weekend, news website Dennik N reported on Monday, citing the Interior Ministry.
According to Dennik N, the murder took place in the journalist’s house in the village of Veľká MaÄa 5 km east of the capital Bratislava, some time between February 22 and 25. Kuciak was shot in the chest and his fiancée was shot in the head. Kuciak worked for Slovak news website Aktuality.sk.
Last September, Ján Kuciak filed a complaint against businessman Marian KoÄner, for threatening him, informed Aktuality.sk. KoÄner was allegedly connected with the bankruptcy of Real Å túdio K.F.A.
Kuciak had also revealed that Ladislav Bašternák was required to repay the Slovak treasury €2 million after a real estate transaction.
Both businessmen are said to be associated with ruling Smer party.
“Already, 44 days have passed since I filed a complaint against MK for threatening me, Kuciak wrote on his Facebook page in the autumn. “And still, my case has probably not even been allocated to a specific officer yet.â€
Among his recent investigations there was also a story on the Slovak oil company Petroltrans, which Kuciak alleged was controlled by Ukrainian businessman Mykhailo Olevskyy through an offshore company. Petroltrans has won a major public contract, and has employed the daughter of Slovak financial service's deputy head.
UPDATE - 27 September 2018
Police detain eight in connection with murder of journalist Ján Kuciak
The Slovak police detained a group of eight people in connection with the murder of journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancee Martina KuÅ¡nÃrová, the daily Dennik N reported. The Slovak police later confirmed the raid on its Facebook profile.
“The house searches and other procedural acts are currently being carried out,†the police informed on Facebook on the morning of September 27, seven months after the murder.
The suspected murderer is among the detained persons, according to the lawyer of the Kuciak family, Daniel Lipšic.
Kuciak was an investigative journalist working for the Aktuality.sk website, dealing mostly with stories concerning tax fraud. He and KuÅ¡nÃrová were killed on 21 February in their home in Veľká MaÄa.
Protests, organised after the murders, led to the resignation of the then interior minister Robert Kalinak and later former Prime Minister Robert Fico and police chief Tibor Gašpar.
Current PM Peter Pellegrini praised the police and the prosecutors for their professional work and said that the murder investigation is one of the priorities of his government, which replaced the Fico administration.
“I trust that this brutal deed will be clarified and its motive and those who ordered it will be found,†Pellegrini wrote on his Facebook profile, adding that that way the murder can “stop dividing our societyâ€.
Slovak journalists and former collaborators of Kuciak are cautiously optimistic in their reactions to the news about the detained murderer or murderers. They stress that the key issue is to make sure that not just the murderers but also those who hired them face justice.
UPDATE - 27 September 2018
Further details emerge relating to Kuciak murder suspects
The police raids and arrests were carried out in the southern Slovak town of Kolárovo. One of the eight people detained has been identified as Tomáš S, who used to work as a police investigator in the nearby town of Komárno and later as a guard for a private security service, the Sme daily reported.
Sme said that Tomáš S had worked as a guard on ships in danger of attacks from pirates near the coast of Africa, and had in recent years attended training in jiu-jitsu martial art in Kolárovo.
The daily Dennik N said that Facebook pictures of Tomáš S showed that he had taken part in training sessions for private bodyguards at the European Security Agency (ESA), a two-week course on how to protect VIPs. The daily noted that the investigative website Bellingcat recently alleged that ESA instructors had given training to figures associated with Ukraine’s controversial Azov Regiment — a unit of the Ukrainian National Guard that has close links to the far right.
Tomáš S's cousin Miroslav M is also among those detained by the Slovak police. According to Sme, a man with an identical name and surname left the armed forces five years ago.
UPDATE - 30 September 2018
Four suspects remanded in custody
The Special Criminal Court of Banská Bystrica ordered that four suspects charged with the premeditated murder of Ján Kuciak and Martina KuÅ¡nÃrová be remanded in custody, the daily Dennik N reported.
One of the accused has been identified as Alena Z, who was arrested during a raid on her home in Komárno on 28 September, a day after the other suspects. Alena Z is said to have worked as an Italian-Slovak interpreter for businessman Marian Kocner, whom Kuciak had filed a complaint against for threatening him. According to Dennik N, Alena Z is thought to have acted as an intermediary between whoever ordered the murder and the men contracted to carry out the crime.
In addition to Tomáš S, Miroslav M and Alena Z, the fourth suspect remanded in custody was identified as Zoltán A. All apart from Zoltán A have appealed against the decision to remand them in custody, and so a final decision will be taken by the Supreme Court.
UPDATE - 1 October 2018
A sum of 70,000 euros was paid for the contract killing of Ján Kuciak, Prosecutor General JaromÃr ÄŒižnár said, according to Sme.
Sme quoted ÄŒižnár as saying that investigators had not yet established who had ordered Kuciak's murder. He refused to confirm or deny whether Marian KoÄner was the main suspect, but said that further charges could be made in the case.",48.24356,17.69227,"Death,Collateral targets,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Male,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,EU member states","- https://dennikn.sk/1040750/investigativneho-reportera-aktualit-jana-kuciaka-a-jeho-partnerku-zavrazdili/
- https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/567713/zavrazdili-investigativneho-reportera-aktuality-sk-jana-kuciaka/?AT=wgt.category_kategoria-najcitanejsie.c",,
21930,2018-02-28,Italy: Court reporters denounce lawyers' intimidation,"30 January, 2018 - Journalists reporting on a landmark mafia trial in Bologna have raised alarm over intimidation attempts by the defense lawyers’, allegedly aimed at suppressing coverage of the case, Il Fatto Quotidiano reported.
Solicitors representing some of the defendants in the criminal proceedings accused court reporters of “writing falsehoods” and “contaminating the trial” via their articles, according to Il Fatto Quotidiano.
Four lawyers involved in the case have now set up a “monitoring group” on media coverage of judicial hearings. “Often [journalistic] reports become a tool for prosecutors to obtain consensus and influence public opinion and, in turn, the judges,” La Repubblica reported them saying.
The journalists’ union condemned the move, expressing “grave concern over an initiative which appears to have intimidatory undertones”.
This big trial probing the infiltration of the ‘Ndrangheta Calabrian Mafia into the Emilia-Romagna region opened in March 2016 and is now in its closing stages. 147 defendants are answering to various charges including mafia-type association, extortion and corruption.
During the trial it emerged that two local journalists had been threatened by mafia figures arrested as part of the investigation.
Since the start of the proceedings lawyers have attempted to censor media coverage of the case on several occasions. In January 2017 they formally requested hearings be held behind closed doors after lamenting an alleged “media lynching” of their clients.",44.493671,11.343035,"Limitation to Media Freedom,Intimidation,Source of the Threat/Violation/Abuse,Known private individual(s),Criminal organisation,Type of Journalist,Journalist,Broadcaster,Support Needed,Publicity,Union intervention,EU membership,EU member states","https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2018/01/30/aemilia-processo-alla-stampa-prima-di-quello-ai-clan-gli-avvocati-controllano-i-giornalisti-politici-zitti/4118674/
http://www.ristretti.org/Le-Notizie-di-Ristretti/se-i-legali-dei-boss-processano-i-cronisti",,
21934,2018-02-28,Romania: Tax authority report on investigative outlet leaked and used to smear them,"26 January, 2018 – A confidential 9-page report of the Romanian Tax Authority on the activity of Rise Project investigative outlet was leaked to the press, and used for a smear campaign, paginademedia.ro reported.
The inspectors of the Romanian Tax Authority paid a visit to the offices of Rise Project in July 2017, which is when the outlet published a series of investigative reports about the hidden wealth of Liviu Dragnea, the president of the ruling Social Democrat Party.
The 9-page report of the authority, with the sources of income of the outlet, as well as the list of its paid collaborators, and their projects, was leaked to an NGO close to Antena 3 TV station, and then widely shared by outlets such as EVZ, Cancan, PSnews or Sputnik.
“It is not a problem for us that the report was published. We have a problem with the way it was interpreted”, Rise Project journalist Mihai Munteanu said, adding that “following their logic, everyone who accesses EU funds becomes automatically a traitor”.",44.436141,26.10272,"Limitation to Media Freedom,Intimidation,Defamation/Discredit,Source of the Threat/Violation/Abuse,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Type of Journalist,Broadcaster,Other,Gender,Not Applicable,Support Needed,Publicity,Solidarity,EU membership,EU member states","https://www.paginademedia.ro/2018/01/rise-anaf
http://www.grupul.ro/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Raport_ANAF-RISE.pdf",,
22739,2018-03-03,Austria: Interior ministry publishes correspondence with journalist without permission,"3 October 2018 - Austria's interior ministry published correspondence between the ministry and Florian Klenk, editor-in-chief of the weekly news magazine Der Falter, after Klenk published a report on an ongoing investigation involving the ministry, the daily left-wing newspaper Der Standard reported.
Klenk has produced several investigative reports on a police raid on Austria's domestic intelligence agency BVT, which was ordered by the interior ministry and has become the subject of much controversy.
The day after he published another report on the BVT case on 2 October, Klenk was confronted by the interior ministry and accused of failing to uphold journalistic standards by not researching the facts of the case thoroughly enough. When Klenk denied this, the ministry issued a press release containing the entire correspondence between the journalist and the Ministry on the issue without first obtaining his permission.
According to the liberal daily Die Presse, the ministry also submitted a complaint to the Austrian Press Council over what it said were Klenk's journalistic failings.
Klenk tweeted on 3 October 2018: ""[...] I wonder if the unsolicited publishing of my emails and text messages by the Austrian interior ministry in response to a critical report is not a bit more than just unusual. In any case, this is not funny anymore.""
Media lawyer Maria Windhager told Der Standard that Klenk had not been guilty of any journalistic misconduct, but that the publishing of his correspondence by the ministry constituted a breach of the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which stipulates that personal data can be made public only if the person concerned gives their consent. Other legal experts have corroborated Windhager's assessment of the case.
The head of Reporters Without Borders in Austria, Rubina Möhring, noted: ""This is a matter of deliberately inciting and slandering journalists in order to challenge their credibility.""",48.22021,16.37122,"Intimidation,Defamation/Discredit,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Male,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- https://derstandard.at/2000088548310/Burschenschafter-Anfrage-Innenministerium-veroeffentlicht-Korrespondenz-mit-Falter-Chefredakteur-Klenk
- https://diepresse.com/home/kultur/medien/5506759/Innenministerium-beschwert-sich-bei-Presserat-ueber
- https:",,
22008,2018-03-08,Austria: Interior Ministry discredits investigative reports on controversial house searches as fake news,"8 March, 2018 - The Austrian Interior Ministry published a press release discrediting the investigative reports of weekly magazine Profil and daily left-leaning newspaper Der Standard as fake news, the Austrian Public Agency APA reported.
Der Standard and Profil jointly reported on the raid on 28 February by police in the Street Crime Response Unit, on Austria’s BVT domestic intelligence agency.
During the raids on the BVT building in Vienna's third district, numerous records and folders were confiscated and copied, including information on right-wing extremists. The reports detailed these searches, as well as investigating the Interior Ministry bookkeeping.
The press release of the Interior Ministry was titled: ""Procedure against BVT employees: Interior ministry disagrees with media's fake news.""
They stated: ""The Interior Ministry as well as the deployed police unit have no knowledge regarding the data, which was seized during the house searches. At no time were we in possession of this data either. Given the actual facts, the constructed story by the media that the Interior Ministry had wanted to gain access to data regarding right-wing extremism dismisses itself as fake news.""",48.22021,16.37122,"Limitation to Media Freedom,Defamation/Discredit,Source of the Threat/Violation/Abuse,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Type of Journalist,Journalist,Support Needed,Publicity,Solidarity,EU membership,EU member states","https://www.profil.at/oesterreich/fall-bvt-hausdurchsuchung-daten-extremismus-referats-9344337
https://www.profil.at/oesterreich/bvt-staatsaffaere-innenministerium-kriegsschauplatz-9370402
https://derstandard.at/2000075404423/Korruptions-Ermittlungen-gegen-Verfassungsschutz-Beamte
https://derstandard.at/suche/?query=verfassungsschutz&resultPage=2&startDate=17.02.2018&endDate=17.03.2018&period=Month&ressortId=0&status=AktivArchiv&sortOrder=Date
https://www.ots.at/presseaussendung/OTS_20180308_OTS0195/verfahren-gegen-bvt-mitarbeiter-bmi-widerspricht-medialen-fake-news
https://kontrast.at/bvt-skandal-dokumentiert-fpoe-oevp/
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mideast-crisis-syria-ghouta/thousands-flee-in-first-mass-exodus-from-syrias-besieged-eastern-ghouta-idUKKCN1GR0US
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-austria-politics-intelligence/austria-says-intelligence-raids-were-legal-but-political-storm-rolls-on-idUKKCN1GQ2QW
http://www.dw.com/en/austrian-police-raid-on-agency-prompts-outrage/a-42960940
https://derstandard.at/2000075874006/Auch-Innenministerium-will-Pruefung-von-Verfassungsschutz-einleiten",,mappingmediafreedom.api.ushahidi.io/5/a/5ab25edf60a7e-5aabdc26d0562-5aa97c56c8650-standard-newald.jpg
22123,2018-03-09,Italy: Investigative journalist's car vandalised,"9 March, 2018 - Marco Omizzolo, journalist for Inmigrazione and author of multiple investigations into organised crime in agriculture, migrants and illegal hiring, has found his car vandalised in Latina, with all four tires cut, the windshield smashed and the hood beaten and bent, reported Radio Popolare.
The mayor of Latina, Damiano Coletta has denounced how sadly “this does not constitute an isolated case, but yet another intimidation suffered by the journalist and sociologistâ€.
According to Omizzolo this is the second time his car has been vandalised, and just one of the many times he suffered intimidations for his work.",41.46726,12.90357,"Intimidation,Attack to property,Journalist,Male,EU member states","http://www.radiopopolare.it/2018/03/caporalato-omizzolo-minacce-lazio-braccianti/
http://www.latinaquotidiano.it/atto-intimidatorio-contro-il-giornalista-marzo-omizzolo-la-solidarieta-di-coletta-e-la-penna/
http://www.zic.it/latina-grave-intimidazione-al-giornalista-sociologo-anti-caporalato/",,
21994,2018-03-10,Italy: Prosecutors seizes footage and sues journalists after investigation into landfill corruption,"23 February, 2018 Naples - Prosecutors reacted to an undercover report on the dumping business released by media outlet Fanpage.it by seizing 900 hours of rough footage, Fanpage reported.
On 14th February the Italian media outlet Fanpage.it released the first chapter of a long investigation into “the system that lies behind the dumping business: corrupted tenders, illicit waste disposal and money exchange”. The investigation is composed of seven videos of around 15-20 minutes.
In order to obtain this information, Fanpage editor-in-chief Francesco Piccinini chose to pose as a former mafia boss, Nunzio Petrella, who lived under a witness protection programme. As Petrella, he pretended to be getting back into the waste business which enabled him to interact with politicians and middlemen who asked for a bribe to grant him a public tender for a new landfill.
The area around Naples is known as Terra dei fuochi (land of fires) because of number of fires used to dispose of illicit waste. The trash is also dumped underground, which has been causing pollution to leech into soil and aquifer. The contamination is causing health issues in the area: cancer rates among the population in the outskirts of Naples is 46% higher than in the rest of the southern Italian regions, Il Sole 24 Ore reported last November.
Prosecutors reacted to the undercover report by seizing 900 hours of rough footage. According to the Fanpage editor-in-chief Francesco Piccinini and his reporter Sascha Biazzo, investigators were aware of the publication and well-informed during the investigation.
Both the journalists have been notified with a warrant and charged with promoting corruption.",40.835934,14.248783,"Limitation to Media Freedom,Criminal charges,Legal measure,Type of Journalist,Journalist,Editor,Gender,Male,Support Needed,Legal Aid,EU membership,EU member states","https://www.fanpage.it/bloody-money-how-fanpage-infiltrated-a-former-mafia-boss-into-waste-traffic-with-a-camera/
https://notiziario.ossigeno.info/2018/02/fanpage-svela-giro-di-tangenti-giornalisti-indagati-per-induzione-alla-corruzione-93370/",https://www.youtube.com/embed/YePwnhNiO_0,
22001,2018-03-11,Macedonia: Investigative TV show censored by broadcaster after pressure from factory owner,"11 March, 2018 – Snezana Lupevska-Sozen, journalist and producer of the investigative TV show KOD, wrote on her Facebook profile that part of the latest episode of the show, which was scheduled to air on Sunday 11 March on the private broadcaster TV Telma, was censored, news website Fokus.mk reported.
“The investigative TV news show KOD has existed since 2007, and in 11 years there were pressures on me from different centres of power – political, business, criminal… but I never succumbed to any of them,†Lopevska-Sozen wrote in her Facebook post.
The censored segment was examining workers’ rights, and how they hold up against the complex legal labyrinth at the disposal of business tycoons. The subject of the investigation was a factory in Kavadarci, where one worker died in an accident, and another was injured by the machine he was working on, losing both his hands. Both cases have been held up in the court for years, Lupevska-Sozen wrote.
Speaking to Fokus.mk, Lopevska-Sozen reported that the owner of the factory “put pressure on the station†to censor the show.
In solidarity with Lupevska-Sozen and her team of investigative journalists, the authors of the political debate show Top Tema (also aired on TV Telma), boycotted the broadcaster, refusing to air the latest episode that was scheduled for 12 March, Fokus.mk reported.
Atanas Kirovski, the editor-in-chief and general manager of TV Telma did not want to give any comment on the decision not to air the integral show, reported Sloboden Pechat.
“This is a sensitive question. Firstly we need to clarify some things in the desk and then we will decide what to do next,†Kirovski told Sloboden Pechat.
The censored show can be found on the YouTube channel of the TV news magazine KOD.",41.99609,21.43165,"Case of Censorship,Source of the Threat/Violation/Abuse,Employer/Publisher/Colleague(s),Corporation/Company,Type of Journalist,Broadcaster,Editor,Gender,Female,Support Needed,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,EU membership,Candidate countries,Article/Work was heavily cut omitting important information,Commercial interference","https://www.slobodenpecat.mk/drustvo/agentsija-za-mediumi-mediumite-se-nezavisni-vo-kreirane-na-svojata-ureduvachka-politika/
https://www.slobodenpecat.mk/drustvo/znm-telma-da-ja-povleche-odlukata-za-tsenzurirane-na-emisijata-kod/
http://fokus.mk/vo-znak-na-solidarnost-so-lupevska-deneska-nema-da-ima-top-tema/
https://sdk.mk/index.php/makedonija/tsenzurirana-emisijata-na-snezhana-lupevska-sozen-na-tv-telma/",https://www.youtube.com/embed/bQtYTfPzTHI,
22152,2018-04-05,Czech Republic: Three journalists protest against repeated police interrogations,"5 April, 2018 – Three Czech investigative reporters, Jaroslav Kmenta, Janek Kroupa and Sabina Slonkova, claim that the police and the General Inspection of Security Corps (GIBS) tried to intimidate them over the case of acting Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, The Prague Business Journal reported.
Journalists working for three Czech media outlets – monthly investigative publication and website Reportér, investigative reporting website NeovlivnÃ.cz, and public Czech radio issued a joint statement. The journalists wrote they were repeatedly questioned by the police in the past few months about cases in which billionaire businessman and ANO political movement chairman Babis is involved. They stated that the GIBS and the police sent them a series of summons to questionings over alleged leaks from police files although they had already testified on this.
“We are convinced that these investigations are meant to confuse and intimidate us and our sources and discourage us from further work,†the journalists wrote.
The GIBS only confirmed that it was looking into possible information leaks from the police files. However, the investigators cannot comment on an ongoing criminal investigation, GIBS spokesman Ivo Mitacek told CTK. The police raised objections to the reporters’ statement.",50.08747,14.42125,"Intimidation,Legal measure,Violation of anonymity,Police/State security,Journalist,Female,Male,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,EU member states","https://www.novinky.cz/domaci/468217-investigativni-novinari-si-stezuji-na-ucelove-policejni-vyslechy-ukazuji-na-babise.html?source=FBS
https://www.irozhlas.cz/zpravy-domov/sabina-slonkova-janek-kroupa-jaroslav-kmenta-novinari-gibs-andrej-babis_1804051312_dp
https://reportermagazin.cz/a/iVgyH/kmenta-slonkova-kroupa-nedame-se-zastrasit
https://praguebusinessjournal.com/police-intimidate-journalists-investigating-babis/",,
22112,2018-04-09,Serbia: Authorities exert pressure on critical online media outlet and intimidate business partners’ family members,"6 April 2018 - Serbian online media outlet Juzne Vesti has been recently subjected to rigorous tax inspections, intimidation of business partners and their family members, which they believe is retribution for critical coverage of local and national authorities, Serbian media watchdog website Raskrikavanje reported.
Two tax inspections have been ongoing into Juzne Vesti’s financial documents after receiving an “anonymous tip”, but, according to Raskrikavanje, sources claim that inspections were ordered by Belgrade, the website’s director Vitomir Ognjanovic told Raskrikavanje.
Juzne Vesti, the most popular news website in southern Serbia, which is based in Nis, has been submitted to its fifth investigation by tax inspectors in five years. The investigations have never established any irregularities or legal violations and Juzne Vesti has so far not been sanctioned for any reason. However, these frequent and month-long visits by state authorities are exhausting for employees because they have to attend to the inspectors on top of their regular work.
The website's business partners have also been pressured by tax inspections, which Juzne Vesti claims is an attempt to intimidate all their associates so that the website is left with no collaborators. Tax inspectors started calling Juzne Vesti’s business partners and their family members, showing them contracts Juzne Vesti had with EU Delegation in Serbia, OEBS, The European Council, UN and several embassies and then claiming they were spies, Serbian newspaper Danas reported. “This inspector shows these contracts to family members of those employed in our advertisers’ companies and says: ‘Look who your child is working for, this is a company that works for foreign intelligence agencies’”, Juzne Vesti’s editor-in-chief Predrag Blagojevic explained. “Several individuals contacted us. The recipe is always the same, they called their parents, close family members and told them this”, Blagojevic added.
In addition to frequent tax inspections, Juzne Vesti journalists faced other types of pressure. A year after Blagojevic reported to police that he was filmed during a business meeting by an unknown person, the investigation didn’t progress, Serbian channel TV N1 reported.
Blagojevic expressed concern, fearing the publication might suffer the same fate as the critical newspaper Vranjske, which was shut down in September 2017 after similar rigorous tax inspections, pressure and following financial problems. Blagojevic and his colleagues claim they have nothing against tax inspections, but that it’s clear that these checks are being used by state institutions to deal with media that report critically on the authorities.
UPDATE
10 August 2018 - Following six months of intensive controls and inspections, the Serbian Tax Administration has launched a procedure to force regional news website Juzne Vesti to pay around 1 million dinars (more than 8,500 euros), the website reported on 10 August.
Juzne Vesti insisted that the Tax Administration has not discovered any kind of violation regarding the website’s business operation, and that this has been confirmed by the Tax Administration report. The tax authorities have demanded that the news site and its founding company Simplicity d.o.o. pay taxes and employee contributions with interest for the past 10 years for Predrag Blagojevic, who is listed as the website's editor-in-chief on the Serbian Business Register but is not actually employed by Juzne Vesti.
