ARTICLE 19 Europe
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ARTICLE 19 Europe
@article19europe.bsky.social
Defending freedom of expression and information in Europe and Central Asia.
#FoE #MediaFreedom #InformationIntegrity #SoJ
Pinned
🌟 Check it out - our 2024 Annual Report is here!

We discuss key priorities, and longstanding and emerging challenges to civic space in the region: information integrity, digital authoritarianism, threats to journos and activists, #SLAPPs, right to protest.

www.article19.nl/wp-content/u...
We stand in solidarity w/ our friends from the Independent Journalists' Association of #Serbia 🇷🇸 (NUNS) who are targeted by smears (e.g. 'supporters of the riot organisers') & attempts to undermine their credibility by the pro-government Association of Journalists of Serbia (AJS). 🧵
October 30, 2025 at 11:15 AM
📣To mark the anniversary of the tragedy in Novi Sad, we will discuss how the govt's efforts to stifle protests and control information fuel growing attacks on the media in 🇷🇸 #Serbia.

🗓️4.11 ⏰14:00 CET

Register now: www.mfrr.eu/one-year-on-...

@mediafreedomeu.bsky.social
One year on: Media freedom and journalist safety in Serbia
Join the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) webinar on 4 November marking one year since Serbia’s Novi Sad tragedy and nationwide protests.
www.mfrr.eu
October 29, 2025 at 11:36 AM
🌟 The 2025 Sakharov Prize goes to Andrzej Poczobut & Mzia Amaglobeli.

It's a tribute to their resilience and commitment to truth and justice.

We will continue to demand the release of Andrzej, Mzia, and all political prisoners.

www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pres...
Andrzej Poczobut and Mzia Amaglobeli: laureates of the 2025 Sakharov Prize | News | European Parliament
The two journalists, imprisoned in Belarus and Georgia, are the laureates of the 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, to be awarded by Parliament on 16 December.
www.europarl.europa.eu
October 23, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Reposted by ARTICLE 19 Europe
Ireland has appointed a Data Protection Commissioner who formerly held a senior public affairs role at Meta – disregarding EU law & treaties.

The govt must conduct a new, transparent process to appoint an official with a strong record of protecting human rights.

www.article19.org/resources/ir...
Ireland: Adopt new, transparent process to appoint Data Protection Commissioner - ARTICLE 19
Data Protection Commissioner has responsibility as lead supervisory authority for many of the world’s largest technology companies.
www.article19.org
October 23, 2025 at 9:51 AM
🇮🇹 #Italy: We strongly condemn the car bomb on Sigfrido Ranucci, a leading investigative journalists and his family. We call for a thorough investigation to ensure that the perpetrators are identified and brought to justice.

www.article19.org/resources/it...
Italy: Car bomb attack on Sigfrido Ranucci rings alarm for media freedom - ARTICLE 19
ARTICLE 19 and partners strongly condemn the car bomb attack on one of Italy’s leading investigative journalists and his family.
www.article19.org
October 20, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Reposted by ARTICLE 19 Europe
Reposted by ARTICLE 19 Europe
Now on stage: Our first panel with David Kaye, Former UN Special Rapporteur @davidakaye.bsky.social, Sasha Havlicek at @isdglobal.org, and MEP Alexandra Geese @alexandrageese.bsky.social. Moderated by @courtneyr.bsky.social at @cjl4news.bsky.social.

Tune in here: www.youtube.com/live/KlO8ta8...
October 15, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Reposted by ARTICLE 19 Europe
Happening NOW in Brussels:
How can Europe protect its democracy from foreign tech monopolies?
Join @openmarkets.bsky.social & @article19.bsky.social for two days of debate, insight, and strategy.
📺 Livestream here → www.youtube.com/live/KlO8ta8...
#DigitalSovereignty #Democracy #FreeSpeech
The Future of Democracy: Speech, Thought, Sovereignty, and Power in the Age of Platforms and AI
YouTube video by Open Markets Institute
www.youtube.com
October 15, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Reposted by ARTICLE 19 Europe
Jonathan Kanter, former Assistant Attorney General at the US Department of Justice, joins us today in Brussels.

#DigitalSovereignty #FreeSpeech #Democracy

📺 Tune into his remarks here: www.youtube.com/live/KlO8ta8...
The Future of Democracy: Speech, Thought, Sovereignty, and Power in the Age of Platforms and AI
YouTube video by Open Markets Institute
www.youtube.com
October 15, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Reposted by ARTICLE 19 Europe
Jonathan Kanter:

"There is no such a thing as a benevolent dictator, as there is no such a thing as benevolent monopolist. We don't need domestic monopolies to better compete. The way to compete against China is not to have censorship, and it's to have checks and balances."
October 15, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Our Joanna Szymańska joined a #MediaFreedom mission in 🇧🇬 #Bulgaria. The country, torn by political polarisation, faces several challenges that severely affect the safety of journalists and media resilience.

💡Learn more about our key recommendations:
www.article19.org/resources/bu...
Bulgaria: Press freedom undermined by political polarisation and delayed reforms - ARTICLE 19
The government must implement both domestic and EU-mandated reforms to protect media freedom and journalists in Bulgaria.
www.article19.org
October 7, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Reposted by ARTICLE 19 Europe
⚠️ IT'S A (DOUBLE) SLAPP!

@casecoalition.bsky.social has verified TWO new SLAPPs, both concerning Italian citizens who tried to raise their voices for the public good.

