The International Press Institute (IPI) today condemns the numerous attacks against journalists documenting a recent violent protest in Romania and calls on law enforcement authorities to ensure those responsible are identified and prosecuted.
On 15 September, at least three journalists were injured and required medical treatment as they covered clashes which broke out between protesters and police during an unauthorised demonstration organised by farmers and shepherd groups outside the government building in central Bucharest. Far‑right groups joined the demonstration on Victory Square and clashes erupted with riot police, with stones and other objects thrown.
IPI documented at least six attacks against at least eight journalists reporting from the demonstration, including physical and verbal assaults, sexual harassment, threats, and destruction of equipment, committed by violent protesters. The cases were recorded on the on Mapping Media Freedom (MapMF) platform.
Realitatea Plus journalist Cristiana Chițu was pushed and hit by several men with their faces covered, and camera operator Ruben Lighezan was hit in the head and neck by them. Both required medical attention. Camera operator from television channel Digi24, who has not been publicly named, was also punched in the face and taken to hospital for medical examinations.
In addition to press freedom violations by protesters, Bucharest Police requested independent news outlet HotNews to hand in their footage from the protest as evidence in a criminal investigation. The outlet declined, appealing to journalists’ right of source protection.
On 22 September, the Prosecutor’s Office attached to the Bucharest Tribunal announced that it was investigating acts of physical violence against two journalists, together with Bucharest Police. In total, the Prosecutor’s Office has ordered 27 people into detention by 23 September, investigating them for crimes committed during the protest.
Romanian press freedom NGO ActiveWatch has demanded prompt criminal investigations of attacks against journalists, special attention from law enforcement to protecting journalists in street protests, and condemnation of the attacks by public authorities as well as institutional and political actors. According to the organisation, the attacks are a result of repeated hate speech against journalists and attempts to discredit the media.
The attacks in Bucharest were the latest in a series of incidents in Romania in recent years where journalists covering protests have been physically harassed or attacked, including multiple cases in 2025 around the annulled 2024 presidential election.
IPI is also monitoring the increasing number of attacks on journalists in Romania by far-right groups on the Mapping Media Freedom (MapMF) platform, Europe’s biggest public database of press freedom violations. MapMF is coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), of which IPI is a consortium member.
IPI calls on the authorities to conduct a swift yet thorough investigation on attacks against journalists that took place during the protest, while respecting journalists’ right of source protection. IPI also urges that police and protesters better ensure the safety of journalists covering demonstrations.
- Click here for more of IPI’s press freedom work on Romania
- Click here for IPI’s media freedom monitoring of Romania on the Mapping Media Freedom platform
This individual statement by IPI is part of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and Candidate Countries
