“In 2022, since Russia’s launched its war of aggression against Ukraine, at least 12 journalists and media workers were killed and 21 injured while performing their professional duties. The war occurred in a context of continued degradation of press freedom across Europe, with a significant increase in the number of journalists in detention’’,- such situation is represented in the 2023 annual report of the partner organisations of the Council of Europe’s Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists.
In 2022, since Russia’s launched its war of aggression against Ukraine, at least 12 journalists and media workers were killed and 21 injured while performing their professional duties. The war occurred in a context of continued degradation of press freedom across Europe, with a significant increase in the number of journalists in detention, according to the 2023 annual report of the partner organisations of the Council of Europe’s Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists. The 15 partners are the European Federation of Journalists, the International Federation of Journalists, the Association of European Journalists, Article 19, Reporters without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Index on Censorship, the International Press Institute, the International News Safety Institute, Rory Peck Trust, the European Broadcasting Union, PEN International, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, Free Press Unlimited and the Justice for Journalists Foundation.
Released under the title “War in Europe and the fight for the right to report”, the report examines the main threats to media freedom in Europe and addresses recommendations to the Council of Europe, European Union and the member states on actions needed to improve the situation. Throughout 2022, the platform published 289 alerts on serious threats or attacks to media freedom across 37 states, with journalists being murdered, imprisoned, attacked, legally harassed and subjected to smear campaigns. This number includes alerts concerning Russia since the partner organisations decided to continue monitoring the state of media freedom and attacks against journalists after its expulsion from the Council of Europe in March 2022.
Welcoming the publication of the report, Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić said: “We have seen a disturbing increase in attacks and threats against journalists in recent years. Many journalists have shown courage and others paid with their lives for the right to report following Russia’s aggression of Ukraine. The fact that many of these attacks go unpunished, threatens the very foundation of our societies. I call on member states to take this issue seriously and fully respect and protect the rights of journalists, ensure their safety, protect their sources and prevent censorship and other forms of interference in their work.”
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Apart from the journalists who died on active duty because of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the Platform recorded one journalist killed in the exercise of his functions (Güngör Arslan in Türkiye), compared to four who died the previous year outside of a war zone. There were also fewer alerts on violence and threats at street protests, as Covid-related demonstrations receded.
The partner organisations conclude that arbitrary arrest and detention of journalists have become commonplace in Europe. As of 31 December 2022, 127 journalists and media workers were in detention, including 95 on whom alerts were active on the platform (representing a 60% increase compared to 31 December 2021) and 32 journalists and media workers in Belarus, on which alerts had not yet been published.
During 2022, the platform recorded 74 alerts concerning attacks on the physical integrity of journalists (26% of all alerts), 41 alerts on the detention and imprisonment of journalists (14%), 94 alerts on cases of harassment and intimidation of journalists (32%), and another 80 alerts on various other acts having chilling effects on media freedom (28%).
The report reflects the persistent lack of progress to resolve 35 cases of impunity of attacks against journalists still active on the platform, 26 concerning murder cases.
In the section “Restrictive legislation” about Armenia it is fixed: “The government passed amendments to the media law empowering state agencies to terminate journalists’ accreditation, leading to fear that authorities could bar critical journalists from covering parliamentary sessions and other government events’’.
About Azerbaijan it is fixed: “On 30 December 2021, the National Assembly of Azerbaijan approved a bill whose imprecise wording and alleged ‘secret drafting‘ caused outrage locally and globally.143 Azerbaijani officials dismissed criticisms, and on 8 February 2022, President Ilham Aliyev enacted the amended law on media. He also signed the implementing decree and instructed the Cabinet to draft legislation establishing administrative penalties for any violations of the law. On 26 September he signed off on new Media Registry Rules’’.
In the alert about Armenia there is a concern about legislative reforms in RA։ “Armenia’s current martial law empowers the authorities to confiscate media outlets’ equipment, establish special procedures for journalists’ accreditation, and “restrict freedom of opinion in accordance with the law”. In July 2022, the Prosecutor General proposed legislation that would empower the government to block websites, citing the need to censor harmful material”.
Committee to protect Journalists urges RA authorities: “Armenian authorities should not use military conflicts as an excuse to curtail press freedom and should rework clauses in a draft bill that would threaten press freedom’’.
It is noted, that CPJ’s email to the Ministry of Justice of the RA did not receive a reply.
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
