Legal framework and justice system

The Taliban authorities are tightening their grip on the dissemination of information in Afghanistan.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is appalled by the two-and-a-half-year prison sentence handed down to independent journalist Huy Duc, who has been found guilty of "abusing democratic freedoms”.

In the case of Novaya Gazeta v. Russia, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has condemned Russia for abusing the pretext of a "national security threat" to systematically restrict reporting on the war in Ukraine.

The Free Narges Coalition has received worrying information regarding the intention to return Narges Mohammadi to prison in Iran.

The Turkish journalist Elif Akgül is in pre-trial detention in Istanbul, accused by the judiciary of being a member of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). She and İmrek were arrested in İstanbul and Tar in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

Targeted in four cases, Baris Terkoglu faces a new prison sentence for having criticised the shortcomings of the Turkish judicial system.

Russia has arbitrarily arrested and deported at least 19 Ukrainian journalists to its territory or other occupied areas in Ukraine. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns this war crime and has filed its ninth complaint against Russia with the ICC.

On Sunday, 23 February, federal elections will take place in  Germany. The challenges are great: violent attacks against reporters have risen sharply and media professionals and editorial offices are coming under increasing pressure.

The Czech Parliament has failed to vote on increased funding for public media, an initiative promoted by the government.