Juzne Vesti said that two tax inspectors had concluded that the editor-in-chief must be employed by the outlet and should pay taxes in accordance with government regulations as set out in the ""Workplace Catalogue in Public Services and Other Public Sector Organisations"". Juzne Vesti noted that this regulation does not apply to the private sector and that therefore Blagojevic is not required to be officially employed by the website. In fact, he has for the last 18 years been paying taxes in his own private company.
Serbian government regulations lay down strict rules for public media, including that an editor-in-chief should be formally employed by the organisation for which he works. However, this regulation does not apply to private and independent media, and there has until now been no attempt to impose it on a private media outlet.
A report on the case published by the anti-corruption NGO Transparency Serbia said that the Tax Administration had accepted in principle that the description of Blagojevic as editor-in-chief of Juzne Vesti on the Serbian Business Register meant that he held the title in name only, as all the work is in fact done by his deputy Aleksandar Stankov, who is on a regular contract and pays his taxes through the company payroll.
However, according to Transparency Serbia the Tax Administration still insisted that Blagojevic's case fell under article 32 of the Labour Act, according to which ""it considers that the employee has established a work relationship for an indefinite period of time on the date of entry into service"".
The NGO noted that the insistence on collecting of fictitious tax debts can threaten the survival of media outlets.
Juzne Vesti said that the tax authorities had initiated a compulsory collection procedure before a final court decision had been reached. According to Bosko Ristic, a lawyer representing the website, the authorities' actions could put the continued survival of the site at risk and undermine media freedom.
“The state is trying to find a legal way to control who can be the editor in private media, but also who can be a journalist”, Blagojevic said in a statement for Juzne Vesti.
Journalist associations and organisations have called on the Serbian authorities to immediately stop putting pressure on Juzne Vesti. On 15 August, these bodies addressed a letter to the European Federation of Journalists, the European Commission and the EU Delegation to the Republic of Serbia, Council of Europe, a number of other international organisations and foreign embassies, in which they drew attention to the selective use of legal mechanisms and the abuse of authority and law by the Tax Administration of the Republic of Serbia.",43.321504,21.89573,"Intimidation,Collateral targets,Defamation/Discredit,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Editor,Other,Female,Male,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,Candidate countries","- https://twitter.com/ognjanovic/status/977201582801674243
- https://www.raskrikavanje.rs/page.php?id=121
- https://www.raskrikavanje.rs/page.php?id=127
- https://www.danas.rs/drustvo/poreska-inspekcija-prica-po-nisu-da-smo-strani-spijuni/
- http://nuns.rs/info/news/35575/-vlast-zloupotrebljava-institucije-za-obracun-sa-juznim-vestima-.html
- http://rs.n1info.com/a377696/Vesti/Blagojevic-o-pritiscima-na-Juzne-vesti.html
- http://rs.n1info.com/a276516/Vesti/Vesti/Blagojevic-jos-uvek-ne-zna-ko-ga-je-snimao-u-centru-Nisa.html
- https://www.juznevesti.com/Ekonomija/Propisima-za-javni-sektor-Poreska-uprava-gasi-Juzne-vesti.sr.html
- http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/serbian-tax-administration-trying-to-close-us-local-media-08-10-2018
- http://www.transparentnost.org.rs/index.php/sr/aktivnosti-2/pod-lupom/10114-ugrozavanje-opstanka-medija-kroz-naplatu-izmisljenog-poreskog-dugovanja
- http://nuns.rs/info/news/37683/zaustavite-administrativno-uznemiravanje-medija.html",,
22138,2018-04-12,Hungary: Newspaper publishes list of 'Soros mercenaries' containing journalists,"12 April, 2018 – Government-friendly weekly Figyelő published a list of 200 names -- including Direkt36, an outlet that specialises in investigative journalism -- that the newspaper claimed are likely part of a group that Prime Minister Viktor Orban calls ""mercenaries"" paid by American-Hungarian billionaire philanthropist George Soros to topple the government, the Associated Press reported.
Andras Petho, an investigative journalist at website Direkt36.hu and one of those named by Figyelo, said that while his publication was partly supported by Soros' foundation, most of its revenues came from crowdfunding efforts and from Hungarian readers.
""We've never had any requests or expectations expressed about our reporting or stories by the Soros fund,"" Petho said, noting that Direkt36's donors were listed on their website.
""In 2016, during a speech in parliament, Prime Minister Orban even quoted information from one of our reports on the financial dealings of an opposition party,"" Petho said.
Direkt36 writes regularly about the business dealings of Orban's family and allies, while also reporting on the business activities and interests of government and opposition politicians.
The Figyelő list includes members of human rights organisations such as Amnesty International, anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International, refugee advocates, faculty and officials from the Soros-founded, Budapest-based Central European University.
Orban was reelected to a fourth term as Hungary's leader during the parliamentary election on Sunday 8 April. A few weeks before the vote, he told a crowd of tens of thousands of supporters that, after the elections, ""moral, political and legal amends"" would be sought against rivals. Orban, who based his campaign on denouncing migrants, blames Soros and organisations supported by his Open Society Foundations for wanting to allow thousands of immigrants into Hungary.
Last month, Orban said the government knew the names of some 2,000 members of the ""Soros mercenary army,"" paid to ""work toward bringing down the government.""
""We know precisely who these people are, we know names... and how and why they are working to transform Hungary into an immigrant country,"" Orban said on 30 March on state radio.",47.49838,19.04047,"Intimidation,Defamation/Discredit,Another media,Journalist,Not Applicable,Legal Aid,Physical protection,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","https://www.statesman.com/news/world/hungary-pro-govt-weekly-prints-list-soros-mercenaries/Ta6U8nl0QdBH0zDyfZQIcN/
https://www.facebook.com/direkt36/posts/836513873220833
https://index.hu/belfold/2018/04/12/soros_lista_figyelo_propaganda/",,mappingmediafreedom.api.ushahidi.io/5/a/5acf7dbbcb2a5-19856625_4ae99feed092e7dd57ed6b307dc0c473_t.jpg
22154,2018-04-13,Netherlands: Journalist denied access and detained by hospital security,"13 April, 2018 - A reporter for investigative journalism TV-show Zembla was detained after trying to attend a symposium about medical mistakes at research hospital UMC in the city of Utrecht, Villamedia website reported.
Investigative reporter Ton van der Ham was working on a story about the well-known case of an Irish patient, Adrienne Cullen, who suffers a terminal illness due to a medical mistake made by the UMC research hospital. Cullen was visiting UMC to give a lecture about her case in cooperation with the doctor who misdiagnosed her. The aim of the lecture was to provide transparency about what had gone wrong.
While the lecture was open to the public and the media, cameras were prohibited inside. Van der Ham, while waiting outside with his cameraman, was first denied access. He was then taken away from the scene by hospital security and taken to a police station for questioning. He was kept by the police for seven hours, and then released, Van der Ham told Dutch public broadcaster, NPO Radio 1. The hospital pressed charges against him for trespassing.
An UMC spokesperson claims that Van der Ham had been given several warnings not to film. According to Van der Ham he had only been waiting outside for the lecture to finish, to do an interview with Cullen, who’d agreed to that.
Zembla had investigated problems at UMC in the past, and had been following Cullen’s case for years already.
Zembla and Van der Ham are considering filing charges against the hospital.",52.03725,5.18596,"Arrest/Detention,Blocked access,Article/Work didn't appear at all,Police/State security,Private security,Journalist,Broadcaster,Male,Legal Aid,Informational resources,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,EU member states","https://www.villamedia.nl/artikel/conflict-umc-versus-zemba-mogelijk-tegen-aangifte-na-aanhouding
https://nos.nl/artikel/2227166-verslaggever-zembla-aangehouden-bij-lezing-umc-utrecht.html
https://zembla.bnnvara.nl/nieuws/statement-met-betrekking-tot-aanhouding-zembla-journalist-ton-van-der-ham-in-umc-utrecht",,
22239,2018-05-08,Bulgaria: Newspaper owner complains about pressure from government official,"20 March, 2018 – Businessman Sasho Donchev – owner of the gas company Overgaz and of the daily newspaper Sega, and head of the Bulgarian Chamber of Industry, was filmed during a business lunch complaining of the alleged pressure applied on him by Prosecutor General Sotir Tsatsarov, Balkan Insight reported.
Donchev claimed Tsatsarov told him that his behaviour had become “unacceptable”, allegedly referring to his ownership of the traditionally critically-minded daily paper and alleged links to a newly formed anti-corruption party Yes, Bulgaria, led by a former minister of justice, Hristo Ivanov.
The unofficial meeting took place on 20 March, and was organised by Georgi Gergov, a businessman and politician in the opposition Socialist Party.
Writing on the website of the state prosecution on 20 April, Tsatsarov dismissed the businessman's claims, accusing Donchev of trying to influence a probe by the state energy regulator into the gas and petrol trade.",42.697863,23.322179,"Intimidation,Psychological abuse,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Other,Male,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/bulgaria-chief-prosecutor-s-controversial-meeting-sparks-protests-04-24-2017
https://www.bnt.bg/en/a/supreme-judicial-council-refused-to-investigate-donchev-tsatsarov-gergov-meeting
https://sofiaglobe.com/2018/04/21/bulgarian-journalists-say-they-self-censor-while-owners-impose-political-policy-us-report/",,mappingmediafreedom.api.ushahidi.io/5/a/5af1a72ba5acf-photo_verybig_146728.jpg
22242,2018-05-08,Montenegro: Investigative journalist shot in the leg,"8 May, 2018 -- Olivera Lakić, a journalist for the daily Vijesti, was shot in the leg in front of her apartment building in the centre of the capital, Podgorica, news website BalkanInsight.com reported.
Police said the attack happened around 9pm. Right after the attack Lakić was taken into hospital and her life is not in danger, daily Vijesti reported.
Vijesti’s chief editor, Mihailo Jovović, said Lakić told him a man approached her and shot her, while two other men ran away, The Guardian reported.
“I am speechless,†Jovović said in comments published on the Vijesti website.
“For how much longer will this be happening? A lot of stories she wrote have not been investigated [by the authorities]. For how much longer must we live in fear of such cowards?â€
This was not the first time that Lakić has been attacked.
According to the 2016 report compiled by the NGO Human Rights Action the attacks and intimidations against Lakić started in 2011 after she wrote a series of articles on alleged illegal production and smuggling of cigarettes that was originating from factories in Montenegro.
In March 2012 a man in a black tracksuit struck her, also in front of the building where she lives.
State prosecution initiated a procedure against Ivan Bušković who was subsequently prosecuted and sentenced to nine months in prison for the 2012 attack.
In the written reaction published on theirs website the Trade Union of Media of Montenegro (SMCG) strongly condemns the brutal attack on Lakić.
SMCG reported that none of the previous attacks on Lakić were fully resolved.
“We have a long and disgraceful history of impunity for attacks on journalists in Montenegro. Until now no one out of those accountable for solving cases of attacks on journalists did not bear any responsibility for unprofessional or poorly done work,†SMCG wrote.
The incident was condemned by the US embassy in Podgorica and the EU delegation in Montenegro.
The US embassy tweeted that the journalists “are the guardians of democracy and must be protected so they can do their jobs in safetyâ€.
Aivo Orav, head of the EU delegation in Montenegro, called the attack “very worrying.â€",42.44152,19.26211,"Physical assaults,Injury,Intimidation,Criminal organisation,Journalist,Female,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,Candidate countries","http://www.sindikatmedija.me/en/index.php/press-releases/226-with-dishonorable-shot-olivera-lakic-was-sent-a-message-to-stop-writting
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/montenegrin-journalist-shot-and-wounded-in-capital-05-08-2018
http://www.hraction.org/2018/05/09/9-5-2018-zasto-je-pucano-na-novinarku-oliveru-lakic/
http://www.hraction.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Izvjestaj-Olivera-Lakic.pdf
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/08/investigative-journalist-olivera-lakic-shot-montenegro
https://www.rferl.org/a/montenegro-investigative-reported-lakic-shot-wounded-podgorica-police/29216440.html
http://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/ranjena-novinarka-vijesti-olivera-lakic-987621
http://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/u-11-ispred-vlade-protest-zbog-napada-na-lakic-987629
http://www.vijesti.me/vijesti/pucali-u-oliveru-lakic-neko-ce-za-ovo-jednom-odgovarati-987648",,
22252,2018-05-10,Bulgaria: Investigative journalist attacked,"10 May, 2018 – Investigative journalist Hristo Geshov was attacked and assaulted outside his home in the town of Cherven Bryag in northwestern Bulgaria, desant.net reports.
“I attribute this attack entirely to my investigative reporting and to the warnings I sent to the authorities about the management of finances by the Cherven Bryag municipal government,†Geshov wrote in a Facebook post a few hours after being punched in the stomach and back by an unidentified assailant. “Despite the pain and many bruises, I am sure that I will not abandon my work, and the attack against me is a sign that I am right,†he added.
Geshov writes for the regional investigative reporting website Za Istinata, works with the journalistic online platform “About the Truth†and hosts a programme called “On Target†that is available on YouTube.
He began being harassed after a series of articles about municipal government irregularities in Cherven Bryag in which he claimed, inter alia, that three municipal councillors were using European Union funds to renovate their homes.
Reporters Without Borders condemns the attack. “This attack is indicative of the degree to which investigative reporters are now being targeted by groups that want to silence them and impose terror,†said Pauline Adès-Mével, the head of RSF’s EU-Balkans desk. “We hail the swift reaction of the police and medical services, but the Bulgarian authorities must also provide physical protection to journalists who, like Hristo Geshov, are the targets of threats of this kind.â€",43.27895,24.08243,"Physical assaults,Intimidation,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Male,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","http://www.desant.net/show-news/44952
https://rsf.org/en/news/bulgarian-investigative-reporter-attacked-provincial-town",,mappingmediafreedom.api.ushahidi.io/5/a/5af93d30d1a62-152602802433818.jpg
22273,2018-05-15,Slovakia: Police seize journalist's phone,"15 May 2018 -- Slovakia’s National Crime Agency seized a mobile phone belonging to investigative reporter Pavla Holcova who works for the Czech Center for Investigative Reporting, according to a statement issued by Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project.
Slovak police invited Holcova for an interview for what was believed to be a meeting to aid the investigation into the murder of Jan Kuciak, OCCRP said in a statement on their site. At the meeting, police presented a prosecutor's order to seize Holcova's phone.
According to OCCRP, the police interrogated Holcova for over eight hours and asked questions outside the scope of the investigation of Kuciak's murder. During the questioning, Holcova told OCCRP that the officers made comments about her work saying it was ""always against the system"".
OCCRP wrote in a statement that the ""Slovak police seemed more interested in our reporting of the murder, our internal communication, the intentions of other media reporting the issue, and other information not pertinent to the investigation.""
When Holcova declined to answer questions that were irrelevant to the murder investigation and impinged on her journalistic right to report independently and to hold government accountable, they asked her about her phone and threatened to fine her €1650 if she didn’t cooperate. She then voluntarily showed police a few messages and told them she would send them all conversations with Kuciak which she had downloaded.
Police then told her that they were not interested in these conversations but wanted all of Holcova's messages recorded after the murder. At that point three officers entered the room with a mobile forensic unit and tried to download the phone's information. When this did not work, they pressured Holcova into handing over the phone.
In its statement, the OCCRP said the phone contained no information relevant to the investigation that has not already been voluntarily offered to the Slovak authorities.
The organisation said that it would pursue a legal case in response.",48.13591,17.15974,"Interrogation,Attack to property,Legal measure,Violation of anonymity,Police/State security,Journalist,Female,Legal Aid,Publicity,EU member states","https://www.occrp.org/en/62-press-releases/8084-slovak-police-must-return-seized-reporter-s-phone-immediately
https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/589746/policajti-vzali-mobil-novinarke-ktora-robila-s-kuciakom/
https://ekonomika.sme.sk/c/20826740/kuciakovej-kolegyni-vzali-policajti-mobil-odmietla-dat-hesla-pokusia-sa-ich-prelomit.html
http://europeanjournalists.org/blog/2018/05/16/investigative-reporter-pavla-holcovas-phone-seized-after-eight-hour-interrogation-related-to-jan-kuciaks-murder/",,mappingmediafreedom.api.ushahidi.io/5/a/5afc2c90f0a02-pavla_holcova.jpg
22325,2018-05-26,Bosnia and Herzegovina: CIN journalists threatened via Facebook,"26 May 2018 – Journalists working for the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIN) were subjected to intimidation via the body's Facebook page, the Regional Platform for Advocating Media Freedom and Journalists’ Safety reported.
Facebook user Muhamed Cuna Cerimovic, a private citizen, objected to a CIN report about Fikret Abdić, mayor of Velika Kladuša, which alleged that Abdić had made appointments that contravene Bosnia and Herzegovina's conflict of interests law.
In his Facebook post Cerimovic alluded to physical violence, saying that the CIN journalists should watch their backs and stay away from Velika KladuÅ¡a. He used the phrase ""Die you scumbagsâ€.
According to CIN, Abdić was alleged to have violated the law on conflict of interests - which states that individuals cannot hold public office at the same time as working for public companies - by appointing several of his closest advisors to posts with public companies.
The Regional Platform reported that the Facebook comment was reported to the police.",43.85198,18.38669,"Intimidation,Trolling/Cyberbullying,Known private individual(s),Journalist,Photographer,Editor,Not Applicable,Union intervention,Potential candidates","http://safejournalists.net/ba/reports/zastrasivanje-verbalne-prijetnje-novinari-cin-sarajevo-26-05-2018/
https://www.cin.ba/en/babini-savjetnici-u-dvije-fotelje/",,mappingmediafreedom.api.ushahidi.io/5/b/5b20e8da01646-comment.jpg
22362,2018-06-01,Slovakia: Businessman Marian Kocner intimidates journalist,"1 June 2018 - Controversial businessman Marian Kocner, who featured in several articles written by the murdered journalist Jan Kuciak, threatened Adam Valcek, an investigative reporter of the country's major daily, Sme, reported on its website.
Valcek was working on a story describing Kocner's alleged involvement in an opaque business transaction. When Valcek sent questions regarding the story to Kocner, the latter responded by sending a set of questions of his own, pertaining to Valcek's family and health situation. Some of the questions referred to private information, not available through public registers. One day later Hlavne Spravy, a fake news website, published the questions Kocner sent.
Kocner also threatened investigative reporter Jan Kuciak in 2017, who worked on the same story. Kuciak was killed in February 2018.
Valcek has filed a criminal complaint against Kocner. The National Criminal Agency started investigating the case.
On 9 June, 2018, Kocner started his own video blog on Facebook, saying that he wants to talk about mainstream journalists and public officials. In his first video, he discussed the questions he sent to Valcek and the responses provided by the reporter and his editorial room.",48.13591,17.15974,"Intimidation,Psychological abuse,Violation of anonymity,Known private individual(s),Journalist,Male,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20839535/tycoon-marian-kocner-threatens-sme-journalist.html
https://domov.sme.sk/c/20839508/marian-kocner-zastrasuje-reportera-sme-adama-valceka.html
https://www.omediach.com/tlac/13350-naka-zacala-vysetrovanie-kvoli-vyhrazkam-novinarovi",,
22372,2018-06-14,Serbia: Investigative journalist goes missing,"14 June 2018 - Investigative journalist Stefan Cvetković disappeared overnight in the town of Bela Crkva, the independent news agency Beta reported.
Cvetković’s car was found with the door open and the engine still running, Beta said, quoting eyewitness reports. The witnesses added that the journalist's watch, with its strap broken, was found nearby.
Beta said that it had tried to contact Cvetković, but could not reach him on any of his known phone numbers.
Serbian police issued a statement saying they had launched a search for Cvetković and that the prosecutor's office has been informed of the case.
In recent years, Cvetković - who worked as a freelancer - had complained on several occasions of being threatened by businessmen with political connections because of his reporting.
Beta noted that he had been investigating the case of Kosovo Serb politician Oliver Ivanović, who was assassinated in Kosovo in January 2018.
Beta added that on 19 May, Cvetković was held for six hours at a police station in Jarinje, on the Serbia-Kosovo border, and was interrogated there by Kosovo police in connection with his investigation into the murder of Ivanović.
UPDATE (14 June 2018) - Several Serbian media organisations expressed concern over Cvetković's disappearance and called on the authorities to do their utmost to resolve the case as soon as possible, B92 news website reported.
The Media Association (AM), Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM), Association of Online Media (AOM), and the Slavsko Curuvija Foundation - named after a Serbian journalist who was shot dead in 1999 - issued a statement calling on the law enforcement agencies ""to urgently engage all available resources"" to find Cvetković.
The Serbian Interior Ministry issued a statement saying that police divers and a helicopter had been deployed in the search for Cvetković, and the website of TV N1 quoted Serbian President Aleksandar VuÄić as saying that the full resources of the police and the country's civilian intelligence agency were being devoted to the search for the journalist.
UPDATE (15 June 2018) - Serbian President Aleksandar VuÄić announced that Cvetkovic had been found alive and well in the Bela Crkva area, Serbian public broadcaster RTS reported.
Speaking at a special press conference in Belgrade, VuÄić said that Cvetković “couldn’t be healthierâ€.
VuÄić added that Cvetković had given his own version of the events that took place during the night of 13-14 June and was currently in police custody, where he would remain ""for some time because he has a lot of explaining to do"".
The Serbian president said that ""certain media"" had carried misleading accounts of the circumstances of Cvetković’s disappearance and that the authorities had immediately been suspicious of some of these stories.
Serbian Interior Minister Nebojša Stefanović, who took part in the same press conference, said that ""many illogicalities"" had emerged during the investigation, Radio Free Europe reported on its website.
According to RTS, neither VuÄić nor Stefanović nor the head of the Serbian security service (BIA) Bratislav GaÅ¡ić, who was also present at the press briefing, revealed any further details.
VuÄić said that the public would be told “what had really happened†within the next few days, RTS added.
UPDATE (19 June 2018) - Police in the city of PanÄevo have filed a criminal complaint against Cvetković to the Public Prosecutor’s office in Vrsac, alleging that he committed the offence of falsely reporting his own kidnapping, Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) reported on its website Javno.
Prosecutor Tihomir Knezevic told the regional TV station N1 that the prosecution was launching an investigation to establish the facts of the case.
Also on 19 June, Cvetković held his own press conference at the Media Centre Belgrade, at which he said that he had not been informed about the prosecutor's investigation against him, regional news portal Balkan Insight reported. Cvetković said that he had been kidnapped by three men, and called for an international investigation into the case.
