The world’s largest democracy is considering a review of its defamation laws to ensure that journalists do not face criminal proceedings as a result of their work. “We are considering a proposal to decriminalise defamation to the extent it applies to journalists. The endeavour is to save them from malicious prosecution since there is no […]

Ukraine’s Higher Administrative Court on Wednesday upheld a decision by a court in Kiev cancelling the allocation of broadcasting frequencies to two privately-run TV channels – TVi and 5 Kanal. A representative of TVi said the administrative court fully upheld the lower court’s decision without explanation or modification. The lower court last year cancelled the […]

Croatian President Ivo Josipović said today that he opposes proposed changes to his country’s criminal code that would impose severe penalties for libel, including jail. The president told a joint delegation of the International Press Institute (IPI) and the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) at a meeting at his office in Zagreb that he […]

In an unexpected telephone call broadcast live during a television show on Italy’s TV channel LA7, the country’s prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, criticized the programme, calling it a “brothel” and “a disgusting show, conducted in a despicable, vile and repulsive way.” The 24 January political talk show, “L’Infedele” (“The Infidel”), hosted by well known Italian […]