Self-censorship has poisoned Russian media, art and other spheres. In the past few years, criminal prosecution of artists and new laws have made it...
Self-censorship’s chill on artistic freedom in Russia
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CATEGORY: Europe and Central Asia
Will the government allow corporations to sue individuals for libel?
The Libel Reform Campaign is concerned that the government will force through an amendment tabled by libel barrister Edward Garner QC allowing corporations to sue individuals for libel
Index on Censorship Student Blogging Competition
Think you have what it takes to be published by Index on Censorship? Here’s your chance to find out. Enter our student blogging competition! To enter the competition, submit your piece with your name, university, course and year of study, to [email protected]
Index on Censorship: Leveson, the Royal Charter and press regulation
Index on Censorship views press freedom as one core part of the fundamental right to freedom of expression. Read Index’s position on the Royal Charter for press regulation
Corruption, fear and silence: the state of Greek media today
Independent journalism is up against a system that knows that it is in mortal danger from disclosure and will do anything it needs to survive, says Kostas Vaxevanis
Thatcher: Paradoxes of secrecy
In this Index on Censorship magazine article from 1988, Duncan Campbell claimed that former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who died this week, was “utterly disdainful of press freedom and open government”
Azerbaijan’s Facebook fight
In the run up to the presidential elections in October 2013, there have been increased attacks on freedom of expression in Azerbaijan. And social media has become a new target for the country’s authorities, says Idrak Abbasov
Prosecutors crack down on Russian NGOs
Russian non-governmental organisations are facing a wave of state inspections, which some believe are taking place as revenge for united protests against a law classifying international NGOs as “foreign agents”. The list of NGOs visited by prosecutors and other inspectors during last days, is impressive: Transparency International, Amnesty International, Memorial, Moscow Helsinki Group, Human Rights Watch, Agora, For Human Rights (Za prava cheloveka), GOLOS, and numerous regional NGOs. Even regional organisation Shield and Sword of Chuvashiya, which actually appealed to the Ministry of Justice seeking “foreign agents” status, has received a notification of an inspection. According to the law, an NGO that receives financing from abroad, has to register as “foreign agent” or face criminal charges. “Foreign agents” are obliged to […]
What Russia censored in February
It became clear in February that internet censorship in Russia could be expanded to include sites with gay content. The State Duma voted for a bill banning “propaganda” for homosexuality involving minors, the second reading of which is scheduled for 25 May. Many commentators believe that by then the bill will include amendments extending the list of conditions for blocking websites to include those containing information about homosexuality, which could be blocked without a court order. Current laws on protection of children could be similarly amended. Duma deputy Elena Mizulina stated: “No adult has the right to impose their sexual preferences on a person under 18 years of age. Propaganda for homosexuality should be considered information inappropriate for children.” The […]
Belarus: Media literacy vs propaganda
In Belarus, a little over half of the population accepts state propaganda as truth. Yanina Melnikava argues that the Belarusian state would like to keep it this way