N1 TV’s website later quoted Serbian police chief Vladimir Rebic as saying that Cvetković had made a series of illogical statements and had lied during his press conference. Rebic added that Cvetković would remain under police protection for as long as there was any possibility that there could be a threat against him.",44.90159,21.42212,"Criminal charges,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Male,Physical protection,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,Candidate countries,Other (Please indicate in report text)","https://beta.rs/vesti/vesti-drustvo/91642-nestao-novinar-stefan-cvetkovic-iz-bele-crkve
http://rs.n1info.com/a396197/Vesti/Nestao-novinar-Stefan-Cvetkovic-iz-Bele-Crkve.html
https://bit.ly/2t56O41
https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/29289740.html
http://uns.org.rs/sr/desk/media-news/62341/nestao-novinar-stefan-cvetkovic-iz-bele-crkve.html
http://www.ndnv.org/2018/06/14/nestao-novinar-stefan-cvetkovic-iz-bele-crkve/
https://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2018&mm=06&dd=14&nav_id=104401
http://rs.n1info.com/a396283/English/NEWS/all-resources-used-in-search-for-journalist-Vucic-says.html
http://www.rts.rs/page/stories/ci/story/1/politika/3171653/pres-konferencija-predsednika-vucica.html
https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/nastavak-potraga-cvetkovic/29291473.html
http://rs.n1info.com/a397627/Vesti/Direktor-policije-Cvetkovic-izneo-niz-nelogicnosti-i-lazi.html
http://javno.rs/vest/preview/preokret-u-slucaju-nestalog-novinara-krivicna-prijava-protiv-stefana-cvetkovica
http://rs.n1info.com/a397513/Vesti/Tuzilastvo-pokrece-istragu-protiv-Cvetkovica.html
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/serbian-police-claims-journalist-faked-own-kidnapping-06-19-2018#.WykiHlJW3Wg.twitter
http://www.mc.rs/cvetkovic-otele-su-me-tri-osobe-trazicu-medjunarodnu-istragu.6.html?eventId=72119
https://www.facebook.com/medija.centar/posts/10160499161015055
https://insajder.net/sr/sajt/vazno/11600/Posle-Cvetkovi%C4%87evog-svedo%C4%8Denja-%E2%80%93-brojna-nova-pitanja.htm",,mappingmediafreedom.api.ushahidi.io/5/b/5b22534fbc394-bfe1f0b4-e887-42f7-ac53-6b47254e677e.jpeg
22807,2018-06-21,Latvia: Riga mayor sues Re:Baltica journalists for criminal defamation,"21 June 2018 - Two journalists with the investigative journalism outlet Re:Baltica were informed by the police that Nils UÅ¡akovs, the mayor of Riga and a leader of the social democratic Harmony party, had filed a criminal defamation complaint against them in connection with an article claiming that he had spent some 8 million euros of public money on a self-promotion campaign.
Ušakovs maintained that the article by Sanita Jemberga and Inga Spriņģe, which was published on 15 March, contained ""defamatory falsehoods"".
Re:Baltica filed a response citing Latvian and European Court of Human Rights decisions backing media freedom and called for the complaint to be dismissed. Criminal defamation statutes, such as Section 157 of the Latvian Criminal Code cited in the Riga mayor’s complaint, have been criticised by media freedom advocates in Latvia and Europe. The police subsequently dismissed Ušakovs' complaint.
UPDATE: 1 November 2018
Ušakovs has appealed against the decision of the Latvian Police to dismiss a criminal defamation complaint he filed against Re:Baltica journalists Sanita Jemberga and Inga Spriņģe in June, several Latvian media outlets reported. Ušakovs' appeal appears to have been filed in late October.
The Latvian Prosecutor’s office, to which Ušakovs submitted his appeal, must now decide whether the police had valid grounds for dismissing the complaint.",56.9494,24.10519,"Intimidation,Criminal charges,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Editor,Female,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","https://rebaltica.lv/2018/03/ko-usakovs-tev-nestasta/
https://rebaltica.lv/2018/08/kam-pieder/
http://www.delfi.lv/news/national/criminal/usakovs-parsudzejis-policijas-lemumu-nesakt-kriminalprocesu-pret-springi-un-jembergu.d?id=50544717&fbclid=IwAR1RtPGnGI5Bcr2CsR-d0W5uH6kyp4T1pEEx396WdE8wHSagEiv5MqQ2ZW8
https://www.tvnet.lv/6443546/usakovs-parsudzejis-policijas-lemumu-nesakt-kriminalprocesu-pret-re-baltica-zurnalistem",,
22411,2018-06-21,Netherlands: Offices of investigative weeklies targeted by rocket fire,"21 June 2018 - A building housing the offices of two weekly magazines, Panorama and Nieuwe Revu, in the Amsterdam district of Sloterdijk has come under rocket fire, daily Het Parool reported.
The incident happened late in the evening and no one was injured. Windows and doors were badly damaged. The rocket launcher that fired the anti-tank weapon was found at the scene by the police. Overnight, the police arrested a suspect who was identified by various media outlets as Richard Z., the leader of a banned local motorcycle gang called Caloh Wago MC Main Triad.
The building houses several media companies, but the attack is believed to have specifically targeted Panorama and Nieuwe Revu, magazines known for their reporting on organised crime and on feuds between various criminal groups and motorcycle gangs.
Panorama recently reported that two people convicted for a criminal underworld killing were connected to Caloh Wago MC Main Triad.
The attack was condemned by the Dutch Journalists' Union NVJ. NVJ secretary Thomas Bruning was quoted by the RTL news website as saying the incident sent out an ""alarming message"" that journalists in The Netherlands were increasingly becoming the target of violent attacks.",52.38902,4.838877,"Intimidation,Collateral targets,Attack to property,Known private individual(s),Criminal organisation,Physical protection,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,EU member states","https://www.nvj.nl/nieuws/aanval-telegraaf-en-panorama-alarmerende-trend
https://www.villamedia.nl/artikel/pand-uitgeverij-panorama-beschoten-met-raketwerper
https://www.parool.nl/amsterdam/pand-redactie-panorama-beschoten-met-raketwerper~a4600298/
https://panorama.nl/nieuws/pand-panorama-beschoten-met-anti-tankwapen?_sp=b10fd645-99c8-4441-9c39-7afb11903338.1529659861967
https://www.metronieuws.nl/nieuws/amsterdam/2018/06/richard-z-verdachte-beschieting-pand-panorama
https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/nederland/verdachte-beschieten-pand-panorama-is-lid-motorclub",,
22407,2018-06-24,Croatia: Journalist hospitalised following assault,"24 June 2018 - Journalist Hrvoje Bajlo was left with severe injuries and had to be hospitalised following a brutal attack in the coastal town of Zadar, the Croatian news website Index.hr reported.
Index said that Bajlo, who owns the Zadar News website and also writes for the national media outlets Index and the Nacional weekly, named his attacker as Jakov Surać, a former football player who used to play for the Zadar team and is now a businessman.
Surać was arrested and was held in police custody for two days in connection with the attack, but was later released on condition that he did not come within 50 metres of Bajlo, the news website N1 reported.
The incident, which happened on Sunday evening in front of a café bar in Zadar, resulted in Bajlo's right arm being broken plus other injuries to his body and head, the Croatian Journalists' Association (HND) said.
In a statement published on its website, HND said that Surać first verbally abused Bajlo, referring to his work for the two national media outlets, and then threatened to kill him if he continued to write about two former senior government officials who are under investigation for corruption.
According to HND, Surać then physically assaulted Bajlo, who was left unconscious after the attack.
HND noted that over the last few years, Bajlo had already received threats on account of his investigative journalism, but despite reporting all these threats to the police, no progress had been made in resolving these cases.
It demanded firmer action on the part of the police, and called on the government to clearly condemn the increasing number of threats and attacks against journalists.",44.111,15.23403,"Physical assaults,Injury,Intimidation,Known private individual(s),Journalist,Other,Male,Solidarity,EU member states","http://www.hnd.hr/eng/cja-we-strongly-condem-brutal-physical-attack-against-zadar-journalist-hrvoje-bajlo-and-call-for-quick-and-clear-reaction-from-state-institutions
https://www.vecernji.hr/vijesti/priveden-bivsi-nogometas-jakov-surac-zbog-sumnje-da-je-tesko-ozlijedio-novinara-hrvoja-bajla-1254251
https://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/pretucen-zadarski-novinar-kaze-da-ga-je-prebio-bivsi-nogometas-zadra-zavrsit-ces-kao-pukanic/2006796.aspx
https://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/crna-kronika/u-zadru-brutalno-pretucen-novinar-hrvoje-bajlo---521714.html
http://hr.n1info.com/a312341/Vijesti/Pretuceni-novinar-Hrvoje-Bajlo-za-N1-Rekao-je-da-cu-zavrsiti-kao-Pukanic.html
http://hr.n1info.com/a312705/Vijesti/Jakov-Surac-pusten-iz-pritvora-ne-smije-se-pribliziti-novinaru-Hrvoju-Bajli.html",,mappingmediafreedom.api.ushahidi.io/5/b/5b3379ee3fb53-croatian journalist hrvoje bajlo - injury sustained in attack.jpg
22441,2018-06-26,Austria: Interior Minister threatens investigative journalists,"26 June 2018 - Interior Minister Herbert Kickl threatened to launch criminal investigations against several media outlets that have produced investigative reports on Austria’s BVT domestic intelligence agency, the public service broadcaster ORF reported.
In an interview with ORF, Kickl, who is a member of the right-wing coalition partner FPÖ, was asked about the Interior Ministry's controversial decision to order police raids on BVT earlier in the year, to which he responded: ""It's not the Interior Ministry or the Ministry of Justice causing insecurity at the moment, but self-proclaimed investigative journalists and a kind of media which is trying every day to publish material that is classified as top-secret and is not intended to be published, and to give an incomplete picture of the actual facts of the case.""
Kickl then referred to Michael Nikbakhsh, an investigative journalist who has been working on the BVT story for the weekly magazine Profil, and described him as an example of ""media being of interest"" in the ongoing investigations.
The editors-in-chief of five major Austrian newspapers responded to Kickl's threats against investigative journalists in their leading articles. Rainer Nowak, editor-in-chief of the daily newspaper Presse said he feared journalists would be ""silenced by intimidation tactics or coercive action"" and compared Kickl's ""subtle threats"" to ""playing with fire"". Esther Mittenstieler, editor-in-chief of the magazine News, warned ""of conditions similar to Poland and Hungary"". Helmut Brandstätter, editor-in-chief of the daily newspaper Kurier, commented: ""Journalists are openly threatened.""",48.22021,16.37122,"Intimidation,Defamation/Discredit,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Broadcaster,Editor,Blogger/Citizen journalist,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,EU member states","https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FeqDQ_oCKw
https://diepresse.com/home/meinung/5456486/Herbert-Kickl-spielt-mit-dem-Feuer
https://www.news.at/a/leitartikel-freiheit-10171430
https://www.profil.at/meinung/christian-rainer-ausweitung-kampfzone-10174260
https://kurier.at/meinung/die-meinungsfreiheit-ist-schnell-in-gefahr/400059371",https://www.youtube.com/embed/8FeqDQ_oCKw,
22536,2018-07-26,Bulgaria: MEP insults journalist on Facebook,"26 July, 2018 – Nikolay Barekov, a member of the European Parliament wrote a long Facebook post filled with accusations about Atanas Tchobanov, a journalist for investigative outlet Bivol.bg.
Barekov claimed that on Thursday, 26 July, Tchobanov attacked him verbally and urged him to get involved in a physical altercation in an establishment in the capital Sofia while the politician was having dinner with former prosecutor Roman Vassilev.
""I am very sorry if I am disappointing friends, but an hour ago, I suggested to the person who desperately resembled Atanas Tchobanov from Bivol to be a man and come out so that I can settle the dispute, instead of loudly bashing me in the presence of a bunch of witnesses in a restaurant near the capital's beltway.†– Barekov wrote, adding later: “I'm sorry I did not beat him. He, himself, suggested it and stridently urged me to do it, but he wanted to be in the middle of the restaurant to (...) promote himself as the victim.â€
Barekov then said he met Tchobanov a year ago: “the same person offended me with the same words while shopping for bottles of the most expensive rakia, but in the midst of the insults he managed to skedaddle with a bottle under his arm†(...) “Such liberal psychos, drunkards, genders, and nits fully justify my opinion that we [Bulgarians] are stupid people since such individuals guide public opinion†(...) “Individuals, like these simpletons and incoherent Sorosoids live only for the scandal.â€
Barekov has been the subject of several investigations by Bivol.
Tchobanov told Mapping Media Freedom that he was on holiday in Greece when Barekov said the restaurant dispute took place.",42.69786,23.32218,"Intimidation,Defamation/Discredit,Psychological abuse,Soft censorship,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Male,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","https://www.blitz.bg/kriminalni/ekskluzivno-v-blits-barekov-izbukhna-chobanov-ot-bivol-me-psuvashe-dokato-vecheryakh-s-roman-vasilev-zhalko-che-ne-go-nabikh_news616491.html
https://bivol.bg/en/bulgarian-mep-attacks-bivols-editor-in-chief-with-ugly-vilification-and-hate-speech.html
https://www.facebook.com/nikolay.barekov/posts/424513301373310",,mappingmediafreedom.api.ushahidi.io/5/b/5b632ab4bb0a9-photo_verybig_165684.jpg
22575,2018-07-31,Austria: Defense lawyers attempt to hinder journalist's reporting on major corruption trial,"18 July 2018 - Lawyers for accused former finance minister Karl-Heinz Grasser filed charges against journalist Edith Grünwald after she published an interview on the major corruption trial, the public broadcaster ORF reported.
Grünwald, who works for the Austrian Press Agency APA, interviewed former parliamentarian Gabriela Moser on the corruption case which Grasser's lawyers view as an attempt to influence the ongoing trial. Charges were filed both against Grünwald and Moser.
The APA editorial advisory board called the accusations in their press release a ""blatant attempt of intimidation"" with the intention to ""exert pressure on representatives of the free media and thereby influence the reporting on the trial"".
Grasser's lawyers also attempted to ban the ""live-ticker"" which gives journalists the opportunity to report live from the trial. Furthermore, defence lawyer of Grasser's co-defendant Walter Meischberger requested to exempt journalist Florian Klenk from the trial who had earlier been nominated as a witness by the defence.
Both requests were rejected by the judge pointing out the trial's relevancy for public of Austria due to the severe allegations as well as dismissing the latter request of the defense as an opening door to hinder journalist's reporting from the courtroom by simply putting journalists on the witness list.",48.22021,16.371216,"Intimidation,Civil lawsuits,Legal measure,Known private individual(s),Journalist,Broadcaster,Legal Aid,EU member states","https://orf.at/stories/2447467/2447468/
https://www.ots.at/presseaussendung/OTS_20180718_OTS0101/apa-redaktionsbeirat-kritisiert-anzeige-gegen-apa-journalistin-im-buwog-prozess?utm_source=2018-07-18&utm_medium=email&utm_content=html&utm_campaign=mailabodigest
https://www.sn.at/politik/innenpolitik/grasser-prozess-ex-minister-zeigt-gruene-und-journalistin-an-34942876",,
22568,2018-08-07,Poland: Ruling party sues Gazeta Wyborcza over investigative articles,"7 August 2018 - Gazeta Wyborcza, a national daily, has been sued by the ruling Law and Justice party for a series of articles revealing connections between its two top politicians (Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik) and a man accused of fraud in privatisation scandal in Warsaw.
The PiS party demanded apologies and 30,000 złoty to charitable purpose.
In seven articles, Gazeta Wyborcza journaIists Iwona Szpala and Wojciech Czuchnowski revealed letters written in prison by Jakub R., a former municipality officer, who claims to know Mariusz Kamiński and Maciej Wąsik personally. The source told the journalists that the politicians were interested in making money in the privatisation.
â€This is one more example that the ruling party is aimed at gagging the media and limiting freedom of expression. PiS is chasing journalists and hoping that it will prevent critical publications about themselves but taxpayers pay for thatâ€- Piotr Rogowski, an attorney representing Agora, the publisher of Gazeta Wyborcza.
Beata Mazurek a spokesperson for Law and Justice party did not comment on the lawsuit to the website Wirtualnemedia.pl.",52.23192,21.00673,"Civil lawsuits,Political party,Journalist,Editor,Female,Male,Publicity,EU member states","https://www.wirtualnemedia.pl/artykul/pis-pozywa-gazete-wyborcza-za-teksty-szpali-i-czuchnowskiego-dot-afery-reprywatyzacyjnej
http://natemat.pl/245843,pis-pozywa-wyborcza-za-artykuly-o-kaminskim-i-wasiku-w-tle-reprywatyzacja
http://wyborcza.pl/7,75398,23760151,pis-pozywa-wyborcza-za-artykuly-o-warszawskiej-reprywatyzacji.html
https://www.wprost.pl/kraj/10144436/pis-pozywa-gazete-wyborcza-chodzi-o-artykuly-dwoch-autorow.html",,
22561,2018-08-09,Turkey: Court issues arrest warrant for five Karşı journalists,"2 August 2018 - The 23rd High Criminal Court of Istanbul, which earlier accepted the indictment issued against the former owner and 10 employees of the shuttered Karşı newspaper, has issued arrest warrants for five of the indicted journalists, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported.
Anadolu said that the court had ordered arrest warrants to be issued for journalists Alaaddin Akkaşoğlu, Değer Özergün, Mehmet Aydoğmuş, Murat Kazancı and Onur Kala, whom the indictment accuses of being users of ByLock, an encrypted messaging app which the Turkish authorities maintain is used exclusively by members of the Fethullah Gülen network. The government accuses the Gülen group of being behind the 15 July 2016 coup attempt.
The indictment, issued in May, seeks up to 18 years in prison for Karşı reporter Ufuk Emin Köroğlu and former editor-in-chief of the shuttered Millet daily Değer Özgergün on charges of “membership of an armed terrorist organisation” and “disclosing the identities of public officials who have taken part in the fight against terrorism.”
The indictment also seeks up to 15 years of imprisonment for Alaaddin Akkaşoğlu, the owner of the newspaper’s website karşıgazete.com and a partner of the shuttered Akis Publications; karşıgazete.com chief editor Mehmet Aydoğmuş; Onur Kala, the purported owner of the Twitter account “@Fedakarkisi”; Murat Kazancı, the news director of the printed edition; and Emrah Direk, on the charge of “membership of an armed terrorist organisation.” Also indicted is Kutlu Esendemir, the newspaper’s general coordinator, for “knowingly and willingly aiding an armed terrorist organisation without being its member.” Esendemir also faces 15 years in prison.
The indictment did not seek jail terms for the newspaper’s former owner, Turan Ababey, reporter Emre Erciş, and responsible managing editor Mehmet Bozkurt, who were charged with “knowingly and willingly aiding an armed terrorist organisation without being its member.” Instead the prosecution recommended that they be allowed to benefit from ""effective remorse"".
The 23rd High Criminal Court of Istanbul, in addition to issuing arrest warrants, also ruled that the file be merged with an ongoing case against Eren Erdem, a former opposition MP, who was jailed pending trial on 29 June on accusations stemming from his time as Karşı editor-in-chief. The court overseeing Erdem’s case accepted that the two case files should be merged, but ruled that the trial should be overseen by the 23rd High Criminal Court. The case file was then referred to an appellate court, which will determine which of the two trial courts will have jurisdiction over the case.
UPDATE: 2 November 2018 - The “Karşı newspaper trial,” where 12 defendants stand accused of various criminal charges on account of their work at the newspaper, got under way in Istanbul. The defendants include the former publisher of the shuttered newspaper, Turan Ababey, and former editor-in-chief Eren Erdem. At the end of the three-day hearing, the court ruled that Eren Erdem, who is currently in pre-trial detention, should remain in detention, Anadolu Agency reported.
Erdem, a former MP for the Republican People's Party (CHP), was jailed pending trial in June on accusations stemming from his time as Karşı editor-in-chief as part of the case overseen by the 35th High Criminal Court of Istanbul. Erdem faces charges of “knowingly and willingly aiding an armed terrorist organisation without being part of its hierarchical structure,” “revealing the identity of a secret witness” and “violating the confidentiality of an investigation.”
The 23rd High Criminal Court of Istanbul, which later accepted an indictment into the publisher and employees of Karşı, ruled to merge the case file with the file before the 35th High Criminal Court against Erdem. An appellate court later ruled that the 23rd High Criminal Court should have jurisdiction over the merged case. The indictment for the merged case file seeks up to 15 years' imprisonment for Alaaddin Akkaşoğlu, the owner of the newspaper’s website karsigazete.com, and a partner of the shuttered Akis Publications; karsigazete.com chief editor Mehmet Aydoğmuş; Onur Kala, who is purported to be the owner of the Twitter account with the handle “@Fedakarkisi”; Murat Kazancı, the news director for the hardcopy edition; and Emrah Direk, on the charge of “membership of an armed terrorist organisation.” Also indicted is Kutlu Esendemir, the newspaper’s general coordinator, for “knowingly and willingly aiding an armed terrorist organisation without being its member.” He also faces 15 years in prison.
The indictment seeks up to 18 years in prison each for Karşı reporter Ufuk Emin Köroğlu and former editor-in-chief of the shuttered Millet daily, Değer Özergün, on charges of “membership of an armed terrorist organisation” and “disclosing the identities of public officials who have taken part in the fight against terrorism.”
The prosecution did not seek jail terms for Ababey, reporter Emre Erciş, and responsible managing editor Mehmet Bozkurt, who are charged with “knowingly and willingly aiding an armed terrorist organisation without being its member.” Instead the prosecution recommended that they benefit from the ""effective remorse"" clause.
The 23rd High Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for five of the suspects: Alaaddin Akkaşoğlu, Değer Özergün, Mehmet Aydoğmuş, Murat Kazancı and Onur Kala, who are accused in the indictment of using ByLock, an encrypted messaging app purported to be exclusively used by the members of the Fethullah Gülen network, which the government accuses of being behind the 2016 coup attempt.
The first hearing after the merging of the files took place over three days in the Silivri courthouse near the prison complex. Eren Erdem, Turan Ababey, Emre Erciş, Mehmet Bozkurt and Kutlu Esendemir as well as defence lawyers were in attendance at the court. Erdem gave his defence statement on the first day of the hearing, responding to the accusations against him.
Onur Kala, who was recently arrested, also addressed the court for his defence statement via the courtroom video-conferencing system from the Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan. He denied the accusations.
After the completion of the defence statements, the prosecutor requested continued detention for Erdem on grounds that “the collection of evidence was ongoing” and that there was “strong suspicion of crime.” The prosecution also asked that Onur Kala be jailed pending trial and that the case file against Alaaddin Akkaşoğlu be separated.
Announcing its interim ruling on the last day of the hearing, 2 November, the court ruled to keep Erdem behind bars, and jailed Kala pending trial, as well as separating Akkaşoğlu’s file. The court also ruled to await the execution of arrest warrants against Ufuk Emin Köroğlu, Emrah Direk, Değer Özergün, Mehmet Aydoğmuş and Murat Kazancı and set 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 January 2019 as the dates for the next hearing.
The investigation into Karşı was launched after the newspaper brought to public attention leaked tapes relating to a December 2013 investigation into government corruption.",41.068039,28.979493,"Criminal charges,Court/Judicial,Journalist,Male,Candidate countries","- https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/15-temmuz-darbe-girisimi/karsi-gazetesine-feto-sorusturmasinda-5-yakalama-karari/1220667
- https://www.ntv.com.tr/turkiye/son-dakikakarsi-gazetesine-feto-sorusturmasinda-5-kisiye-yakalama-karari,YmJWtYgUWkaATNr8OFKsiw
- https://www.haberturk.com/kapatilan-karsi-gazetesi-calisanlarina-dava-acildi-2087062
- https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/turkiye/eren-erdemin-tutukluluk-halinin-devamina-karar-verildi/1301212
- https://www.birgun.net/haber-detay/eren-erdem-in-tahliye-talebi-reddedildi-235583.html
- https://www.cnnturk.com/turkiye/eren-erdemin-tutukluluk-halinin-devamina-karar-verildi",,mappingmediafreedom.api.ushahidi.io/5/b/5b6dc4e425f43-karsi_newspaper.jpg
22780,2018-08-17,Croatia: Investigative journalist complains of being harassed by ruling party members,"17 August 2018 - Investigative journalist Domagoj Margetić accused members of Croatia's ruling party, the conservative HDZ, of putting pressure on his family in order to intimidate him and deter him from investigating suspected wrongdoing on the part of senior party officials, the news website Mediadaily.biz reported.
