News and updates from BCSDN and the region
Aleksandar Vulin’s party has proposed a draft law in Serbia to create a registry for “agents of foreign influence”, targeting NGOs and organizations receiving over half of their funding from foreign entities within a year. The proposal identifies these “agents” as groups engaged in political activities perceived to threaten democracy, Serbia’s integrity, or incite hate.
Read more →Thousands of protesters marched in Belgrade on November 11, demanding accountability for the deadly collapse of the Novi Sad train station’s roof, which killed 14 people on November 1. Throughout the series of protests, there have been massive arrests of demonstrators, with an ever-growing number of detained as they continue to demand justice and accountability
Read more →During a recent mission to Belgrade, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) noted that press freedom in Serbia remains under attack. Following the massive protests in Belgrade and Novi Sad, triggered by the tragedy that occurred on 1 November at the entrance of the Novi Sad Railway station in which 14 people lost their lifes, the RSF
Read more →At the 10th Media Development Forum that took place on 23 October, in Tirana, the EU Ambassador to Albania, Silvio Gonzato, announced support for a structured dialogue on media freedom and journalist safety in Albania. This initiative, facilitated by the University of Tirana’s Journalism Department, aims to foster collaboration among state authorities and media stakeholders.
Read more →In 2023, Albania saw an increase in Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), a trend that poses significant risks to media freedom and the safety of journalists. SLAPPs are used by powerful entities to silence independent voices by intimidating critics with costly and burdensome lawsuits, often aimed at discouraging public participation in matters of public
Read more →Verica Marinčić, a journalist from Inđija, Serbia, faces severe harassment, including seven lawsuits targeting the survival of her independent media outlet, IN Media. Her reporting, especially on the municipality’s distribution of “potency honey” to schoolchildren, has led to ongoing intimidation and a court ruling against her, demanding substantial damages for alleged harm to minors. This
Read more →The Turkish government has reintroduced the controversial “agents of influence” bill to parliament after previously withdrawing it due to public backlash. The legislation seeks to add a new offense to the Turkish Penal Code, imposing prison sentences of three to seven years on individuals acting in the interests of foreign entities. While the government asserts
Read more →Media organizations in Serbia are raising alarms over multiple SLAPPs targeting the Serbian investigative news outlet KRIK. Currently facing 16 lawsuits, KRIK journalists Stevan Dojčinović and Bojana Pavlović are being prosecuted by Court Judge Dušanka Đorđević, for alleged data protection violations after the journalists reported on Judge Đorđević’s assets using publicly available information. The plaintiffs
Read more →Between 2016 and 2023, Croatia witnessed a troubling surge in lawsuits against journalists, with over 1,300 cases filed, nearly half classified as SLAPPs. These lawsuits aim to intimidate and silence the press, often initiated by public figures seeking to suppress reporting on issues of public interest. A recent study by the Croatian Association of Journalists
Read more →The SafeJournalists Network has expressed deep concern over the repeated obstruction of journalists’ access to the Albanian Parliament, highlighted by a recent incident on October 17, when journalists were denied entry by the Republic Guard, preventing them from covering parliamentary activities, including filming deputies arriving amid rising tensions. This obstruction is part of a troubling
Read more →The BIRN report, “Open Data and Digitalisation in the Western Balkans: The State of Play,” highlights significant challenges in the implementation of e-government services across the region. Despite the global trend toward digital government, political will and institutional capacity are lacking in the Balkans, limiting access to public services. Countries like Serbia, Albania, and Montenegro
Read more →From September 16 to 18, 2024, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) hosted an Expert Workshop on Civic Space Monitoring and Protection in Vienna. The workshop gathered experts, practitioners, and civil society representatives to discuss the state of civic space across Europe. Participants exchanged insights on civic space monitoring practices, terminology, and gaps
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