Index rounds up some of the biggest stories in the global free speech landscape from the past seven days
The week in free expression
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CATEGORY: Europe and Central Asia
Mother’s Day 2025: Celebrating the women taking on authoritarian regimes
From Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to Laila Soueif, we pay tribute to mothers around the world who are fighting unimaginable battles for free speech and justice
Power to the people?
Our fundamental right to protest is being eroded in the UK and USA
Students versus the state in Serbia
As huge protests continue to take place, harassment and violence are escalating
This World Book Day, let’s fight for the freedom to read
Following an Index investigation into banned books in UK school libraries, the annual celebration has taken on a new meaning
The existential threat to international aid and consular assistance
With the UK modelling the USA’s approach to aid cuts, independent journalism and political prisoners could be in a perilous position
One year on from his death, Alexei Navalny’s legacy is still alive in Russia
Thousands of brave Russians continue to pay their respects to the late opposition leader and speak out against Putin’s regime
Trump, Zelenskyy and the war on truth
Donald Trump’s assertions about the Ukrainian president convey an alarming normalisation of false realities and an affront to accuracy
Why can’t we just ban politicians from lying?
An outright ban on intentional deception would be unenforceable, lead to self-censorship and do nothing to tackle the disinformation plaguing social media
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “The people of Belarus are showing the dictator that they want him gone”
Following January’s sham election, political activists and journalists willing to challenge Aliaksandr Lukashenka face prison, exile or worse – but they refuse to stay silent