At a press conference held outside the Croatian Embassy in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Margetić said that Croatian journalists who unearthed ""corruption at the highest level"" were being subjected to ""a vicious form of harassment.""
According to Mediadaily.biz, Margetić said that HDZ and HDZ BiH, its sister party in Bosnia and Herzegovina - where his wife's family live - had recently resorted to ""para-intelligence"" methods by compiling a dossier of false facts about him in order to put pressure on his family.
He accused senior figures in the Croatian HDZ, including Deputy President Milijan Brkić, who is also deputy speaker in the current parliament, of acting in collusion with members of HDZ BiH to put pressure on his wife's family, which eventually caused the break-up of his marriage, news website Tacno.net reported.
According to the same source, Margetić said that his investigation into Brkić’s activities in the Croatian intelligence service was what prompted the latest wave of pressure.
UPDATE: Margetić begins hunger strike in protest at intimidation
6 September 2018 - Domagoj Margetić began a hunger strike in protest at the intimidation to which he had been subjected and the failure of the Croatian authorities to properly investigate those responsible, the Croatian Journalists' Association (HND) reported.
In a statement published on its website, the HND said that over the last few years Margetić had reported many death threats, physical assaults and attacks against his property to the police, but that nothing had been done to track down the perpetrators.
After Margetić began his hunger-strike, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) sent a letter to the Croatian institutions and to Croatian Prime minister Andrej Plenković calling on them to carry out an investigation into all the threats and cases of intimidation directed against him.
The Croatian news website Index.hr reported on 18 October that after being on hunger strike for more than 40 days, Margetić was determined to continue until his demands had been met.
UPDATE: Margetić ends hunger strike
19 October 2018 – Domagoj Margetić decided to end his hunger strike following a meeting with Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, independent news website Tportal.hr reported.
According to a statement published on the government website, during the meeting Plenković reaffirmed his commitment to media freedom and gave an undertaking that Margetić’s complaints would be investigated by the relevant authorities.
In a statement for the state news agency HINA, several of Margetić’s friends confirmed that the meeting had taken place, and added that most of his demands had been met and that he would end the hunger strike, which lasted for 44 days.",45.81318,15.97705,"Intimidation,Collateral targets,Psychological abuse,Impunity,Police/State security,Political party,Journalist,Male,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,EU member states","- http://europeanjournalists.org/blog/2018/10/02/hunger-strike-deteriorating-croatian-journalist-domagoj-margetics-health/
- https://www.hnd.hr/eng/cja-calls-for-relevant-institutions-to-act-upon-threats-reported-to-the-police
- https://mediadaily.biz/",https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vday8fP4gkE,
22593,2018-08-17,"Germany: ZDF reporters harassed by right wing demonstrators, detained by police","17 August 2018 – A TV crew working for public broadcaster ZDF´s investigative political magazine programme Frontal21 were detained by police after a complaint by a participant at an anti-Merkel demonstration in Dresden, where she was visiting, Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) reported.
Footage shot by the camera team and shared widely across several media outlets shows a procession of demonstrators including one man wearing a hat bearing the colours of the German flag shouting the logan “Lügenpresse!†while looking and pointing at the camera team, which included broadcast journalists Ulrich Stoll and Arndt Ginzel. The term means “lying press†and is a widely used pejorative in the far right wing political scene to describe the mainstream media.
In the video, the demonstrator can then be seen turning back towards the team and demanding that they stop filming, claiming they are “committing a crime†by filming him without his permission, and saying “I’ll get you arrestedâ€. The footage also shows the demonstrator near a police unit insisting the journalists accompany him to the police. Another demonstrator also demanded the filming stop and reached for the camera while another person can be seen with the police officers gesturing in the direction of the altercation.
The video resumes during the police interaction. When the journalists asked why they were being detained, an officer replied that they are obliged to investigate when there is suspicion a crime has been committed. When asked what crime, the officer was silent and made a nervous (non-threatening) gesture with his hands. When asked again later during the interaction, the officer again paused before saying that he had already explained that, which the journalists disputed on camera. In an interview with SZ Ginzel re-iterated that “no one gave us a reason for the [detention].†The interaction lasted almost 45 minutes, according to Stoll and Grinzel.
The Saxony state police confirmed on Twitter that “media representatives at the scene were accused of a crime by reason of which the police were obliged to carry out an identity check. On conclusion of this measure the journalists could resume their workâ€. Police spokesperson Marko Laske, who was at the scene, added in a statement to HuffPo that the journalists’ behaviour contributed to the length of their detention. The above claims were re-iterated by the Saxony Interior Ministry, which denied there was a violation of press freedom, in a response to a question by member of the Saxony Parliament Albrecht Pallas and published on in a Facebook discussion, reported regional media blog Flurfunk.
The Prime Minister of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer of the centre-right CDU, wrote on Twitter that “The only people acting seriously in this video are police officers†which unleashed hundreds of comments accusing Kretschmer of discrediting the journalists and making an impartial investigation impossible.
“The police are not only obstructing our work, they are emboldening PEGIDA followers in their aggressive behaviour towards journalistsâ€, Ginzel told SZ. Both Ginzel and Stoll criticised Saxony police on Twitter for acting as “the executive of PEGIDAâ€, a sentiment echoed by Enrico Stange, interior spokesperson for the faction Die Linke in the Saxony parliament, who said they were acting as PEGIDA henchmen, and his Green Party counterpart Valentin Lippmann who stated that the police should not allow themselves to be instrumentalised by the enemies of a free press, SZ reported.
Ine Dippamm, chair of the German Journalists’ Federation in Saxony, described the affair to national daily tabloid Bild as “shamelessâ€, which “cannot continueâ€. Michael Hiller, general secretary of the federation, also condemned the officers and demanded an explanation and apology, reported SZ.
UPDATE 23 August 2018: The demonstrator who made a complaint about ZDF the journalists is an employee of the state police, the Saxony interior ministry confirmed in a statement, public broadcaster MDR reported. The employee was not on duty at the time of the incident and is currently on holiday leave. The statement continued that possible consequences would be decided after interviewing him. Saxony interior minister Roland Wöller of the centre-right CDU told MDR that ""Naturally, every citizen in our country enjoys the right to freedom of expression. Nevertheless I expect every person in the service of my department to present themselves correctly at all times, also when they appear and express themselves in public as private persons""
The federal justice minister Katarina Barley of the centre-left SPD said in a statement to the German press agency DPA that ""The events in Saxony raise serious concerns and must be urgently and comprehensively addressed by the Saxon authorities"". Barley, who is also a member of the ZDF television council, stressed that ""Press freedom is an outstanding good in our society and according to our constitution"".
Member of the federal parliament Cem Özdemir told national daily Die Welt that ""Whoever is responsible for the protection of our constitution has no business with organisations and parties which fight against our constitution, not in their free time either.""
Dirk Panter, leader of the SPD faction in the state parliament, wrote on twitter: ""State police employee or not: That is no way to behave. And you absolutely cannot chide the press as a distraction move.""
Dresden's police spokesperson Thomas Geither denied the accusation that Saxony police were actively participating in suppressing the work of the press in an interview with public broadcaster NDR's media magazine ZAPP, but admitted also that some officers could be PEGIDA sympathisers, stating that ""Ultimately the police are a cross section of society. We have all political leanings.""
Public broadcaster Tagesschau reported that a criminal complaint against the police is now with the state prosecutor in Dresden.",51.07629,13.73846,"Arrest/Detention,Intimidation,Attack to property,Police/State security,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Broadcaster,Cameraperson,Male,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,EU member states","https://www.sueddeutsche.de/medien/pressefreiheit-hat-sachsens-polizei-einen-reporter-behindert-1.4096925
http://www.flurfunk-dresden.de/2018/08/18/polizeiliche-massnahme-polizei-hindert-zdf-team-an-arbeit/
https://www.huffingtonpost.de/entry/anti-merkel-demo-in-dresden-polizei-setzt-journalisten-fest_de_5b76d206e4b018b93e9332b4
https://www.bild.de/regional/dresden/journalisten/polizei-behindert-in-dresden-kamerateam-bei-der-arbeit-56735848.bild.html#
https://twitter.com/UlrichStoll1/status/1030765588195536897
https://www.facebook.com/christian.demuth.73/posts/10214983189244459?comment_id=10214987900082227&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R1%22%7D
https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/politik/regional/nach-angriff-auf-filmteam-angreifer-war-lka-mitarbeiter-100.html
http://www.tagesschau.de/inland/barley-sachsen-101.html
https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article181273010/Pegida-Demonstrant-ist-LKA-Mann-Gruener-Cem-Oezdemir-sieht-Unvereinbarkeit.html
https://twitter.com/dirkpanter/status/1032372789703917571
https://www.ndr.de/fernsehen/sendungen/zapp/Demo-in-Dresden-Pegida-vs-TV-Team,pressefreiheit262.html
http://www.tagesschau.de/inland/barley-sachsen-101.html",https://www.youtube.com/embed/PTYgYYmbLsM,
22609,2018-08-17,Latvia: Right-wing populist politician launches criminal defamation suit against investigative website,"17 August 2018 - Aldis Gobzems, the candidate for prime minister of the right-wing populist party Who Owns The State? (KPVLV), filed complaints for criminal defamation and for “crimes against the state†against the Latvian investigative journalism organisation Re:Baltica.
In his complaint to the Latvian Security Police - a copy of which he posted on his Facebook page - Gobzems said that by publishing a story linking KPVLV to the oligarch and former Latvian politician Ainars Å lesers, the investigative website had committed a crime against the Latvian state by attempting to influence the outcome of the October 2018 parliamentary election by publishing “fake newsâ€, including what he said were unsubstantiated claims of a plot to use KPVLV to get the pro-Russia Harmony Party into the next government. Å lesers has business interests that would benefit from an easing of tensions and reduction of sanctions against Russia.
If convicted on charges of “Action Directed Against the Republic of Latviaâ€, the editors of Re:Baltica could face prison terms of up to 15 years. Gobzems also filed a complaint of criminal defamation that could also carry fines and jail time.
Criminal defamation statutes, such as Section 157 of the Latvian Criminal Code, have been criticised by media freedom advocates. The part of the Latvian law applicable to “mass media†was repealed in 2009, casting doubt on the validity of Gobzems’ complaint, since Re:Baltica is a website aimed at a mass audience.
The action against Re:Baltica is seen by some observers as an attempt to intimidate the investigative journalism organisation and deter it from criticising KPVLV. The article to which Gobzems took exception was written by the journalists Kristīne Žilde-Krevica and Madara Eihe and appeared on the Re:Baltica website on 13 August under the headline ""Who owns...?""
KPVLV - founded by former actor and videoblogger Artuss Kaimiņš - has campaigned on an anti-establishment and anti-official corruption platform.
In videos posted on Facebook as part of his campaign for election, Gobzems claimed that most of his opponents were linked to widespread corruption or at least were unwilling or unable to fight it.
UPDATE: Gobzems' KPVLV came joint second in the Latvian parliamentary election held on 6 October 2018. The pro-Russia Harmony emerged as the party with the largest number of votes and seats.
Following the election, Gobzems said in a Facebook post (subsequently shared on Twitter on 24 October) that he apologised for being harsh to journalists and would welcome any journalists who wanted to question or interview him.
However, Re:Baltica confirmed to Mapping Media Freedom on 30 October that Gobzems had not withdrawn his complaint against Kristīne Žilde-Krevica and Madara Eihe.",56.9494,24.10519,"Intimidation,Criminal charges,Political party,Journalist,Editor,Not Applicable,Publicity,EU member states","- https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2045058492193510&set=pcb.2045027252196634&type=3&theater
- https://rebaltica.lv/2018/08/kam-pieder/
- https://medium.com/@juriskaza/before-elections-latvian-politicians-move-to-intimidate-the-media-f5a9ec3126fa",,
22608,2018-08-21,"Bosnia and Herzegovina: Republika Srpska president accuses journalist of “destroying regional political structures""","21 August 2018 -- Milorad Dodik, president of Republika Srpska, one of the two semi-autonomous regions that comprise Bosnia and Herzegovina, accused Dino Jahić, editor-in-chief of Center for Investigative Journalism of Serbia (CINS), of “destroying regional political structures with money from international organisations,"" South East European Network for Professionalization of Media (SEENPM) reported.
Dodik's accusations were made at a press conference in Banja Luka after he was asked by reporters about the CINS database containing real estate records of properties owned by Bosnian politicians, Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) said.
SEENPM reported that the real estate records research was conducted by Bosnia's Center for Investigative Journalism, and not the Serbia CINS, where Jahić is editor. The published data showed that Dodik and his family members own 13 properties, including four apartments, two houses and a total of 260,000 square metres of land.
Dodik’s press conference was followed by a campaign from several government-aligned news outlets that sought to undermine and smear CINS and Jahić, SEENPM said. A defamatory article -- “Dirty affairs of Soros’s instructor†-- first appeared on the news website Infosrpska.ba. Later, it was republished by the more influential Radio Televizija Republike Srpske, official Republika Srpska news agency SRNA and Banja Luka-based Alternativna televizija.
SEENPM said all the articles featured a number of lies about Jahić, such as that he instructs Hungarian students to oppose Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and that he has received $38 million from international sources.
""By stating incorrect information and putting it in a wrong context, Dodik directly jeopardised the safety of Jahić, other newsroom members, and their families,"" CINS said in a written reaction published on its website.
""It is shameful and very detrimental that media outlets, especially those financed from taxpayers’ money, use this manner to label individuals and turn them into targets,"" SEENPM said.
CINS said on its website that, in consultation with lawyers, it intends to take legal actions against Dodik and will inform all relevant domestic and international institutions about the latest developments.
UPDATE: 31 August 2018 - The Western Balkans Regional Platform for advocacy, media freedom and journalists’ safety called on the Serbian authorities to take action against the perpetrators of threats to Jahić and his CINS colleagues levelled in the wake of the derogatory remarks made by Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik on 21 August.
""In the past ten days, Dino Jahic and his colleagues from Center for Investigative Journalism of Serbia have been constantly exposed to insults that, at one moment, turned into serious death threats,"" the Platform said in a statement published on its website.
""Apart from negative comments, vulgar insults, the messages also contain hate speech regarding the name and origin of colleague Jahić, as well as explicit death threats,"" the Platform added.
The statement quoted Slavisa Lekic, the president of the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia, as saying that it called on ""all actors of the political scene to stop threats, humiliation and insults that are directed to journalists"", saying that such threats from politicians frequently gave rise to online harassment of journalists.
The Platform called on the police to take immediate action against the perpetrators of such threats, noting that ""any delay in the proper reaction of the competent authorities opens up space for further violence against journalists.""",44.77198,17.18989,"Intimidation,Defamation/Discredit,Psychological abuse,Trolling/Cyberbullying,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Another media,Other/Unknown,Editor,Other,Not Applicable,Union intervention,Solidarity,Potential candidates","http://www.media.ba/bs/vijesti-i-dogadaji-vijesti/cins-dodikove-optuzbe-ugrozavaju-bezbjednost-novinara
https://www.cins.rs/english/news/article/lies-and-attacks-against-journalists-are-unacceptable
http://seenpm.org/bosnian-serb-leader-launched-shameful-dangerous-verbal-attack-serbias-cins-editor-chief/
https://www.occrp.org/en/27-ccwatch/cc-watch-briefs/8507-serbia-s-cins-considers-lawsuit-against-bosnian-serb-leader
http://safejournalists.net/regional-platform-police-react-protect-dino-jahic/",,mappingmediafreedom.api.ushahidi.io/5/b/5b7fde4cd67c7-milorad-dodik.png
22610,2018-08-25,Albania: MP threatens and defames journalist,"25 August 2018 - Democratic Party MP Myslim Murrizi defamed investigative journalist Jetmir Olldashi in an offensive Facebook post, according to news website Newsbomb.
Murrizi's Facebook post followed the publication of an article that alleged the MP had hidden a past conviction for corruption and suspicious assets. The article was published on the Boldnews website that Olldashi edits.
In a long Facebook post filled with offensive language, Murrizi used words like ""scumbag"" ""prostitute"", and threatened to cut out the journalist's tongue.
Olldashi told Mapping Media Freedom that he will take the case to the court.
""I will follow the legal way. I'm going to file a case against him for insulting and defamation and will continue to do my job writing for other cases of corruption from him or other MPs,"" he said.",41.32795,19.81853,"Intimidation,Defamation/Discredit,Trolling/Cyberbullying,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Male,Publicity,Candidate countries","http://www.newsbomb.al/myslim-murrizi-nuk-permbahet-ndaj-gazetarit-jetmir-olldashi-dje-ma-paske-marre-prape-ne-goje-te-jesh-demokrat-o-hetues-i-babales-e-plote-132103
http://www.gazetatema.net/2018/08/25/deputeti-i-pd-sulmon-gazetarin-qe-nxorri-babalen-hajde-ma-merr-ne-goje-pa-pushim-o-hetuesi-i-babales-qe-shitesh-per-5-leke-do-te-te-bej-synet/
https://www.facebook.com/myslimmurrizi/posts/1540956049384290?__tn__=K-R",,
22637,2018-08-29,Czech Republic: President regrets that journalists not yet extinct,"29 August 2018 - President Milos Zeman attacked Czech journalists, saying that although their intelligence was on the same level as that of the dodo, unlike the dodo they were not yet an extinct species.
Using the term ""blboun nejapný"" (which translates literally as ""inept moron"" but which is also synonymous with dodo), Zeman said: ""I am convinced that the intelligence of Czech journalists is sometimes on the level of the dodo, a creature that used to live on Madagascar (sic), but which was rightly wiped out. It hasn't yet been possible to wipe out Czech journalists.""
Zeman's remarks were made in a speech delivered to a gathering of Czech diplomats and were broadcast by Czech TV.
Several commentators, including Robert BÅ™eÅ¡Å¥an writing on the media watchdog website HlÃdacà Pes, pointed out that the dodo lived on Mauritius, not Madagascar.
Zeman's remarks - which are only the latest in a series of comments he has made denigrating and threatening journalists - provoked an outcry in the Czech media and on social media platforms.
Michal Kubal, the head of foreign news at Czech TV, pointed out on Twitter that the president's remarks had come 190 days after the murder of Slovak investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his partner.
Zeman previously said that journalists should liquidated in May 2017, during a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin. And in October 2017, he brandished a replica Kalashnikov assault rifle inscribed with the words ""for journalists"" at a press conference held in the town of Zbiroh.",50.0316,14.56787,"Defamation/Discredit,Psychological abuse,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Not Applicable,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","https://www.ceskatelevize.cz/ivysilani/10101491767-studio-ct24/218411058280829
https://hlidacipes.org/potrefeny-blboun-nejapny-jak-to-bylo-se-zemanem-novinari-a-velvyslankyni-filipi/
https://www.lidovky.cz/zeman-chtel-pred-velvyslanci-urazit-novinare-ale-spletl-si-madagaskar-s-mauriciem-gjc-/zpravy-domov.aspx?c=A180829_155604_ln_domov_Ceh
https://twitter.com/MichalKubal/status/1034799156500619264
https://mappingmediafreedom.ushahidi.io/posts/21139
https://mappingmediafreedom.ushahidi.io/posts/21619",,
22622,2018-08-30,Albania: Shots fired at family home of investigative reporter Klodiana Lala,"30 August 2018 - The home belonging to the father of an Albanian investigative journalist Klodiana Lala was sprayed with automatic gunfire by an unidentified person, the BalkanWeb news website reported.
Lala, who works for News 24 TV and has reported on organised crime for more than a decade. The incident occurred early on the morning of 30 August.
In a Facebook post, Lala confirmed that no one was hurt in the incident. She said she suspected that the attack was connected with her work as a journalist, as neither she nor her family were involved in any personal conflicts.
""We are shocked by the incident... I can assure you that neither I nor my family have any personal conflict,"" she wrote.
Lala added that she wanted to give the security services time to carry out an investigation into the incident, and thanked the Ministry of the Interior and the police for their efforts.
Albania's Journalists' Union has called on the authorities to do all in their power to track down the perpetrators.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama condemned the incident, describing it as a ""barbarous"" act. He pledged that the authorities would spare no efforts to investigate the attack.
The leader of the centre-right opposition Democratic Party, Lulzim Basha, described the attack as ""a clear mafia-style message"" and said that the government had to bear some responsibility for it.
“The message is clear. Whoever causes the government trouble, whoever doesn’t bow to crime, will soon be done away with,"" Basha said, according to Top Channel TV.",41.318,19.81386,"Intimidation,Attack to property,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,Candidate countries","https://www.balkanweb.com/lajmi-i-fundit-sulmohet-me-bresheri-automatiku-shtepia-e-gazetares-se-news24-klodiana-lala/
http://www.panorama.com.al/sulmi-ne-banesen-e-prinderve-reagon-klodiana-lala-dyshoj-se-vjen-si-rezultat-i-punes-time/
http://top-channel.tv/english/shots-fired-against-house-of-journalist-rama-this-barbarity-is-intolerable/
http://top-channel.tv/2018/08/30/basha-sulmi-ndaj-gazetares-mesazh-i-qarte-mafioz/",,
22642,2018-08-31,Albania: Prosecution of man who threatened journalist dropped,"31 August, 2018 - Albanian investigative journalist Dashamir Biçaku revealed that the prosecution office in Vlore had decided not to pursue a criminal case against a man who threatened him and his family following an investigation into an asylum claim the man had made in the United Kingdom, the news website Tema reported.
Bicaku took to Facebook to reveal that he had received an online threat from Elidon Habilaj after he and a journalist on Britain's Daily Mail collaborated on an investigation into Habilaj's asylum claim and subsequent career in Britain, the results of which were published on 15 June 2018.
After Bicaku received a message on Facebook reading ""I'll come straight to the point! I'll come and get you, so that there'll be nothing left of you and yours!"", he reported the incident to the police on 18 June 2018.
However, the case was dismissed by the prosecution office on 30 August, on the grounds that the message did not constitute a genuine threat.
In his Facebook post, Bicaku said he assumed that the case had been dropped because the source of the threat was related to someone employed by the prosecutor's office.",40.46959,19.48377,"Intimidation,Impunity,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Other/Unknown,Journalist,Male,Publicity,Solidarity,Candidate countries","http://www.gazetatema.net/2018/08/31/mafia-kercenon-familjen-e-gazetarit-te-tv-klan-ta-dime-shtepine-dil-pak-ne-dritare-prokurorja-e-vlores-nuk-hetoi-pasi-e-ka-djale-xhaje/
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10157808774425299
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5850259/Albanian-sneaked-UK-lorry-tracked-resort-bolthole.html
https://www.syri.net/kronike/190071/foto-djali-i-xhaxhait-te-prokurores-kercenon-me-vdekje-gazetarin-dashamir-bicaku-te-vras/",,
22627,2018-08-31,United Kingdom: Two journalists arrested over alleged theft of documents relating to Northern Ireland massacre,"31 August 2018: Two journalists involved in the making of a recent documentary about the killing of six men in the Northern Ireland village of Loughinisland in 1994 have been arrested in connection with the alleged theft of confidential documents from the office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI), the Belfast Telegraph reported.
