The Freedom House Report 2024, highlights global freedom decline for the 18th year, impacting one-fifth of the world’s population due to armed conflicts, attacks on pluralism, and harming elections. The Western Balkans and Turkey countries’ reports reveal that Serbia experiences deteriorating political rights and civil liberties, marked by irregularities and media bias in recent local and parliamentary elections. Concerns arise over electoral abuses, hindering freedom. The country faces challenges in transparency, judicial independence, and protection of vulnerable groups, reflecting a complex rights landscape. Montenegro witnessed political shifts with a new government after competitive 2023 elections. Challenges include corruption and weaknesses in the electoral framework. Despite improvements in media and civil society, corruption remains a concern, and judicial independence efforts persist. Turkey, ruled by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the AKP since 2002, witnessed increased authoritarianism, consolidating power through constitutional changes. The 2023 elections faced criticism for restrictions and interference, impacting political rights and electoral fairness. Corruption remains a major concern. The Freedom House reports for Albania, North Macedonia, and BiH, will be soon published. Read more here.
Source: Freedom House