📣 Italy, where are your SLAPP protections? 👀

#StopSLAPPs
a cartoon drawing of a red alarm with the words siren blaring above it
ALT: a cartoon drawing of a red alarm with the words siren blaring above it
media.tenor.com
October 3, 2025 at 10:39 AM
We are in #Sofia 🇧🇬 #Bulgaria with our partners from @coemediafreedom.bsky.social & #MFRR to examine the safety of journos, media pluralism, #SLAPPs, and reforms under #EMFA

⚡Stay tuned for more!

www.article19.org/resources/bu...
Bulgaria: Mission to examine media freedom and independent journalism - ARTICLE 19
The mission will assess the safety of journalists, media regulation, public broadcasting, media pluralism, defamation and SLAPPs, media ownership and the reform process required under EMFA.
www.article19.org
September 24, 2025 at 8:46 AM
Reposted by ARTICLE 19 Europe
On the fifth anniversary of her arrest, ARTICLE 19 calls for the release of Viasna member and human rights defender Marfa Rabkova.

Belarusian authorities must free all activists, journalists and independent lawyers held in arbitrary detention without delay.

www.article19.org/resources/be...
Belarus: After five years of arbitrary detention, freedom for Marfa Rabkova now - ARTICLE 19
During her pre-trial detention, Marfa Rabkova’s health deteriorated significantly due to a lack of adequate medical care.
www.article19.org
September 17, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Reposted by ARTICLE 19 Europe
Today marks 5 years since #MarfaRobkova was unjustly detained in #Belarus, imprisoned for fighting for free and democratic elections. We continue to demand her immediate and unconditional release: www.indexoncensorship.org/campaigns/le...
September 17, 2025 at 8:52 AM
We welcome the release of @rferl.org.web.brid.gy journalist Ihar #Losik from Belarusian detention. He spent over 5 years behind bars on politically motivated charges. For 1,5 years he was denied communication with his family.

Pressure matters.

www.rferl.org/a/rfe-journa...
RFE/RL Journalist Ihar Losik Freed After More Than 5 Years Of Brutal Detention In Belarus
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist Ihar Losik has been freed after spending more than five years in brutal Belarusian detention on trumped up charges, the latest release of a political prisone...
www.rferl.org
September 11, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Our Joanna Szymańska spoke to ABC Australia about 🇷🇺 #Russia’s push to replace WhatsApp & Telegram with MAX, a new state-controlled messenger. This move is part of a global trend of tightening control over the free flow of information. #Censorship #FoE

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08...
Meet MAX, the 'chilling' new development in Russian social media
Russians are being pushed onto a new messaging service linked to the Kremlin, and experts warn people can expect them to be watching everything.
www.abc.net.au
September 5, 2025 at 8:33 AM
🇷🇸 #Serbia: The govt needs to stop all forms of undue influence on media, respect their independence and refrain from applying pressure on editorial policies and decisions through personal relationships or political connections.

www.article19.org/resources/se...
September 4, 2025 at 11:24 AM
🌟From economic instability to digital intimidation, the MFRR Summit 2025 will address the urgent challenges facing European journalism. Registration is now open.

Be part of the conversation on 13 October: www.mfrr.eu/mfrr-summit-...
August 18, 2025 at 12:00 PM
⚡New resource
How does it feel when a like, a comment, or a group chat can land you in jail?
In #Belarus, vague anti-extremism laws are increasingly used to silence dissent.
Read our analysis ⬇️
#StandWithBelarus #FreedomOfExpression
www.article19.org/resources/be...
Belarus: Anti-extremism laws put digital rights at risk - ARTICLE 19
Anti-extremism laws are increasingly used by the Lukashenko regime to harass and prosecute dissenting voices in Belarus.
www.article19.org
August 7, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Reposted by ARTICLE 19 Europe
We denounce this verdict and call for Mzia Amaglobeli's immediate release. This is clear harassment of an independent journalist + an effort to stifle all who report on socio-political upheavals in Georgia.

In the words of Mzia Amaglobeli: 'Freedom to all political prisoners! We are not criminals.’
🟥 Judge Nino Sakhelashvili has sentenced journalist Mzia Amaglobeli to 2yrs in prison, ignoring widespread calls from local and international human rights and press freedom organizations to release her and end what they describe as politically motivated prosecution tied to her journalism.
#FreeMzia
Judge Sentences Journalist Mzia Amaglobeli to 2 Years in Prison Despite International Outcry - Batumelebi
Mzia Amaglobeli •
batumelebi.netgazeti.ge
August 6, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Our @antanina-maslyka.bsky.social & Joanna Szymańska are attending the #Helsinki+50 Conference and join Sviatlana #Tsikhanouskaya in urging intl community to take decisive action for the unconditional release of all political prisoners in #Belarus. #StandWithBelarus

#OSCE25FI
July 31, 2025 at 10:54 AM
🔴The Lukashenko regime must immediately and unconditionally release all members of Human Rights Center
#Viasna, as well as all other #HumanRights defenders arbitrarily detained in #Belarus.

#FreeViasna #FreeBelarus #StandWithBelarus

joint statement: www.article19.org/resources/be...
Belarus: Four years of arbitrary detention – crackdown on Viasna must end - ARTICLE 19
The regime must release all members of Human Rights Center 'Viasna', and other human rights defenders imprisoned in Belarus.
www.article19.org
July 14, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Reposted by ARTICLE 19 Europe
💔 Today marks 4 years since #HRDs Ales Bialiatski, Valiantsin Stefanovic & Uladzimir Labkovich were arrested in #Belarus — 4 years of injustice and separation from loved ones.

They're behind bars not because they did wrong — but because they did what’s right.

🔗 freeviasna.org
July 14, 2025 at 6:58 AM