The two men, film producer Trevor Birney and journalist Barry McCaffrey, were both involved in the making of the 2017 documentary film No Stone Unturned, directed by Alex Gibney. The film examined the police investigation into the murders – for which no one has yet been charged – and looked especially at allegations of collusion between the police and the loyalist gunmen who shot dead six men in a Loughinisland bar. It generated considerable controversy upon its release in November 2017 by naming the main suspects in the killings.
The confidential documents alleged to have been stolen from the PONI relate to the police investigation into the Loughinisland massacre.
Birney and McCaffrey were arrested in the Belfast area by detectives from the Durham Constabulary, who had been asked by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to carry out an independent investigation into the alleged theft of the documents.
The director of No Stone Unturned, Alex Gibney, tweeted that his film “exposed the failure of police to properly investigate Loughinisland Massacre and bring suspected killers to account. Police reaction? Re-open murder investigation? No. Arrest the truth tellers.â€
The Belfast-based Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) issued a statement on Twitter in which it said that “The arrest of journalists because of their work is always a concern, particularly when it relates to those who uncover evidence of human rights violations, who are entitled to protect their sourcesâ€.
“These arrests by Durham police clearly interfere with the freedom of expression of journalists. It is now up to the police to demonstrate that this interference was reasonable, proportionate, for a legitimate aim and necessary in a democratic society. Unless they can do that, their actions amount to a violation of human rights and an assault on the freedom of the press,†the CAJ statement added.
UPDATE 5 September 2018
Journalists' lawyers raise questions about independence of police investigation
The Press Association reported that lawyers for Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey have expressed concern about the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s role in what was portrayed as a Durham Police operation.
They claim the arrests and interrogation of the journalists that took place in Belfast on 31 August were dominated by PSNI officers.
The PSNI originally asked Durham Police to conduct the investigation into how material held by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland ended up in the reporters’ documentary on the notorious Loughinisland massacre of 1994.
UPDATE 7 September 2018
Lawyer for production company challenges legality of search warrant
At the first hearing to consider the legality of the search and arrest operation targeting journalists Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey, held at the High Court in Belfast on 7 September, a lawyer for Fine Point Films, the company that produced the 2017 documentary No Stone Unturned, challenged the legality of the search warrant issued against the company.
According to the Belfast Telegraph, Barry Macdonald QC said that police officers who searched the Belfast offices of Fine Point Films on 31 August - on the same day as Birney and McCaffrey were arrested - had retained material that was not within the scope of their investigation.
“Police seized a vast quantity of journalistic material that has absolutely nothing to do with the investigation,"" Macdonald said, according to The Irish News.
""This application gives rise to serious issues concerning freedom of the press and abuse of police powers which have been used to intimidate journalists and prohibit not only journalists but whistleblowers,"" the lawyer added.
Macdonald suggested that a “mutually acceptable†independent lawyer or retired judge could be appointed to examine material held by police and filter out those items not covered by the search warrant and which were now being held unnecessarily.
UPDATE 8 November 2018
Ombudsman denies any complaint of theft made
The Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, Michael Maguire, denied that his office had made a complaint of theft over confidential documents relating to the police investigation into the Loughinisland massacre. Maguire told the Irish Times: “We did not make a complaint of theft.â€
Police have declined to comment on the ombudsman’s statement, but the paper quoted Trevor Birney’s solicitor as saying that it “undermines the entire integrity†of the arrests, and Barry McCaffrey’s lawyer, Niall Murphy of KRW Law in Belfast, as saying he would now seek to have the arrests declared illegal.
NUJ Irish Secretary Séamus Dooley tweeted in response to the Irish Times report: ""Confirms @NUJofficial belief - no basis for PSNI action.""
In a statement published on the NUJ website on 8 November, Dooley also described the police action as ""a flawed process now shown to be based on a false claim"".
UPDATE 30 November 2018
Journalists' bail extended
Journalists Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey handed themselves in to a police station in central Belfast on Friday for further questioning in relation to the alleged theft of a document relating to the Loughinisland killings, the Irish Times reported.
A group of about 50 journalists led by the National Union of Journalists’ Irish secretary Séamus Dooley staged a protest against the arrests outside Musgrave Street PSNI station as Birney and McCaffrey arrived for questioning.
Dooley said it was “an extraordinarily important day for press freedom†in Northern Ireland. “Our message is very simple: this is actually about press freedom but more importantly it’s about the Loughinisland families,†he said, according to the Irish Times.
“Our message as working journalists and trade unionists is very simple; stop the fishing and find the killers,†Dooley added. “That’s our message. This is a fishing expedition; get it over with.â€
Birney's solicitor, Niall Murphy called for the police action against the journalists to end. “We expect police to discontinue this arrest. It is flawed, it is not evidence-based,†he said.
The PSNI then announced that it was extending the bail of the two journalists until 1 March 2019. Dooley described the PSNI's decision as “a travesty of justiceâ€.
“We had naively hoped that the PSNI would lift the threat of prosecution against Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey. The police ombudsman has stated that no complaint has been made to his office of a theft of confidential documentation, thus removing the central plank of this vindictive investigation. The decision to extend bail until 1st March is a continued threat to the liberty of two investigative journalists,"" he said in a statement.",54.59699,-5.9301,"Arrest/Detention,Legal measure,Police/State security,Journalist,Documentarist,Male,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/journalists-connected-to-loughinisland-massacre-documentary-arrested-confidential-documents-allegedly-stolen-from-police-ombudsman-office-37269569.html
- https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/crime/l",,
22653,2018-09-02,Poland: Suspected attempt at arson attack on journalist's home,"2 September 2018 - An unknown chemical was spilled during the night of 1-2 September outside the Poznań flat of journalist Krzysztof Kaźmierczak, prompting suspicions that someone had intended to set fire to his home, the news website Onet.pl reported.
The website quoted Kaźmierczak as saying that he had already been threatened several times in the past because he was a witness in the trial of a businessman, named only as Aleksander G in line with Poland's privacy laws, who has been charged with inciting the murder of investigative journalist Jarosław Ziętara in 1992.
The incident on 2 September was ""a failed attempt or carried out in order to intimidate me,"" Kaźmierczak said, according to Onet.pl.
Kaźmierczak - who since January 2017 has worked for the Poznań regional branch of the public broadcaster TVP - added that he was convinced that the incident was connected to his involvement in the case of Ziętara, a young journalist for the regional daily Gazeta Poznańska who vanished on his way to work in Poznań on 1 September 1992 and has not been seen since. In 1998, the prosecutor's office came to the conclusion that Ziętara had been abducted and murdered.
Aleksander G was one of the richest men in the country and a former senator in Poland’s upper house. He had previously been an active member of the Communist Party and a secret police employee. His trial finally began in January 2016.
Ziętara's disappearance and presumed murder is the only case of the killing of a journalist in Poland since the fall of communism in 1989.
Kaźmierczak said he had informed the prosecutor’s office of the suspected arson attempt on his home.",52.40827,16.93352,"Intimidation,Attack to property,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Male,Publicity,EU member states","- https://wiadomosci.onet.pl/kraj/proba-podpalenia-mieszkanie-swiadka-ws-jaroslawa-zietary-kazmierczak-w-przeszlosci-mi/w4kt66j
- http://poznan.wyborcza.pl/poznan/7,36001,23861379,policja-nie-potwierdza-ze-probowano-podpalic-mieszkanie-swiadka.html
- ht",,
22663,2018-09-11,Turkey: Austrian journalist detained in Ankara,"11 September 2018 - Austrian journalist Max Zirngast was detained by Turkish anti-terror police in the capital Ankara, the Swiss-based online magazine re:volt reported on Twitter.
""This morning at 5 o'clock our comrade and author Max Zirngast was arrested in Ankara along with other people by the anti-terror department,"" the magazine - which describes its stance as ""left-wing radical"" - tweeted. ""Allegation, of course: ""Terror!!!"" #Turkey is trying to silence all resistant voices. It will not succeed!""
While the magazine initially said that Zirngast had been detained on ""terror"" charges, it later said that he was likely being held due to his ""political publications.""
Zirngast has written widely about Turkey for left-leaning magazines such as re:volt and Jacobin, often criticising Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In particular, he has written about Turkey's conflict with the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
The Austrian Foreign Ministry issued a statement calling for Zirngast's release. Government spokesman Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal tweeted: ""Austria stands unconditionally for freedom of conscience and of the press. The Austrian citizen arrested in Turkey today is receiving consular assistance from the Austrian embassy.""
Reporters without Borders in Austria (ROG) also called for Zirngast's immediate release. ROG President Rubina Möhring said: ""Divergent political opinions are no justification for arrests and intimidation, which are happening more and more in Turkey.""
UPDATE
12 September 2018 – An arrest warrant of four days was issued against Max Zirngast, who is being held at the Ankara Police department’s anti-terror unit, his lawyer Teoman Özkan told Turkish news website Artı Gerçek.
Zirngast is accused of being involved in the organisation of two series of events in collaboration with the Turkish Communist Party (TKP), Özkan said. One of these involves the so-called “Campus Witchesâ€, a group set up to combat sexual harassment at Turkish universities, while the other is “Children Everywhere†- summer schools for children. Three other people, Hatice Köz, Burcu Pekdemir and Mithatcan Türetken, were arrested as a result of the same allegations.
Zirngast's lawyer added that a confidentiality order had been issued for the investigation. He told Artı Gerçek that the Chief Public Prosecutor of Ankara, Yarcan Mutlu, had rejected the Austrian Ambassador’s request for a meeting.
Zirngast is expected to appear in court after testifying to the prosecutor before the weekend, Özkan said, unless the duration of the arrest warrant is extended. If the prosecutor decides to press charges, the court will potentially rule on Zirngast’s release pending trial.
Özkan also said that Zirngast had been handcuffed behind his back when he was arrested, but that he is still in good health.
UPDATE: Zirngast imprisoned pending trial
20 September 2018 - Austrian journalist Max Zirngast, who has detained on 11 September in Ankara on terrorism charges, has been imprisoned pending trial along with two other people, his lawyer Tamer DoÄŸan said via Twitter. A fourth suspect was released pending trial on judicial control measures.
Zirngast was expected to testify to the prosecutor last week, but his detention was extended for a further four days. Zirngast and three others who were arrested as part of the same operation appeared before a prosecutor and were referred to the court on 20 September.
According to daily Cumhuriyet, Zirngast rejected the allegations against him and told the court that he had no knowledge of the organisation he was accused of being a member of. ""I am a socialist. I defend universal values. I have been living in Turkey for three years and have never have been involved in any secret activity,"" Zirngast told the prosecutor. ""I didn't carry out any activity for any terrorist organisation. I make translations between English, German and Turkish."" Zirngart also said he wrote articles about current affairs in the Toplumsal Özgürlük (Social Freedom) magazine.
Zirngast was also asked about books by the Turkish socialist author and politician Hikmet Kıvılcımlı found in his house. ""I gave a presentation on him when I was studying at the Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ). This is why his books were found in my house. There are literature and art publications among them; I am an investigative scientist. But the police officers took only the books that are left-oriented,"" he said.
The court ruled that Max Zirngast, Mithatcan Türetken and Hatice Göz - both members of Social Freedom Party Constituent Assembly - should be sent to pretrial detention on the charge of ""membership of a terrorist organisation,"" arguing that there was ""strong evidence"" to support the charge against them and ""a possibility that they could escape"".",39.92152,32.85379,"Arrest/Detention,Police/State security,Journalist,Male,Legal Aid,Solidarity,Candidate countries","- https://twitter.com/re_voltmag/status/1039473727640100865
- https://www.dw.com/en/austrian-journalist-arrested-in-turkey/a-45443930
- https://www.thelocal.at/20180912/austria-calls-on-turkey-to-free-detained-journalist
- https://www.kleinezeitung.at/",,mappingmediafreedom.api.ushahidi.io/5/b/5b9a4286c2225-max-zirngast.jpg
22696,2018-09-12,United Kingdom: Counter-terror bill raises media freedom fears,"12 September 2018 - The Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill - a piece of legislation which critics argue will have a significant negative impact on media freedom in addition to other freedoms - began its passage through the House of Lords.
The bill has already gone through the House of Commons. The next reading of the bill in the Lords is due to take place on 9 October.
The bill would criminalise publishing - for example, by posting on social media - a picture or video clip of items such as clothes or a flag in a way that raises “reasonable suspicion†that the person doing it is a member or supporter of a terrorist organisation.
It would also criminalise watching online content that is likely to be helpful to a terrorist. No terrorist intent is required. The offence would carry a prison sentence of up to 15 years.
Parliament's own human rights watchdog, the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) has recommended that the former clause be withdrawn or amended because it “risks a huge swathe of publications being caught, including... journalistic articlesâ€. The government has not accepted the recommendation.
The JCHR's report, published on 10 July 2018, also warned that prosecuting those who watched online content without any criminal intent risked violating Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which covers the right to receive information.
Freedom of expression campaigners and media organisations have pointed out that the clause relating to online content will severely impede the work of investigative journalists.
In written evidence presented to the Committee on the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Bill, the News Media Association (NMA) warned that robust safeguards needed to be introduced to ensure that journalists would still be able to properly research and investigate high public interest stories about terrorism.
The NMA also warned that under the border security element of the bill, new powers to stop and question people during border crossings would have a serious impact on media freedom, as they could be used to obtain information on a journalist's sources. Under the Bill, anyone can be stopped and forced to answer questions at the border, and made to hand over information or documents. Refusing to cooperate would be a criminal offence.",51.49881,-0.12484,"Legal measure,Police/State security,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Not Applicable,Publicity,EU member states","- https://services.parliament.uk/Bills/2017-19/counterterrorismandbordersecurity.html
- https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt201719/jtselect/jtrights/1208/1208.pdf
- http://www.newsmediauk.org/News/journalism-must-be-protected-under-new-terrorism-la",,
22686,2018-09-13,Italy: Sicilian journalist's home raided over alleged leak,"13 September 2018 - Police searched the home of journalist Salvo Palazzolo in the Sicilian city of Palermo as part of an investigation into a leak alleged to have violated the confidentiality of a judicial investigation, the Rome-based daily La Repubblica reported.
During the raid, which was carried out on the orders of Catania prosecutors, the police examined the contents of Palazzolo’s mobile phone and computer.
Salvo Palazzolo is an investigative reporter who specialises in covering the Sicilian mafia for La Repubblica. In March 2018, he published an article in La Repubblica in which he revealed leaked details about a probe into alleged police misconduct in the investigation carried out after the assassination of anti-mafia judge Paolo Borsellino in Palermo in 1992.
Several journalistic and media organisations, including the National Federation of Italian Journalists (FNSI), have condemned the search of Palazzolo’s home, saying that it violates the confidentiality of a journalist’s sources.
In a statement published on its website on 13 September, FNSI said that “The search and seizure of the phone, as well as the access to computer data, constitute a serious violation of the right to the protection of sources and professional secrecy.â€",38.11123,13.35244,"Intimidation,Violation of anonymity,Targeting whistleblowers,Police/State security,Journalist,Male,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- https://palermo.repubblica.it/cronaca/2018/09/13/news/strage_di_via_d_amelio_perquisizione_a_casa_del_cronista_che_rivelo_l_inchiesta_sul_depistaggio_scarantino-206310296/
- https://palermo.repubblica.it/cronaca/2018/03/08/news/strage_borsellino_tre_po",,
22671,2018-09-14,Bulgaria: Investigative journalists arrested and detained,"14 September 2018 – Attila Biro (Rise Romania) and Dimitar Stoyanov (Bivol.bg) were arrested while researching a story on fraud involving EU funds. The news was announced on Twitter by the two organisations.
Biro and Stoyanov were apprehended in Pernik, a small town near capital Sofia, as they tried to film the subjects of their investigation burning documents in an empty field outside town, Balkaninsight reports.
Rise Romania said police handcuffed the two reporters and kept them in the field for an hour before taking them to the police station in Radomir, near Pernik. The two were eventually released after readers in both Romania and Bulgaria called the police stations in Radomir and Pernik to pressure the authorities into releasing information about the journalists.
Biro also received assistance from the Romanian consulate in Bulgaria, Rise said in an update.
UPDATE: Journalist who interviewed Biro and Stoyanov is murdered
6 October 2018 - Less than a week after interviewing Bivol's Dimitar Stoyanov and Rise Romania's Attila Biro on 30 September for the Ruse-based TV station TVN about their investigation into alleged fraud involving EU funds and linked to important businessmen and politicians, TV journalist Viktoria Marinova was raped and murdered. The authorities said that it was a random crime and that there was no evidence to suggest that the murder was related to Marinova's work.
However, Bivol founder and editor-in-chief Atanas Chobanov said he was unconvinced by the official interpretation of Marinova's murder, and believed it was connected to her interviewing of Stoyanov and Biro.
According to a detailed report published by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) on 26 October, Bivol had published articles about its investigation of the alleged fraud case - known as the ""GP scandal"" because of the involvement of the GP group of companies - on 10 and 19 September, but that the story received little attention until Marinova interviewed the two investigative journalists.",42.60922,23.03095,"Arrest/Detention,Soft censorship,Police/State security,Journalist,Male,Legal Aid,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- https://twitter.com/ECPMF/status/1040523187082145792
- https://twitter.com/BivolBg/status/1040499661822259200
- http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/bulgarian-police-detain-investigative-journalists-09-14-2018
- https://www.occrp.org/en/28-ccwatch",,mappingmediafreedom.api.ushahidi.io/5/b/5b9b84eb6655e-dncy6anwsai9jwv.jpg
22704,2018-09-19,Bosnia and Herzegovina: Journalist told “to look for suspicious things under her vehicle†after articles about police chief,"19 September 2018 – Several police officers advised Milanka KovaÄević, journalist for the news website Direkt-Portal.com, to “be carefulâ€, “not to walk alone at night†and “to look for suspicious things under her vehicle†after she wrote a series of investigative stories on the wrongdoings of the chief of police station in the town of Trebinje, Žarko Laketa, news website Zurnal.info reported.
Laketa, according to the same source, during police meetings asked his junior officers “who is she†and “how can she write such things.â€
In the articles, KovaÄević held Laketa responsible for nepotism, unprofessionalism, and connection with criminal groups in Trebinje, news website Gerila.info reported.
After KovaÄević’s articles appeared Dragan LukaÄ, the interior minister of Republika Srpska -- one of the two constitutional entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina -- asked Laketa to file a law suit if the allegations are not true, Zurnal.info reported.
Following this intervention, Laketa filed on 3 September, 2018 a suit for libel against KovaÄević asking around 1.500 Euros on the ground of damaging his reputation.
In a written statement, published by several media outlets, the BH Journalists union's Banja Luka subdivision condemned the incident stating that “an atmosphere was created in which journalists were labelled as targets†and warned that “the situation is getting worse.â€",42.7108,18.34688,"Intimidation,Civil lawsuits,Legal measure,Psychological abuse,Police/State security,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Female,Union intervention,Potential candidates","http://www.zurnal.info/novost/21440/nacelniku-pu-trebinje-smeta-novinarka-milanka-kovacevic
http://www.gerila.info/naslovna/milanka-kovacevic-novinarka-iz-gacka-na-mene-je-stavljena-meta-receno-mi-je-da-ne-idem-sama-nikuda/
https://bhnovinari.ba/bs/2018/09/20/nacelnik-policijske-uprave-trebinje-novinarki-ne-idi-sama-u-mrak/
http://www.6yka.com/novost/144438/ne-idi-sama-u-mrak-nacelniku-pu-trebinje-smeta-novinarka-milanka-kovacevic",,mappingmediafreedom.api.ushahidi.io/5/b/5bac9b12185d7-milanka.jpg
22702,2018-09-24,Czech Republic: Lidové noviny journalists accuse premier of interfering in editorial content,"24 September 2018 - Several journalists with the daily Lidové noviny, part of the Mafra media group owned by Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, have accused Babiš of interfering in the editorial content of the paper after it emerged that a letter published by the paper that expressed support for Babiš and was purportedly from a private individual had in fact originated in the prime minister's office.
Petra Procházková, a senior investigative journalist who has been associated with Lidové noviny since 1989, told the investigative journalism website Neovlivni.cz that she had decided to resign from Lidove noviny in protest at the paper's failure to fend off political pressure.
""I am leaving because I realise that the leadership of Lidové noviny is no longer able to protect me from the political influence of Prime Minister Babiš,"" she said, according to Neovlivni.cz.
The letter in question, which expressed approval of Babiš's refusal to allow any underage Syrian refugees to come to the Czech Republic, was purportedly written by a doctor active in the humanitarian aid field and was published on Lidové noviny's website, Lidovky.cz, on 19 September. It was pulled from the website after doubts were raised over the identity of the sender and the organisation she claimed to represent. Questions were then asked over why the letter had reached the paper via the prime minister's office.
Lidové noviny editor-in-chief István Léko said he regretted that the letter had been published without being subjected to adequate verification, but denied that there had been any political interference in the paper.
""I apologise for publishing an insufficiently verified text and I am determined that such mistakes will not be repeated,"" Léko said, in a statement published by the paper. ""I wish to state categorically that the work of journalists at Lidové noviny and Lidovky.cz has not been and will not be subjected to political influence.""
Other journalists in addition to Procházková have expressed concern over the incident and have announced their resignations.
Procházková and two other journalists on Lidové noviny's foreign desk, Ivana MilenkoviÄová and Milan Rokos, sent an open letter to the paper's management calling on it to explain how the letter came to be published without being subjected to ""standard internal control mechanisms."" Their open letter was reproduced in full by the news website Echo24. Both MilenkoviÄová and Rokos also announced that they were leaving the paper.
Babiš acquired the Mafra media group in 2013, months before his ANO 2011 party emerged as the second largest party in the October 2013 parliamentary elections. His business holdings gave rise to allegations of a conflict of interests and serious tensions within the Social Democrat-ANO 2011 coalition government, in which he served as Finance Minister. In 2017, Babiš placed his companies in a trust fund in an attempt to stave off the conflict of interest accusations.
UPDATE: 25 September 2018 - Lidové noviny columnist Martin C. Putna announced on Twitter that he would not be writing for the paper any more, making it clear that his decision was connected with the departure of the other journalists.
UPDATE: 26 September 2018 - Andrej Babiš denied that he had tried to influence the editorial content of Lidové noviny, and claimed that the controversy over the letter was caused by a misunderstanding of his ""quasi-ownership"" of the paper, which he insisted was not real ownership on account of the trust fund.
""It was a mistake... It's not true that I influence them,"" Babiš said in an interview with the Frekvence 1 radio station, according to Czech Radio's news website.",50.08316,14.40308,"Loss of employment,Self-censorship,Soft censorship,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Editor,Female,Male,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states,Other (Please indicate in report text)","- https://neovlivni.cz/vzpoura-v-lidovych-novinach-prochazkova-odchazi-kvuli-textu-dodanem-z-vlady/
- https://www.lidovky.cz/nazory/leko-vyjadreni-sefredaktora-lidovych-novin.A180924_142806_ln_nazory_pev
- https://www.echo24.cz/a/SCtEX/babis-posila-clan",,
22717,2018-09-28,Hungary: Prime minister threatens investigative journalism outlet,"28 September 2018 – Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán threatened investigative journalism outlet Ãtlátszó.hu with retaliation for its publication of a report revealing that he and other members of the ruling elite regularly travelled in a luxury private jet and a Maltese-registered yacht.
""If someone hits us, we will respond. What goes around, comes around,"" Orbán said during his regular bi-weekly interview with state-controlled Kossuth Radio, when asked for his response to the report published by Ãtlátszó.hu on 24 September.
""Look, we usually settle our debts, let’s not feel sorry for ourselves. Hungary has a government at the moment that has the support of the majority of the people,"" Orbán told the radio. ""Thus, we need to make it clear that if someone hits us, they can expect an answer: what goes around, comes around'"" he said.
‘We do not attack anyone, we do not want to force anything on anybody, we do not say bad things about others, we do not smear people, we do not unnecessarily criticise anyone, we do not want to tell people what to do or how to live their lives, what decisions to make. But, when someone wants to do this to us, then we will protect our independence and the Hungarian way of thinking,’ Orbán added.
In an article headlined ""A case study in Hungarian propaganda,"" Ãtlátszó.hu described Orbán's words as ""a thinly veiled threat to journalists.""
It noted that since the publication of the report about the Orbán circle's use of the private jet and yacht, Ãtlátszó.hu and its editor-in-chief, Tamás Bodoky, have been targeted by a smear campaign from government-friendly media.",47.49838,19.04047,"Intimidation,Defamation/Discredit,Psychological abuse,Soft censorship,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Other,Not Applicable,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- https://english.atlatszo.hu/2018/09/28/hungarian-pm-orban-threatens-journalists-if-someone-hits-us-we-will-answer-that-he-said/
- https://english.atlatszo.hu/2018/09/29/a-case-study-in-hungarian-propaganda-this-is-how-the-pro-government-media-works-if-",,mappingmediafreedom.api.ushahidi.io/5/b/5bb36a20279a7-5bb2194fc0a2d-orban_radio_0.jpg
22714,2018-09-30,Kosovo: Insajder journalists harassed by protesters during Serbian president’s visit,"9 September 2018 - Journalists from the Serbian investigative news website Insajder (Insider) covering the visit of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić to Kosovo were harassed by Kosovo Albanian protesters who had set up roadblocks to prevent Vučić from visiting the Serbian enclave of Banja, the website reported.
On the advice of the Kosovo police, the journalists were travelling via an alternative route so as to avoid the barricades, but then encountered another roadblock.
After protesters surrounded the journalists’ car and demanded to see their personal IDs, the situation became increasingly tense. When they tried to move off, one of the protesters opened the door of the car and tried to pull out one of the journalists out, while the remaining protesters pounded on the roof of the vehicle.
Eventually, the Insajder team was able to continue on its way, and none of the reporters were injured.
Serbian journalists' associations strongly condemned the incident and called on the Kosovo authorities to ensure that journalists are able to go about their work in safety.",42.970278,20.563056,"Physical assaults,Intimidation,Blocked access,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Female,Male,Publicity,Solidarity,Potential candidates","- https://insajder.net/sr/sajt/vazno/12093/
- http://rs.n1info.com/a418632/English/NEWS/Attacks-on-journalists-during-Vucic-s-visit-to-Kosovo.html
- http://www.telegraf.rs/vesti/politika/2989978-napadnuti-novinari-insajdera-i-tanjuga-tokom-izvestavanja-o-poseti-predsednika-srbije-kosovu
- http://nuns.rs/info/statements/37918/nuns-osudjuje-incidente-sa-novinarima-na-kosovu.html",,
22718,2018-09-30,Serbia: Hungarian journalists obstructed at event attended by Hungarian premier,"28 September 2018 – Two journalists working for the independent news website index.hu were prevented by security staff from gaining access to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at an event in the Serbian town of Bačka Topola, index.hu reported.
In his report on the incident for the website, Tamás Fábián described how he and Tomi Szilli attempted to speak to Orbán, despite the fact that the prime minister and most members of the government refuse to give interviews to index.hu, which is Hungary's largest news website.
The event was Orbán's opening of a football academy paid for by the Hungarian government in a town with a large ethnic Hungarian population.
Fábián said that after Orbán's press office refused to grant Index accreditation to cover the event, he applied to the Serbian authorities for accreditation, and finally received it.
He then turned up at the event with film cameraman Tomi Szilli, hoping to be able to ask Orbán a few questions about his luxury flights - a reference to revelations published a few days earlier by the investigative journalism outlet Átlátszó.hu.
However, when Orbán arrived at the venue, Serbian and Hungarian special forces ensured that journalists were not able to get anywhere near the Hungarian prime minister.
After the conclusion of the opening ceremony, the journalists were asked to leave the stadium, which they did. Once outside, they found themselves surrounded by Hungarian and Serbian security forces, who asked them to stop filming. They were then told that the area around the football academy was a security zone and were asked to leave the site.",45.812851,19.630218,"Intimidation,Blocked access,Soft censorship,Police/State security,Journalist,Cameraperson,Male,Publicity,Solidarity,Candidate countries",https://index.hu/belfold/2018/09/28/ezt_az_embert_ugy_orzik_mintha_vegveszelyben_lenne/,,mappingmediafreedom.api.ushahidi.io/5/b/5bb222d23a5fd-21034438_ca05cb8c4d6ac831411ecf5c4207d695_wm.jpg
22736,2018-09-30,Serbia: Journalist who reported on academic corruption receives threatening phone calls,"21 September 2018 - Zoran Radovanović, a correspondent for national left-leaning daily Danas based in the central Serbian city of Kragujevac, received threatening phone calls from a member of the Kragujevac University Council after he reported on corrupt practices at the university, Danas reported.
After Danas ran a series of articles by Radovanović about the removal of Kragujevac University rector Nebojša Arsenijević and the reinstatement of Law Faculty professors who had previously been implicated in a corruption scandal, Radovanović began to receive threats from University Council member Milovan Stojanović.
Radovanović says that Stojanović at first claimed to be a neighbour, but that it later turned out that he was a member of the university's governing body. Stojanović himself confirmed his position to Danas, but denied that he had threatened Radovanović.
Radovanović told Danas that Stojanović had warned him to “calm down a bit” and to “watch his step”. Stojanović also told Radovanović that he is “not being paid by the Arsenijević family any more”.
Radovanović pressed charges against Stojanović to the police and the prosecutor's office on 25 September, saying that because of the threats he believed that his “safety both as a human being and as a journalist is in danger”, TV N1 reported.
Danas wrote that Milovan Stojanović had called its editorial office to deny that he had made any threats. In a previous statement that Stojanović made to the Serbian Journalists’ Association (UNS), he admitted that he had called Radovanović, but said he only wanted to ask him about “what is he writing in the newspaper and why he is slandering the ruling party SNS and [Serbian president] Vučić”. Stojanović told UNS that he had suggested to the reporter that they meet in person, to enable him to “explain the situation”. He said that all the accusations against him were false and that he intended to ask his mobile network operator to provide a recording of his calls as proof that he didn’t threaten the reporter.
Journalist associations have strongly condemned the incident and called on all fellow journalists to show solidarity. UNS pointed out that individuals who make threats and endanger the security of people who are carrying out a job of public importance could be sentenced to prison terms of between six months to five years. The journalists' association called on the authorities to investigate the case and make public the outcome of the investigation.",44.008248,20.914047,"Intimidation,Known private individual(s),Journalist,Male,Publicity,Solidarity,Candidate countries","- http://rs.n1info.com/a421848/Vesti/UNS-i-NUNS-osudili-pretnje-novinarima-u-Kragujevcu.html
- https://www.danas.rs/drustvo/zoran-radovanovic-tuzicu-stojanovica-zbog-pretnji/
- http://ritamgrada.rs/kragujevac/vesti/nakon-pretnji-novinar-danasa-najavio-tuzbu/
- https://www.cenzolovka.rs/pritisci-i-napadi/zoran-radovanovic-tuzicu-stojanovica-zbog-pretnji/
- http://rs.n1info.com/a422798/Vesti/Dopisnik-Danasa-iz-Kragujevca-podneo-krivicnu-prijavu.html",,
22724,2018-10-03,Macedonia: Journalist posts threatening tweet against foreign correspondent,"1 October 2018 - Cvetin Chilimanov, a journalist with the state news agency MIA and deputy head of the Macedonian Journalists Association (MAN), posted a tweet containing a threatening message against Financial Times Balkan correspondent Valerie Hopkins, news website Fokus.mk reported.
According to the independent English language news website Balkan Insight, Chilimanov tweeted: “To all taxi drivers following me, if this one gets in your car it’s time for uncle Kumplung” – a reference to the 1990s film Self-destruction featuring a taxi driver who assaults and rapes women.
OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir condemned Chilimanov’s tweet as “shameful and unacceptable.”
“All threats against journalists, especially gender-based incitements to violence against female journalists, are irresponsible,” Désir said in a tweet on 2 October. he called on Chilimanov to remove his tweet immediately.
Hopkins spent several days in the Macedonian capital Skopje covering the 30 September referendum on whether to change the country’s name to resolve a decades-long dispute with Greece and open the door to eventual NATO and European Union accession.
In a tweet describing her conversation with a local taxi driver who was boycotting the referendum, Hopkins said the driver told her that Macedonia's neighbours have an issue with the country's existence and voiced his opposition to joining NATO.
“We don’t have a problem, everybody else does. But why should we join a military alliance? I like EU but we got 0 chance,” Hopkin quoted him as saying.
Jovica Mihajlovski, the actor who portrayed the fictional character uncle Kumplung (Uncle Clutch) in the film, condemned the threat and misuse of the fictional character.
Chilimanov is a conservative journalist known for his online criticism of liberal democratic values and Western diplomats and officials in Macedonia.
Balkan Insight noted that he was one of the instigators of a campaign launched in Macedonia early in 2017 against US philanthropist George Soros. One of the campaign's targets was the Skopje office of the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN).
UPDATE - 3 October 2018
State news agency MIA has suspended Chilimanov from his post and said that he must explain his behaviour to a disciplinary commission within the next three days, BIRN's local news website Prizma reported. The commission will then recommend a course of action to the MIA director: whether Chilimanov should be fired, fined or released from any responsibility.
Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov tweeted an apology on behalf of the whole country, saying that ""this is not what Macedonia stands for!""
And three media organisations - the Association of Journalists of Macedonia (ZNM), the Independent Union of Journalists and Media Workers (SSNM) and the Council of Media Ethics of Macedonia (SEMM) - also condemned Cvetin's tweet, describing its incitement to violence as ""a serious violation of journalistic standards.""
UPDATE - 5 October 2018
The alternative journalists' union of which Chilimanov is the deputy head, the Macedonian Journalists Association (MAN), has criticised the state news agency MIA's decision to suspend him over his comment on social media, the Macedonian language section of Radio Free Europe (RFE) reported.
""The views of Cvetin Chilimanov expressed through his posts on social networks Twitter and Facebook are his views expressed on a personal profile, not on the MIA platform... Chilimanov has violated neither the Law on Labour Relations nor the systematisation of MIA work, and hence, the decision to suspend him is illegal,"" MAN said, according to RFE.
MAN was founded in 2002 by media workers loyal to the then conservative government, as a rival journalistic organisation to the long-established Association of Journalists of Macedonia (ZNM), which was founded in 1946.",41.996092,21.431649,"Defamation/Discredit,Psychological abuse,Sexual harassment,Trolling/Cyberbullying,Known private individual(s),Journalist,Female,Union intervention,Solidarity,Candidate countries","- http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/osce-condemns-threats-against-ft-balkan-correspondent-10-02-2018
- https://fokus.mk/mihajlovski-da-go-potsetam-tsvetin-deka-poradi-takvi-dela-kumplung-zavrshi-vo-invalidska-kolichka/
- https://twitter.com/OSCE_RFoM/status/1047136530941337605
- https://www.slobodnaevropa.mk/a/29522654.html
- https://fokus.mk/mia-se-ogradi-od-chilimanov-za-tvitot-so-chichko-kumplung/
- http://prizma.mk/chilimanov-suspendiran-od-drzhavnata-agentsija-mia/
- https://twitter.com/Dimitrov_Nikola/status/1047437164152344576
- https://fokus.mk/novinarite-go-osuduvaat-povikot-za-nasilstvo-od-chilimanov/
- https://www.slobodnaevropa.mk/a/29525898.html",,mappingmediafreedom.api.ushahidi.io/5/b/5bb4751ebe62e-cvetin chilimanov tweet.jpg
22740,2018-10-06,Bulgaria: Journalist Viktoria Marinova raped and murdered,"6 October 2018 – Viktoria Marinova, a TV journalist who reported on an investigation into alleged corruption involving EU funds, has been raped and murdered in the border town of Ruse on the Danube river, The Guardian reported. Bulgarian prosecutors said the body of 30-year-old Marinova had been found in a park on Saturday.
Interior minister Mladen Marinov said there was no evidence to suggest the murder was related to Marinova’s work: “It is about rape and murder.†He added that there was no information that she had been threatened.
Ruse regional prosecutor Georgy Georgiev said: “Her death was caused by blows to the head and suffocation, and her mobile phone, car keys, glasses and some of her clothing were missing.†Police are expected to disclose more details on Monday, The Guardian reported.
Marinova was a board member of the Ruse-based TV station TVN, one of the most popular TV channels in northeastern Bulgaria. She presented a current affairs talk programme called “Detectorâ€.
The programme had recently been relaunched. The first episode of the show on 30 September broadcast interviews with investigative journalists Dimitar Stoyanov from the Bivol website and Attila Biro from the Romanian Rise Project about an investigation into alleged fraud involving EU funds linked to big businessmen and politicians.
""Shocked by horrific murder of investigative journalist Viktoria Marinova in Bulgaria,"" tweeted Harlem Desir, the media freedom representative for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. ""Urgently call for a full and thorough investigation. Those responsible must be held to account.""
UPDATE: Man arrested in Germany on suspicion of Marinova's murder
9 October 2018 - German police arrested a Bulgarian national in the city of Stade in the northwestern state of Lower Saxony and charged him over the killing of Viktoria Marinova, Reuters reported.
Bulgarian Interior Minister Mladen Marinov told a news briefing in Sofia on 10 October attended by Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and Chief Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov that the suspect had been arrested at the request of Bulgaria.
Tsatsarov said at the briefing that the Bulgarian authorities were expecting Germany to extradite him to Bulgaria.
The suspect was identified as 20-year-old Severin Krasimirov from Ruse, who lived near the park where Marinova’s body was found. Interior minister Marinov told reporters that Krasimirov had left the country on 7 October.
UPDATE: Bulgarian authorities insist killing not connected to Marinova's work
10 October 2018 - The Bulgarian authorities have reiterated their stance that the killing of journalist Viktoria Marinova had nothing to do with her work, the Guardian reported.
Commenting on the arrest of Bulgarian citizen Severin Krasimirov by German police on 9 October, Interior Minister Mladen Marinov said that investigators had concluded, after speaking to Marinova's family and friends, that there was ""no apparent link to her work.""
Chief Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov said Krasimirov was already wanted by police over another rape and murder, and that the killing of Marinova was a “spontaneous†attack.
Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, speaking on 9 October, criticised those who had speculated that Marinova may have been killed because of her journalism, saying that “We, as a country, did not deserve to be smeared like this.â€
However, Atanas Chobanov, the founder of the investigative organisation Bivol, one of whose journalists were interviewed by Marinova in her final broadcast, said that the portal had received “credible threats†over the report.
“Viktoria Marinova was not a professional investigator but she dared to speak about this and give others the possibility to discuss it,†Chobanov said, according to the Guardian.
UPDATE: Suspect remanded in custody over Marinova murder
19 October 2018 - Bulgarian citizen Severin Krasimirov was remanded in custody after being charged with the rape and murder of Viktoria Marinova, Bulgarian private information agency Focus reported, quoting the court's press office.
Krasimirov was quoted as saying that he did not know Marinova and had not seen her on TV.
According to the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), Krasimirov said he had told the police he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol when the attack occurred and couldn't remember exactly what happened.
In a report published on its website on 26 October, OCCRP quoted Bivol editor-in-chief Atanas Tchobanov as saying he remained unconvinced that Marinova's rape and murder was a random crime, and that he still believed it was connected to her interviewing of the investigative journalists Dimitar Stoyanov and Attila Biro about the alleged fraud involving EU funds. This has become known as the ""GP scandal"" because of the involvement of the GP group of companies - a network of manufacturing companies, building contractors, and petroleum-related companies based in the Bulgarian capital Sofia.
“The motives of this murder are not clear. Officials’ public statements have not been consistent or convincing, and we have no access to the reports,†Tchobanov said, adding that he had seen key evidence disappear from police files in previous high-profile cases, and that it was also possible for evidence to be planted to support the version of events favoured by the authorities.
Tchobanov recalled how Bivol had published details of its investigation into the GP scandal on 10 and 19 September, but that this received little attention until Marinova interviewed Stoyanov and Biro on 30 September.",43.84804,25.95421,"Death,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Broadcaster,Female,EU member states","- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45777948
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/07/tv-journalist-brutally-murdered-in-bulgarian-town-of-ruse
- https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/journalist-viktoria-marinova-raped-murdered-bulgaria-1810",,mappingmediafreedom.api.ushahidi.io/5/b/5bbcc759701c4-marinova photo credit ho-afp.jpg
22759,2018-10-09,Germany: Polish ambassador denigrates journalist awarded prize by German media foundation,"9 October 2018 - Poland's ambassador to Germany criticised a Leipzig-based foundation's awarding of its annual media freedom prize to Polish journalist Tomasz PiÄ…tek for a book he wrote alleging that a former Polish defence minister had links with organised crime and Russian military intelligence, saying that the decision to honour a journalist who in his words ""published false information"" could have a negative effect on relations between the two countries.
According to the news website Wirtualnemedia.pl, Ambassador Andrzej Przyłębski sent a letter to the Sparkasse Leipzig Media Foundation criticising its decision to award its Prize for the Freedom and Future of the Media to Piątek for his book ""Macierewicz i jego tajemnice†(Macierewicz and his secrets).
In his letter, PrzyÅ‚Ä™bski said that in addition to damaging relations between Poland and Germany, Poland objected to the fact that ""the prize financed by German public money honours criticism of the Polish government and challenges democracy in Poland.â€
PiÄ…tek, who works for the independent left-liberal daily Gazeta Wyborcza, provoked the ire of the nationalistic Law and Justice (PiS) government with the publication of his book about former Defence Minister Antoni Macierewicz, in which he described a network of connections between politics, the secret services and organised crime organisations. Since the publication of his book in 2017, he has been the target of threats and intimidation.
According to a statement published on the website of the Sparkasse Leipzig Media Foundation, the organisation's director, Stephan Seeger, said the decision had been taken to award the prize to PiÄ…tek because ""In more than 20 years of journalistic work, Tomasz PiÄ…tek has earned a reputation as a critical observer and companion of social change in his home country,"" adding that ""Despite the increasingly difficult conditions for journalists in Poland, Tomasz PiÄ…tek does not allow himself to be intimidated by threats in his investigative work.""",52.23192,21.00673,"Defamation/Discredit,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Male,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- https://www.wirtualnemedia.pl/artykul/ambasador-polski-w-niemczech-andrzej-przylebski-skrytykowal-nagrode-dla-tomasza-piatka-za-ksiazke-o-antonim-macierewiczu
- https://www.newsweek.pl/polska/polityka/andrzej-przylebski-probowal-zablokowac-przyznanie-n",,
22753,2018-10-09,Slovakia: Former premier belittles reporter who asks question about Kuciak murder suspect,"9 October 2018 - Leader of the ruling Smer-SD party and former prime minister Robert Fico brushed off a question about the nature of his ties to a businessman whose affairs had been investigated by murdered reporter Jan Kuciak, and sought to belittle the journalist who asked the question.
At a press conference held by Smer-SD, a video clip of which was posted on the party's Facebook page, Laco ÄŽurkoviÄ, an investigative reporter with the public service broadcaster RTVS, asked Robert Fico how he felt about the fact that one of the men charged with involvement in Kuciak's murder had said that Kocner was behind the killing, seeing that in the past Kocner and Fico had been next-door neighbours for one and a half years.
Fico, who was forced to resign as prime minister in March amid the political crisis that erupted after the murder, laughed the question off.
""We need to think about the recent performance of RTVS. Your question is pathetic,"" Fico told ÄŽurkoviÄ.
""Don't call RTVS into question,"" ÄŽurkoviÄ said to Fico. ""There is a man suspected of murder here and your response is to attack me,"" he added.",48.13591,17.15974,"Intimidation,Defamation/Discredit,Political party,Journalist,Broadcaster,Male,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- https://www.facebook.com/smersd/videos/254461318595309/
- https://www.omediach.com/tv/14082-fico-redaktorovi-rtvs-ste-trapni-zamyslite-sa-co-ste-navystrajali-v-sobotnych-dialogoch",,
22788,2018-10-22,Slovakia: Former journalist alleged to have spied on investigative reporters,"22 October 2018 - A former journalist and spy is alleged to have carried out surveillance of several investigative journalists on behalf of controversial businessman Marian KoÄner, broadsheet daily Dennik N reported.
The paper quoted police sources as saying that Peter Tóth approached the police on 5 October - a few days after four people had been arrested and charged with the murder of investigative journalist Jan Kuciák and his fiancée Martina KuÅ¡nÃrová in February - saying that he wanted to testify about the work he had been doing for KoÄner, who was being investigated by Kuciák and who threatened Kuciák not long before he was killed.
According to Dennik N, Tóth told the police that he followed a number of investigative reporters in order to gather sensitive personal information about them.
Tóth allegedly named the journalists he was spying on for KoÄner as Kuciak himself, the head of the Aktuality.sk investigative news desk Marek VagoviÄ (for whom Kuciak worked), Dennik N investigative reporter Monika Todova, Sme daily investigative reporter Adam Valcek and Tyzden weekly editor-in-chief Stefan Hrib.
Dennik N said that Tóth told the police that KoÄner wanted sensitive personal information about the journalists for a defamation campaign he was planning.
Tóth worked as a journalist in the 1990s but was forced to leave his job after it emerged that he had simultaneously been working for the Slovak secret service SIS. In 2003 he also served as the head of the counter-intelligence service for a while.
Tóth responded to the Dennik N report by denying that the police had his testimony ""with my name and my signature on it"" in the Kuciak murder case file.",48.13591,17.15974,"Intimidation,Defamation/Discredit,Psychological abuse,Violation of anonymity,Known private individual(s),Journalist,Not Applicable,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- https://dennikn.sk/1269330/peter-toth-policii-priznal-ze-pre-kocnera-pred-vrazdou-sledoval-kuciaka-a-dalsich-novinarov/?ref=tit
- https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20943776/dennik-n-former-journalist-turned-spy-spied-on-journalists-for-kocner.html
- https:",,
22826,2018-10-30,"Serbia: State-owned weekly describes independent and government-critical media as ""traitors""","30 October 2018 - The Belgrade-based partly state-owned weekly news magazine Ilustrovana Politika ran an article describing independent and critical media as “traitors and collaborators of the enemies of Serbiaâ€. The article was highlighted by a cover illustration featuring a vicious-looking dog accompanied by the headline “The dogs are unleashedâ€, against a background of images of newspapers and magazines considered to be independent and critical of the government.
The six-page-long article, written by the weekly's associate journalist Djordje Martić, who is renowned for being close to the government and for his vitriolic writing, identified certain editors, media, journalists and non-governmental organisations as “traitors and collaborators of the enemies of Serbiaâ€.
The Independent Journalist Association of Serbia (NUNS) and Independent Journalist Association of Vojvodina (NDNV) said that the headline and the content of the article were equivalent to declaring open season on independent media. They described them as “a classical call for lynching independent media and journalists and all those who criticise the regimeâ€.
The US embassy in Serbia conveyed its disapproval of Ilustrovana Politika's front page by tweeting a link to an article by investigative news website Insajder about the weekly and adding a quote by Thomas Jefferson: “Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latterâ€.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) also took to Twitter to condemn the vitriolic verbal attack by “a pro-government newspaper against two independent outlets which are critical of the regimeâ€.
Serbian President Aleksandar VuÄić condemned the front page “both as the president and an ordinary manâ€, B92 news website reported. VuÄić added that it was ""not the public discourse we desire and I hope it will not be repeated"". However, he also said that he was “not a policeman to punish someone for that front page"", and that there was ""no punishment in Serbia for someone's editorial policyâ€.
After journalists' unions expressed concern over the fact that the magazine is state-owned and that VuÄić’s media adviser Suzana Vasiljević sits on the supervisory board of Politika AD, the company that owns Ilustrovana Politika, Vasiljević sent a letter to the unions announcing her resignation from the board, popular daily newspaper Blic reported. In a letter quoted in Blic, Vasiljevic said that NUNS and NDNV had politicised the case and that she is leaving the board because she doesn’t want to lend support to this kind of editorial policy, but also in order not to give the unions any justification for “unfounded attacks on the president of the stateâ€. Vasiljević denied that the state has any influence over Ilustrovana Politika or other state-owned media.
The controversial front page and article were also the topic on TV Prva's morning show, with guests including Serbian Journalists' Association (UNS) Court of Honour Chairwoman Ljiljana Smajlović and the author of the article Djordje Martić, who said that President VuÄić had only condemned the front page but not the content of his article.
The journalists' unions NUNS and NDNV issued a statement saying that it was ""terrifying"" that, just as in the 1990s when VuÄić was minister for information under former Serbian President Slobodan MiloÅ¡ević, not only do the authorities tolerate the publication of such an article, they also brought attention to it by discussing it on TV talk shows, which meant that Ilustrovana Politika's call for independent and critical journalists to be lynched was disseminated even more widely.
The unions accused Martić of ""drawing target marks on reporters,"" recalling that he was the editor of the Politika Ekspres daily in 1999, when it published an article describing journalist Slavko Ćuruvija as a traitor, shortly after NATO launched its bombing campaign against Serbia. Five days after the publication of the Politika Ekspres article, which was also read out on the Serbian public broadcaster RTS, Ćuruvija was shot dead. The investigation into his murder has not yet established who was ultimately responsible for it.",44.81781,20.4569,"Intimidation,Defamation/Discredit,Impunity,Another media,Journalist,Editor,Other,Not Applicable,Publicity,Solidarity,Candidate countries,Other (Please indicate in report text)","- http://rs.n1info.com/a431992/English/NEWS/Belgrade-weekly-opens-hunt-season-on-independent-media-their-unions-say.html
- https://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2018&mm=11&dd=02&nav_id=105438
- http://nuns.rs/info/statements/38920/nuns-i-ndnv-d",https://www.youtube.com/embed/Sy5HbuhQc0I,mappingmediafreedom.api.ushahidi.io/5/b/5be70927cfe55-ilustrovana politika.jpeg
22804,2018-10-31,Hungary: Criminal charges brought against investigative journalist,"31 October 2018 – Criminal charges have been brought against András Dezső, an investigative journalist who works for the independent news website Index.hu, Dezső himself wrote on his Facebook page.
He said he discovered that he was being charged from a report published earlier in the day in a pro-government daily, but had not yet received an official notification of the charges from the prosecutor’s office.
“This morning I read in a government propaganda newspaper that the prosecutor’s office has brought criminal charges against me,"" Dezső wrote, adding that he had been aware that a criminal investigation had been launched against him earlier in the year on account of an article he wrote for Index about a woman of Hungarian origin who had been living in Sweden but who decided to return to Hungary because of what she claimed to be a deteriorating security situation in Sweden. He noted that he had been investigated for alleged misuse of personal information.
On 9 March, during the parliamentary election campaign, the woman gave an interview to the Hungarian public broadcaster M1 in which she said that she had decided to return home because Budapest was a much safer place than many capital cities in western Europe, adding that the security situation in Stockholm had deteriorated because of high levels of immigration in Sweden. The interview caused something of a media storm in Hungary in the run-up to the election, which was won by the conservative Fidesz party led by Viktor Orbán.
In his article for Index, which appeared on 12 March, Dezső said that the woman had a criminal record in Sweden.
Dezső did not specify the media outlet from which he found out about the charge against him, but a report to this effect was published by the pro-government news website 888.hu earlier in the day.
UPDATE: Dezső reprimanded by court
30 November 2018 - Index.hu journalist András Dezső received a reprimand from a Budapest court for the alleged misuse of personal information in an article he published in March about a woman who claimed that Budapest was a safer city than Stockholm because of lower levels of immigration in Hungary.
The news website HVG.hu said that the reprimand handed down by the judicial authorities was the mildest possible punishment.
HVG.hu quoted Dezső as saying that he had himself filed a lawsuit in response to allegation made against him in the Fidesz media.
It also quoted Dezső as saying in his testimony to the police that the information contained in his article was drawn from an official and freely accessible Swedish database, and that this had been confirmed by the police investigation.
András Pethő, co-founder of the investigative journalism website direkt36, tweeted that this was ""Just another day in #Hungary. Andras Dezso, one of the country’s most prominent journalists, was reprimanded by court for publishing story based on a public record.""",47.49838,19.04047,"Criminal charges,Soft censorship,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Court/Judicial,Journalist,Male,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- https://bit.ly/2JsDc8o
- https://168ora.hu/itthon/vadat-emeltek-az-ujsagiro-ellen-mert-leleplezte-hogyan-hamisitott-hirt-az-mtva-158404
- https://444.hu/2018/10/31/az-index-ujsagiroja-a-fideszes-mediabol-tudta-meg-hogy-vadat-emelt-ellene-az-ugyeszseg?",,mappingmediafreedom.api.ushahidi.io/5/b/5bd97d2c6dfcc-atv-74854-01141600.jpg
22921,2018-10-31,Italy: Paolo Borrometi receives renewed death threats after release of latest book,"31 October 2018 - Journalist Paolo Borrometi received a fresh death threat soon after the publication of his latest book, Un morto ogni tanto [A death once in a while], in which he describes his life under police escort after being threatened over his coverage of the links between Sicilian politicians and the mafia.
Borrometi received the threat via a message sent to La Spia, the Modica-based investigative news website he founded and heads. The anonymous sender wrote: “Too bad that success has costs and benefits and you may not come to enjoy them"", implying that Borrometi may not live long enough to benefit from the sales of his book. This first threat was followed by others.
The journalist wrote on his Facebook page on 6 November that he was shocked to have received death threats only two weeks after the publication of his book. He added that he thanked his readers for their solidarity, but that ""words are no longer enough: you have to take sidesâ€. He went on to say that it was important for people to inform themselves of the facts set out in his book and to be prepared to take action against those politicians who are in league with the mafia.
According to Ossigeno per l'informazione, which documents threats against Italian journalists, Borrometi reported the latest incidents to the authorities in the Sicilian province of Ragusa on 14 November.",36.85891,14.76132,"Intimidation,Trolling/Cyberbullying,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Editor,Male,Physical protection,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- https://www.facebook.com/borrometi.paolo/posts/2184408955148017?__tn__=K-R
- https://www.ossigeno.info/altre-minacce-a-paolo-borrometi-per-il-suo-libro/
- http://www.19luglio1992.com/nuove-minacce-a-paolo-borrometi-perche-perche-si-sta-in-silenzio-qu",,
22818,2018-11-01,Bulgaria: Parliamentary approval of ‘Peevski’ media law prompts harassment fears,"1 November 2018 – Bulgaria’s National Assembly approved at its second reading a law on the media that will oblige media outlets to disclose details of their ownership and sources of funding, tetovanews.info reported. Critics of the law have warned that depriving small donors of independent media of anonymity is likely to make them more vulnerable to harassment.
The amendments were approved with the backing of all parties except the opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party. The amendments were tabled by controversial figure and Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) MP Delyan Peevski and three other MRF MPs. Peevski, the former head of Bulgaria’s main intelligence agency, owns the New Bulgarian Media Group, which controls nearly 80 per cent of print media distribution. Several media outlets either owned or controlled by Peevski have previously been involved in a smear campaign directed against the independent investigative journalism outlet Bivol.bg.
Following the first reading of the bill, Balkan Insight said critics had warned that the amendments to the law would ""put undue pressure on media that rely on foreign grants and donations to maintain their editorial independence.""
One of the most criticised provisions of the law is that providers of media services will be obliged to declare by 30 June each year the funding received in the previous year, including loans and grants of cash and property. The declaration should provide details of the amount of funding, the justification for granting it and the person providing it.
Bivol.bg responded to parliament's approval of the amendments with a defiant tweet saying that it would refuse to hand over the private details of its around 2,000 donors to what it described as ""this Mafia ruled state"".
The law also provides for annual declaration of the ownership and funding of print, broadcast and online media. In the event of failure to declare or of providing false data, fines ranging from 10,000 to 15,000 leva (around 5,000 to 7,500 euros) will be imposed. Second and further offences will mean fines ranging from 20,000 to 30,000 leva.
Providers of media services, including print, broadcast and online media, must carry on their websites information about their actual owner, whether they are public office-bearers, and whether there is a court verdict against them.",42.69786,23.32218,"Legal measure,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Publicity,EU member states","- https://www.tetovanews.info/2018/11/bulgarian-parliament-approves-controversial-peevski-media-law-obliging-disclosure-of-ownership-and-funding/
- https://www.euscoop.com/en/2018/9/21/peevski-bulgaria-media-act-to-be-adopted
- https://twitter.com/Bivol",,
22827,2018-11-08,Romania: Authorities order investigative outlet to reveal sources under pain of 20m-euro GDPR-linked fine,"8 November 2018 – The Romanian Data Protection Authority (ANSPDCP) ordered the award-winning investigative journalism outlet RISE Project to reveal its sources under the threat of a fine of up to €20 million in line with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) directive, the investigative journalism network OCCRP reported.
RISE Project and its journalists are currently documenting a case relating to the theft of EU funds by senior figures in Romanian politics.
The ANSPDCP sent a letter to RISE Project seeking information regarding Facebook posts published by the outlet's reporters. These posts established connections between some of Romania’s most powerful politicians and Tel Drum SA, a Romanian company currently embroiled in a massive scandal.
RISE Project has reported on Liviu Dragnea, the president of the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD), and others who over the years have benefited from Tel Drum SA money. Both Dragnea and the company are being investigated by the Romanian prosecution office for fraud involving European funds.
Dragnea and the Tel Drum SA executives are also accused by prosecutors of creating an organised criminal group and of misusing their position for personal gain.
RISE Project journalists found proof that Dragnea and his family benefited from Tel Drum SA money and had close relationships with the company's executives. They spent holidays abroad together, went hunting together and Tel Drum SA paid for various construction, maintenance and improvement works at properties belonging to Dragnea’s family. Reports relating to some of these were posted on RISE Project's Facebook page.
OCCRP and RISE Project believe the Romanian government is trying to use the GDPR directive to quash investigative reporting. OCCRP believes this to be a serious misuse of the GDPR by self-interested politicians seeking to protect themselves.
“We strongly object to this request and our partner has said it will not provide information on sources to the data protection authority despite its threat to fine RISE Project €650 per day†OCCRP said in a statement published on its website.
UPDATE: European Commission says journalists' sources should be protected
12 November 2018 - “The right to the protection of personal data is not an absolute right (...) Data protection has to be balanced against freedom of expression and information. Using the GDPR against these two fundamental rights would be a clear abuse of the regulation,"" European Commission spokesperson Margaritis Schinas said at a press briefing. Schinas added that “it is of utmost importance that Romanian authorities implement that obligation in national law to provide exceptions and derogations to protect journalists’ sources in particular.â€
UPDATE: OSCE voices concern over action of Romanian authorities
13 November 2018 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, sent a letter to the Romanian Foreign Minister expressing concern about an investigative journalism organisation being asked to reveal its confidential sources, and called for this request to be withdrawn.
""I call for the withdrawal of this request in order to safeguard the journalists' right to confidential sources,"" said Désir. ""The confidentiality of journalists’ sources is one of the basic preconditions for press freedom.â€
“This case shows that there is a need to strengthen the protection of journalists’ confidential sources in line with international standards, in order to avoid similar cases in the future,†Désir concluded.",44.43614,26.10272,"Civil lawsuits,Violation of anonymity,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Journalist,Editor,Not Applicable,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- https://www.occrp.org/en/40-press-releases/presss-releases/8875-occrp-strongly-objects-to-romania-s-misuse-of-gdpr-to-muzzle-media
- https://economie.hotnews.ro/stiri-media_publicitate-22802952-rise-project-anunta-cere-divulgarea-surselor-cazul-teleorm",,mappingmediafreedom.api.ushahidi.io/5/b/5be828fa0fc5b-rise-gdpr.jpg
22842,2018-11-12,Poland: Right-wing outlets accuse commercial TV channel of staging neo-Nazi event for undercover report,"12 November 2018 - Two right-wing media outlets, wPolityce.pl and Sieci, suggested that a report made by the independent commercial channel TVN about a neo-Nazi group celebrating Hitler’s birthday in a forest in southern Poland was based on fabricated evidence. The two outlets alleged that the “birthday party†shown in the report was a set-up job organised and paid for by TVN – which is owned by a US media group - in order to give substance to claims of a resurgence of neo-Nazism in Poland.
TVN’s report about a Polish neo-Nazi organisation, Duma i Nowoczesność [Pride and Modernity], celebrating Hitler’s birthday near the southern town of Wodzisław Śląski was broadcast in January 2018. The report was widely seen as lending support to claims that the ruling right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party was failing to take action to curb the rise of neo-Nazi groups in the country.
Several rallies held by far-right groups over the last few years have given traction to the view that Poland’s leaders tolerate organisations with Nazi-inspired ideologies, especially after some extreme nationalists carried banners featuring racist and fascist slogans during the annual Independence Day march in Warsaw in November 2017.
Senior PiS figures, including the prime minister, president and foreign minister, dismissed criticism of the 2017 Independence Day march, saying it had been “a great celebration of Poles, differing in their views, but united around the common values of freedom and loyalty to an independent homeland.â€
TVN journalists went undercover to infiltrate Duma i Nowoczesność, and hidden camera footage taken during the party in the forest showed a burning wooden swastika and men wearing Nazi uniforms and giving the Hitler salute.
However, wPolityce.pl and Sieci claimed that the alleged “Hitler birthday party†was a charade set up by the channel. The outlets said that TVN had paid an unknown organiser 20 thousand zlotys to stage the event, and that the men attending the party were in fact paid extras.
UPDATE: TVN takes legal action
15 November 2018 - TVN announced that it intended to file a complaint against wPolityce.pl and Sieci for suggesting that the channel had paid for the “Hitler birthday party†to be staged, the media news website wirtualnemedia.pl reported.
TVN pointed out that seven men whose identities had been established from the footage had subsequently been charged with involvement in a neo-Nazi group.
UPDATE: TVN cameraman under investigation
23 November 2018 – TVN cameraman Piotr Wacowski was summoned to the prosecutor’s office and informed that he was under criminal investigation on account of “propagating fascism†while taking part in an undercover operation to get secret footage of a neo-Nazi group, the news website wyborcza.pl reported.
The accusations against Wacowski were based on an image showing him making a Nazi salute at a meeting of the neo-Nazi group. He explained that it had been necessary to do this in order to infiltrate what was a very secretive group and that it had been done purely for professional purposes, to gain the trust of the group.
TVN accused the authorities of attempting to intimidate the media. ""The authors of the report acted in accordance with all standards of investigative journalism… To treat someone who reveals criminal activity on an equal footing with the criminals is an attempt to intimidate journalists,"" a statement published on TVN’s news website tvn24.pl said.
On 25 November, Polish prosecutors said they were dropping the criminal investigation into Wacowski’s undercover filming of the neo-Nazi group. The National Prosecutor’s Office issued a statement saying that it was premature to accuse Wacowski, and that the office had cancelled the hearing and was referring the case to a regional prosecutor’s office for further examination.
Analysts say that these moves come amid rising concerns over the state of media freedom in Poland, where the populist ruling party has turned tax-funded public media into a propaganda tool and is looking for a way to limit foreign ownership of media companies. TVN - which has been critical of the government and was in 2017 fined for its allegedly biased coverage of anti-government protests - is seen as being particularly vulnerable.
UPDATE: US envoy voices concern over intimidation of TVN journalists
26 November 2018 - US ambassador to Poland Georgette Mosbacher sent a letter Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in which she expressed her “deep concern†over allegations made against TVN journalists. Mosbacher accused Polish government officials of attempting to intimidate journalists from the US-owned broadcaster.
“It is astonishing that these public figures would attack journalists who were fulfilling the functions of an independent media in Poland’s vibrant democracy,†Mosbacher wrote in her letter, which was published by the conservative weekly Do Rzeczy.
“I understand that following the initial broadcast [in January], Polish law-enforcement authorities launched actions against members of the extremist group that organised the event. It is baffling that members of the government now appear more interested in casting doubt on the motives of the journalists and attempting to associate TVN with extremism.â€
According to Do Rzeczy, Mosbacher referred in her letter to a tweet posted by Polish Interior Minister Joachim Brudziński on 16 November, in which he described the TVN report as ""a provocation"" that projected ""a hideous, repulsive and devastating image of Poland"" and demanded that the owners of the channel respond to the allegations.
It was not clear who passed Mosbacher's letter to the weekly.
Joanna KopciÅ„ska, a spokeswoman for the Polish government, declined to comment on the letter, saying that Warsaw and Washington enjoy “very good relations and one incident will not change thatâ€.",52.23192,21.00673,"Intimidation,Defamation/Discredit,Another media,Journalist,Cameraperson,Not Applicable,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/420673-w-najnowszym-wydaniu-tygodnika-sieci-to-byla-ustawka
- https://wpolityce.pl/media/420145-tylko-u-nasurodziny-hitlera-byly-maskarada-znamy-kulisy
- https://www.tvp.info/39856503/kulisy-materialu-tvn-nt-urodzin-hitle",,
22835,2018-11-13,Italy: Foiled arson attack on home of investigative journalist Federico Ruffo,"13 November 2018 - Journalist Federico Ruffo was the target of an attempted arson attack after carrying out an investigation for public broadcaster RAI into links between the Calabrian mafia, the ‘Ndrangheta, and the fan club of the Turin-based football club Juventus, the daily Il Mattino reported.
During the early hours of 13 November, Ruffo was at his home in the coastal town of Ostia near Rome when a red cross was painted on an outside wall and petrol was sprinkled around the entrance. Before the petrol could be lit, the barking of a dog raised the alarm and the presumed arsonists fled.
Ruffo said that he was taken aback by what Il Mattino described as ""the act of intimidation"". The paper quoted him as saying that he spent very little time at that house, and had no idea how the perpetrators knew that he was at home.
Il Mattino noted that Ruffo had been involved in an investigation into alleged connections between Juventus executives, the football club's fan club and the 'Ndrangheta for the Rai Tre programme Report, which was broadcast on 22 October. Members of the fan club were alleged to have been involved in a ticket tout scheme, in which tickets were sold on at grossly inflated prices.
One Juventus fan, Raffaello Bucci, who had been collaborating with police investigators who were looking into ‘Ndrangheta infiltration of the hardcore fan base, died in suspicious circumstances in July 2016, the website Football Italia noted.
Il Mattino said that Ruffo had already received threats via social media on account of his part in the RAI investigation.
In an interview with the daily Il Fatto Quotidiano published on 15 November, Ruffo said: ""On social media, people say they hope the 'Ndrangheta will finish off the job... Others tell me not to speculate about the attempted fire because the mafia has no qualms about a shit like me... More than physical violence, I am scared of people's hatred: it will not go away and I have no way of defending myself.""
Other RAI journalists working on the Report programme issued a statement saying that ""we believe it is essential to focus attention on the security issue of journalists... who, fighting on the front line for information, are victims of a climate of increasing violence and intolerance.""",41.76542,12.33215,"Intimidation,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Broadcaster,Male,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- https://www.ilmattino.it/primopiano/cronaca/federico_ruffo_attentato_ostia-4105117.html
- http://www.rainews.it/dl/rainews/media/Report-Tentato-attentato-incendiario-a-abitazione-di-Federico-Ruffo-il-video-e-il-comunicato-8c44ea2e-003b-459a-80f4-417124",https://www.youtube.com/embed/kSdT_TDJg10,
22847,2018-11-14,"Czech Republic: Prime minister accuses investigative journalists of manipulation and ""hyenism""","14 November 2018 - Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said that two journalists who interviewed his son - also called Andrej Babiš - in connection with an investigation into allegations that Babiš senior made improper use of EU funds in a business venture had unscrupulously taken advantage of a vulnerable person.
Speaking at a news conference, footage from which was broadcast by several Czech media outlets, Babiš said that his son had a history of mental health problems and that the journalists' doorstepping of Andrej Babiš junior at his home in Switzerland - where he lives with his mother, the prime minister's first wife - was an act of ""hyenism"".
""Never in my life have I come across such hyenism,"" BabiÅ¡ said, adding that the two journalists, Sabina Slonková and Jiřà KubÃk, who made the report for Seznam TV, which was broadcast on 12 November, were ""vile people"" who had taken advantage of a mentally ill person. He accused them of ""manipulation"", saying that their action was a blatant attempt to exert pressure on the Czech law enforcement authorities in order to force him out of politics.
One of the allegations aired by the Seznam TV report was that Babiš junior, who is a co-owner of the business empire built up by his billionaire father, had been abducted and forced to leave the country so that the Czech police would not be able to question him over the prime minister's business dealings.
According to the news website Denik.cz, a spokesperson for Seznam TV, Aneta Kapuciánová, insisted that the report had been made in line with journalistic ethics and was in the public interest.
On 15 November, Jaroslav Plesl, the editor of the daily MFDnes - owned by the publishing company Mafra, which became part of BabiÅ¡'s Agrofert business conglomerate in 2013 but was later placed in a trust fund by BabiÅ¡ in order to stave off accusations of a conflict of interests - on his Facebook page warned Ivo LukaÄoviÄ, the owner of Seznam, that his own family might now come under media scrutiny.
""Everything will change, from the moment when someone goes after Ivo's family,"" he wrote, according to the news website Aktualne.cz.
On 16 November, MFDnes said in an unattributed caption printed below a cartoon depicting LukaÄoviÄ on its front page that the Seznam owner was now ""one of those magnates suspected of abuse of their media for their own business interests. And a man who has until now strenuously protected his private life must reckon with the fact that it too will be a public matter"".
According to Aktualne.cz, Plesl also wrote on Facebook that ""Until now there existed an unwritten but inviolable rule: the children should be left alone. Especially the sick children... This also raised the question of whether this rule was broken, why it was broken and who will be next. It will have quite serious consequences, because all the members of the elite club of those signed up to the unwritten agreement can now feel under threat... He [LukaÄoviÄ] has now entered the same ring and must be prepared for the possibility that someone else will do it to him.""
LukaÄoviÄ declined to comment on Plesl's remarks, but Seznam issued a statement saying that ""We will leave it to the critically-minded public to make up its own mind over the threats of the editor-in-chief of a newspaper that belongs to the prime minister's trust fund.""
Plesl denied that his Facebook posts constituted a threat. ""I categorically state we are not threatening Seznam, just analysing events and commenting. That's all,"" he wrote on Facebook, according to the news website Echo24.cz.",50.08747,14.42125,"Collateral targets,Defamation/Discredit,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Another media,Journalist,Female,Male,Publicity,EU member states","- https://video.aktualne.cz/z-domova/je-to-hyenismus-novinari-ze-me-delaji-zrudu-babis-vyvraci-ob/r~3b90b1aee82911e8a09cac1f6b220ee8/?redirected=1542380480
- https://www.denik.cz/z_domova/je-to-puc-palermo-rekl-babis-o-kauze-sveho-syna-priznal-vsak-ze-na",,mappingmediafreedom.api.ushahidi.io/5/b/5bf2e5b02f157-mfdnes front page caption re seznam 16 nov 2018.png
22857,2018-11-20,Malta: Parliament Speaker orders independent media outlet to change article referencing ruling party MP's statement,"20 November 2018 - The Speaker of the Maltese Parliament, Anglu Farrugia, issued a ruling ordering independent investigative journalism outlet The Shift News to amend and remove sections from an article analysing the links between senior members of the governing Labour Party and an offshore company, 17 Black, that is currently under police investigation, The Shift reported.
The passages that Farrugia - a former deputy leader of the Labour Party - ordered to be deleted refer to a statement by ruling party MP Glenn Bedingfield about an alleged breach of parliamentary privilege. Farrugia issued his order following a complaint made by Bedingfield over The Shift's article, which was published on 18 November under the headline ""Disinformation Watch #26: Toxic tactics on 17 Black"".
On 21 November, The Shift published a commentary saying that the Speaker's ruling breached ""the fundamental right to a fair hearing"", as the outlet had not been given a chance to respond to Bedingfield's complaint.
The news website pointed out that if Bedingfield had considered himself to be misrepresented, he only had ""to avail himself of the remedies available to all citizens in the context of the media lawâ€, which would have given The Shift a chance to defend its position.
The outlet noted that it had not changed or deleted any part of the article in response to the Speaker’s order, but had informed Farrugia that ""in view of the arguments raised, the Speaker’s ruling could not be implemented.""",35.8961,14.50968,"Intimidation,Legal measure,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Political party,Journalist,Editor,Not Applicable,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states,Other (Please indicate in report text)","- https://theshiftnews.com/2018/11/21/the-shift-news-reacts-to-speakers-ruling/
- https://theshiftnews.com/2018/11/18/disinformation-watch-26-toxic-tactics-on-17-black/
- http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2018-11-20/local-news/Speaker-rules-in-favo",,
22877,2018-11-26,"France: Le Monde refused access to ""implant files"" documents under new ""business secrecy"" law","26 November 2018 - Le Monde was refused access to documents it had asked to see as part of an ""implant files"" investigation it took part in together with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and a number of other media organisations.
The French commission for access to administrative documents (CADA) invoked the recently passed legislation on business secrecy when it refused Le Monde access to documents relating to LNE/G-MED, a public entity and one of the 58 European companies authorised to provide certification for medical devices. It is also the only French company authorised to do this.
On 14 May, a journalist from Le Monde had asked for a list of all the devices that had been approved and refused by the company. After the CADA refused to comply with this request, saying that communication of the list could ""undermine business secrecy"", Le Monde announced on 28 November that it planned to appeal to the Administrative Court of Paris, saying that access to the documents is in the public interest.
This is now being seen as a test case for the new law on business secrecy.",48.85661,2.351499,"Blocked access,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Corporation/Company,Not Applicable,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- https://www.lemonde.fr/implant-files/article/2018/11/28/implants-le-monde-attaque-en-justice-le-manque-de-transparence-des-autorites_5389606_5385406.html
- https://www.lemonde.fr/implant-files/article/2018/11/27/implants-la-commission-d-acces-aux-docum",,
21934,2018-11-26,Romania: Tax authority report on investigative outlet leaked and used to smear them,"26 January, 2018 – A confidential 9-page report of the Romanian Tax Authority on the activity of Rise Project investigative outlet was leaked to the press, and used for a smear campaign, paginademedia.ro reported.
The inspectors of the Romanian Tax Authority paid a visit to the offices of Rise Project in July 2017, which is when the outlet published a series of investigative reports about the hidden wealth of Liviu Dragnea, the president of the ruling Social Democrat Party.
The 9-page report of the authority, with the sources of income of the outlet, as well as the list of its paid collaborators, and their projects, was leaked to an NGO close to Antena 3 TV station, and then widely shared by outlets such as EVZ, Cancan, PSnews or Sputnik.
“It is not a problem for us that the report was published. We have a problem with the way it was interpretedâ€, Rise Project journalist Mihai Munteanu said, adding that “following their logic, everyone who accesses EU funds becomes automatically a traitorâ€.",44.43614,26.10272,"Limitation to Media Freedom,Intimidation,Defamation/Discredit,Source of the Threat/Violation/Abuse,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Type of Journalist,Broadcaster,Other,Gender,Not Applicable,Support Needed,Publicity,Solidarity,EU membership,EU member states","https://www.paginademedia.ro/2018/01/rise-anaf
http://www.grupul.ro/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Raport_ANAF-RISE.pdf",,
22903,2018-12-11,Germany: Journalist who uncovered massive Europe-wide tax fraud under investigation for incitement to disclose trade secrets,"11 December 2018 - The state prosecutor in Hamburg has placed prominent investigative journalist Oliver Schröm under investigation in connection with his role in exposing the Cum-Ex Europe-wide tax fraud scandal, numerous news outlets including public broadcaster Tagesschau and national daily newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) reported.
Schröm, the editor-in-chief of the German non-profit investigative journalism organisation Correctiv (often styled as ""Correct!v""), played an important part in uncovering what emerged as being the biggest tax fraud in Europe, in which twelve EU member states were defrauded of at least 55 billion euros. Germany is the hardest hit country, with the German treasury sustaining losses of around 31.6 billion euros.
Under Schröm’s leadership, Correctiv collaborated with public broadcaster ARD’s documentary series Panorama and 17 other European news media partners to expose the fraud. The details of their research into the Cum-Ex files were published in October 2018.
According to the latest revelations, the German judicial probe into allegations that Schröm had incited inside sources to disclose trade or industrial secrets began in March 2018 and relates to his earlier investigations into Cum-Ex trading.
Schröm was one of the first journalists who in 2014 reported on the Cum-Ex trading practices of banks such as the Swiss private bank Sarasin on the basis of internal documents. Sarasin is deeply enmeshed in the scandal and was recently ordered to repay 45 million euros to Ulm-based businessman Erwin Müller, SZ reported.
Schröm was already under investigation in Switzerland. Following the publication of his findings in early 2014, the Zürich public prosecutor had two Sarasin employees arrested on suspicion of being Schröm’s informants. Schröm himself came under scrutiny following a criminal complaint by Sarasin, as a result of which he was placed under investigation for “economic espionage and breach of business confidentialityâ€.
According to Tagesschau, the Hamburg authorities are now taking over the Swiss investigation, but are pursuing the charge of incitement to disclosure as the Swiss economic espionage offence does not exist in Germany. Nevertheless, Schröm now avoids travelling to Switzerland on the advice of his lawyer, SZ reported.
Schröm told SZ that the German investigation had only come to light because one of his colleagues had been interrogated by the Hamburg authorities. The Hamburg public prosecutor’s office has not responded to a request from SZ for comment.
“These investigations against our editor-in-chief represent a violation of press freedomâ€, said David Schraven from the Correctiv team. “With our investigations we have shown taxpayers that they have been stolen from and for that we are being persecuted by the state. That is absurd.â€
“The investigations against Oliver Schröm are in the view of the German Journalists’ Federation completely unacceptableâ€, Federation Chair Frank Ãœberall said, according to SZ. The Hamburg public prosecutor’s office was making itself into a “stooge of the special interest-led Swiss Justice†by trying to silence investigative journalists, Ãœberall added.",53.55674,9.982275,"Criminal charges,Court/Judicial,Journalist,Male,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/cumex-111.html
- http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/correctiv-und-ermittlungen-pressefreiheit-stoesst-manchmal-an-grenzen-a-1243146.html
- https://www.sueddeutsche.de/medien/correctiv-cum-ex-skandal-pressefreihe",,
22905,2018-12-11,Spain: Police seize mobile phones and computers from Mallorca journalists after leak,"11 December 2018 - National Police officers investigating the leak of a classified police file seized documents and equipment belonging to two editors on the Balearic island of Mallorca, several national media outlets including the newspapers La Vanguardia and Público reported.
A court in Palma de Mallorca ordered the confiscation of documents, mobile phones and computers used by two investigative journalists, Kiko Mestre of the regional daily Diario de Mallorca and Blanca Pou of the Palma-based news agency Europa Press, in order to determine the source of an information leak in a far-reaching corruption case codenamed Cursach.
In March 2017, prominent Mallorca businessman Bartolomé (Tolo) Cursach - popularly known as ""Mallorca's nightlife king"" - was arrested on charges including bribery, extortion, threats, money-laundering, homicide, corruption of minors and possession of firearms.
In July 2018, Europa Press Mallorca published details of a secret police report that formed part of the investigation into Cursach's business affairs.
The police officers presented a search warrant at the Europa Press offices and demanded that Pou produce all documentation on the Cursach case and reveal how she obtained the information.
Pou exercised her right not to disclose her sources and, based on the court order, the officers took her personal mobile phone, two computers and several documents. They also prevented her from contacting the legal department of the company to ask for advice.
The police also seized a mobile phone from Diario de Mallorca's Kiko Mestre. According to Mestre himself, he was served an injunction requiring him to hand over his personal mobile phone. Police officers then turned up at the Diario de Mallorca offices with the intention of seizing Mestre’s computer and documents. The newspaper's editor, director and lawyer refused to surrender the items, citing the protection of professional secrecy and freedom of information, and the officers left.
Professional associations have condemned the police action.
The Spanish journalists' federation FAPE said ""this seizure violates the right of journalists to professional secrecy, which is based on the protection of their sources, and includes the documents and equipment with which they carry out their jobâ€. FAPE also noted that journalists are exempted from being prosecuted over leaks to the press.
The Platform for the Defence of Freedom of Information (PDLI) tweeted that ""the right to professional secrecy and silence is essential for every journalist and is a keystone of press freedom"".
The president of the Balearic Islands government, Francina Armengol, expressed her support for the Europa Press and Diario de Mallorca journalists, saying that ""Freedom of expression is a mainstay of our society"" and adding that ""rigorous and free information strengthens democracy"".
The Association of Media (AMI), which represents more than eighty Spanish media outlets, condemned the police action, describing it as ""a serious attack on the right to information and independence of the media against all kinds of pressures"".
AMI also reminded the police and the judicial authorities that ""they cannot coerce professionals in the exercise of their functions"" as they are protected by ""the right not to disclose the identity of their sources.""",39.56958,2.650075,"Legal measure,Targeting whistleblowers,Police/State security,Court/Judicial,Journalist,Editor,Female,Male,Publicity,Solidarity,EU member states","- https://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20181211/453517054461/policia-requisa-telefonos-ordenadores-periodistas-diario-de-mallorca-europa-press.html
- https://www.publico.es/sociedad/libertad-informacion-policia-nacional-requisa-documentacion-telefonos-p",,
22907,2018-12-12,Serbia: Investigative journalist Milan Jovanovic’s home torched after reports on local authority corruption,"12 December 2018 - Two masked individuals set fire to the home of investigative journalist Milan Jovanovic in the Belgrade suburb of Vrcin at around 3.30 in the morning and fired shots at the house to deter Jovanovic and his wife from attempting to escape, the media freedom watchdog website Cenzolovka reported.
The attack, in which Molotov cocktails were used to set the house ablaze, came after Jovanovic, a former policeman who now works for the independent local news website Zig Info, reported on alleged corruption within the leadership of the municipal authority of Grocka, a district in the south-eastern outskirts of Belgrade.
Jovanovic told Cenzolovka that he had already received threats as a result of his investigations into the allegations of corruption in Grocka, where the head of the local council is a senior member of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).
Mapping Media Freedom reported back in October that Zig Info editor-in-chief Zeljko Matorcevic sustained serious injuries as a result of a physical assault he maintained was motivated by his investigations for the website. Matorcevic said then that his staff had reported threats they had received, but that the police took no action over these.
Cenzolovka quoted Jovanovic as saying that he had filed several complaints to the police and the prosecutor’s office, informing them of the death threats he had received and of his fears that someone was planning to kill him. He also sent letters to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Justice Minister Nela Kuburovic asking the authorities to provide him with protection and enable him to work freely and safely.
Jovanovic said the fact that the attackers had fired gunshots at his house led him to suppose that they wanted to prevent him and his wife from escaping the fire and seriously intended to kill him. The deputy head of the Grocka police headquarters, Radosav Scekic, announced on the Interior Ministry website that the police had launched a full investigation and confirmed that a cartridge case had been found in front of the garage.
Jovanovic told the independent news website Insajder that he had escaped with only minor injuries and that he was lucky his wife had been awake and had managed to save their lives. He added that the entire house, his car, clothes and other personal items - including medicines and an oxygen machine he uses for a respiratory problem - were destroyed.
The Media Coalition made up of five Serbian journalists' unions called on the authorities to treat this case as a top priority, according to a joint statement published on the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS) website.
“The case must be thoroughly investigated not only because of the serious consequences and serious threats to the life of Milan Jovanovic and his wife, but also because of his suspicions that the perpetrators of the attack were acting on orders from powerful individuals from the Grocka municipality. Jovanovic knew there was a plot underway to kill him and informed the police of this, but the terrorist attack still happenedâ€, the statement said.
The Western Balkan’s Regional Platform for Advocating Media Freedom and Journalists’ Safety also issued a statement in which it described the attack on Jovanovic as ""one of the most extreme attacks on the journalistic profession in the last decade"" and called on the authorities to act swiftly to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Desir, condemned the attack and urged the Serbian authorities to carry out a swift and thorough investigation, according to a statement published on the OSCE website.
President Vucic took to Twitter to strongly condemn the arson attack on Jovanovic, saying that he expects the police and the judiciary to track down the perpetrators promptly. “Serbia has the strength and will to deal with the perpetrators, no matter who they are or on which side of the political spectrum they standâ€, Vucic wrote on his official Twitter profile.
UPDATE: Three arrested in connection with arson attack on Jovanovic’s house
23 December 2018 - Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic announced that the police had arrested three people suspected of involvement in the arson attack on Milan Jovanovic’s house, N1 reported. Stefanovic identified the suspects as A.M. (born 1993), B.S.C. (born 1981) and I.N. (born 1977).
The Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS) published the full names of the three individuals arrested in connection with the arson attack: Aleksandar Marinkovic, Bojana Cvetkovic-Sijacki and Igor Novakovic.
UNS said that according to ""sources close to the investigation"", Marinkovic was suspected of carrying out the attack, while Cvetkovic-Sijacki was arrested as an accomplice and Novakovic as an organiser. The UNS statement said the suspicion was that Marinkovic had previously borrowed money with interest from Novakovic and as he could not repay the debt, Novakovic suggested that he carry out the attack on Jovanovic. The statement added that they learned from the police that Marinkovic’s debt had been written off and he had been paid extra money for his work after the deed was committed. Cvetkovic-Sijacki was suspected of having driven Marinkovic to the scene of the crime, where Marinkovic smashed a window with a brick, poured petrol over Jovanovic's car and set it on fire, after which the blaze spread to the entire house.
On the next day, one of the arrested suspects, Cvetkovic-Sijacki, confessed that she had driven Marinkovic to the vicinity of Jovanovic’s house, N1 reported. According to the report, Marinkovic had a pistol and Molotov cocktails which he also used to set the journalist’s house on fire. Cvetkovic-Sijacki entered into a plea bargain with the prosecutor’s office, as a result of which she was sentenced to six months of house arrest and a fine of 50,000 dinars (around 423 euros), UNS said.
Jovanovic told N1 that he fears for his safety for as long as the person who ordered the attack is at liberty and the police do not provide him with any protection.
According to N1, representatives of journalists' associations and members of the Working Group on Journalists' Safety believe that the plea deal sends out a message that there is impunity for attacks on journalists, and they called on the prosecution and the ministry of internal affairs to reveal what lay behind the decision to enter into a plea bargain with Cvetkovic-Sijacki.
On 26 December, the Working Group on Journalists' Safety held a meeting with the prosecution and the police, who insisted that they were determined to find out who ordered the arson attack on Jovanovic’s house, N1 reported.
N1 also said that it is still not clear what the prosecutor's office and the police are doing with the evidence of corruption and irregularities in the Grocka municipal authority, which Jovanovic has been providing them with over the last six years.
Jovanovic told N1 that he had never heard of the individuals who were arrested over the arson attack on his house and that he had never written about them. Jovanovic said that his reporting was mainly focused on corruption and abuse of power in which the head of the Grocka council Dragoljub Simonovic and the ruling SNS party were implicated.
The journalist added that according to the first unofficial report about Igor Novakovic, who is suspected of funding the operation to have Jovanovic's house set on fire, was that he works as a security guard for the Grocka municipal authority. Jovanovic said it is highly unlikely that Novakovic would have been the chief instigator of the arson attack, as he lacked any motivation for this. He said he suspects Simonovic of being behind the attack.
UPDATE: Attempted break-in at Jovanovic's rented apartment
30 December 2018 - There was an attempted overnight break-in at the rented apartment in Belgrade to which Milan Jovanovic moved after the arson attack on his home in the suburb of Vrcin, N1 reported.
Jovanovic told N1 that when he heard the noise of unidentified individuals breaking the balcony door, he shouted to his wife to hand him his gun, which scared the intruders away. The break-in was reported to the police and the prosecutor in charge of the arson attack case, N1 said.
Three journalists’ associations expressed concern at the fact that Jovanovic had not been assigned police protection, and demanded an immediate investigation into who was behind the attacks.
The Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS) called on all branches of the media to help solve the case and investigate all allegations of abuse of public funds, on which Jovanovic has been reporting for the local news website ZIG Info.
ZIG Info editor Zeljko Matorcevic told the Beta news agency that Jovanovic’s location was being kept secret and that no one knew about it apart from the police and fellow journalists. Matorcevic said that Jovanovic had told him that everyone who worked at the website should request police protection because of him being in possession of certain information.
Jovanovic repeated that he fears for his safety and that he has not been given any protection despite the fact that he has mentioned it to the police several times and has been promised some protection and additional surveillance of the area where he lives, N1 said.",44.66396,20.59102,"Physical assaults,Intimidation,Collateral targets,Attack to property,Other/Unknown,Journalist,Male,Physical protection,Publicity,Union intervention,Solidarity,Candidate countries","- https://www.cenzolovka.rs/pritisci-i-napadi/pokusaj-ubistva-novinara-milana-jovanovica-spaljena-kuca-pucano-na-ulazna-vrata/
- https://insajder.net/sr/sajt/vazno/12830/Novinaru-portala-%C5%BDig-info-zapaljena-ku%C4%87a-(VIDEO).htm
- http://rs.n1info.c",https://www.youtube.com/embed/irjQzvnInUM,
22917,2018-12-20,Serbia: Police question investigative journalist over sources after reports on official corruption,"20 December 2018 - Investigative journalist Stefan Markovic, who works for the Nis-based news website Juzne Vesti, the most popular news site in southern Serbia, was questioned by the police, who demanded that he reveal the source who provided the information on which a series of reports about official corruption in the Nis district of Medijana was based.
Juzne Vesti said that Markovic was summoned to the police station after Medijana local authority spokeswoman Dusanka Kitanovic filed a complaint against him for being in possession of her personal data, even though he never actually published the personal data supplied by the source. Markovic refused to reveal his source.
The charge was filed against Markovic after Juzne Vesti published several articles on irregularities and abuses of power in the Medijana municipality which, according to the website, often refused to communicate with the media.
According to the Juzne Vesti articles, after Markovic received information and documents from his source, he submitted requests to the Medijana local authority for copies of employment contracts, including those of spokeswoman and former journalist Dusanka Kitanovic and the driver of Medijana municipality president Nenad Gicevski, in order to have corroborating evidence confirming malpractice in the recruitment of Kitanovic and other employees. Markovic never received the requested copies of the contracts.
The police questioning of Markovic drew criticism from the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS) and the outgoing Commissioner for Information of Public Importance Rodoljub Sabic, cable TV N1 news website reported.
The law on public information in Serbia specifies that journalists are entitled to protect the identity of confidential sources, the independent news website Insajder noted. The law states that a journalist is not obliged to disclose the source of information, except in the case of information relating to a criminal offence attracting a sentence of at least five years, if there is no other way of obtaining this information except from the journalist. There is also provision in the Criminal Code for protecting sources of information.
UPDATE: Serbian media coalition condemns questioning of Markovic
21 December 2018 - The Serbian media coalition consisting of five journalists' associations condemned the summoning of Stefan Markovic for questioning, saying that the action formed part of a pattern of political pressure being brought to bear on Juzne Vesti.
In a statement published on the website of the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS), the coalition noted that Juzne Vesti has for some time been subjected to various kinds of pressures by the Serbian authorities.
UPDATE: Prosecutor says police were not ordered to ask Markovic to reveal sources
24 December 2018 - Several days after Markovic was questioned by the police, the Prosecutor's Office in Nis denied that the police had been ordered to ask Markovic to reveal his sources, Juzne Vesti reported.
The Prosecutor's Office said the police were only under instruction to find out if Kitanovic and Gicevski's personal data had been obtained without authorisation and if the data had been misused.",43.31009,21.94884,"Interrogation,Blocked access,Targeting whistleblowers,Police/State security,Government/State Agency/Public official(s),Court/Judicial,Journalist,Male,Publicity,Solidarity,Candidate countries","- https://www.juznevesti.com/Drushtvo/Po-prijavi-PR-a-Medijane-policija-trazila-od-novinara-Juznih-vesti-da-otkrije-izvor.sr.html
- https://www.juznevesti.com/Istrazujemo/Portparolka-Opstine-Medijana-dobila-posao-mimo-zakona-a-pritom-ga-i-ne-obavlja.sr.h",,