MAPPING MEDIA FREEDOM Q3 2016 BELARUS: 14 POLAND: 9

UKRAINE: 44

HUNGARY: 9 RUSSIA: 58 BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: 12

AZERBAIJAN: 15 TURKEY: 114

GREECE: 9 MMF 2016 Q3 |

Between 1 July and 30 September MMF’s

network of correspondents, partners and other OVERVIEW sources submitted a total of 406 verified reports of threats to press freedom, a 19% rise from the second quarter of 2016.¹ ABOUT MAPPING MEDIA FREEDOM Each report is fact-checked with local During the third quarter of 2016, four journalists sources before becoming available were killed; 54 incidents of physical assault were on the interactive map. The number AN UNPRECEDENTED reported; 107 media professionals were arrested; of reports per country relates to the 150 were detained and released; 112 reports number of incidents reported to the of intimidation, which includes psychological map. The data should not be taken SERIES OF CRACKDOWNS abuse, sexual harassment, trolling/cyberbullying as representing absolute numbers. and defamation, were made; journalistic work For example, the number of reported was censored or altered 29 times; and media incidents of censorship appears low ON MEDIA PROFESSIONALS professionals were blocked from covering a story given the number of other types of in 89 cases. incidents reported on the map. This could be due to an increase in acts of AND NEWS OUTLETS TOOK An important factor in the rise in media violations intimidation and pressure that deter was the attack on Turkey’s democratically- media workers from reporting such elected government on 15 July. Following the cases. failed coup attempt, Turkish authorities forced PLACE DURING THE THIRD more than 2,500 journalists out of their jobs, The platform – a joint undertaking with arrested and prosecuted 98 under trumped-up the European Federation of Journalists criminal charges, detained 133 and seized or and Reporters Without Borders, QUARTER OF 2016 AS shut down 133 media outlets. partially funded by the European Commission – covers 42 countries, “Dissenting voices have long been stifled including all EU member states, plus RECORDED BY INDEX ON in Turkey; however, the state of emergency, Bosnia, Iceland, Kosovo, Macedonia, introduced in response to the failed coup attempt Montenegro, Norway, Serbia, Turkey, of 15 July, is now being used to legitimise an Albania along with Ukraine, Belarus CENSORSHIP’S MAPPING unprecedented crackdown on independent and and Russia in (added in April 2015), opposition media,” said Index senior advocacy and Azerbaijan (added in February officer Melody Patry. 2016). The platform marked its MEDIA FREEDOM PROJECT. two-year anniversary in May 2016 Media freedom also continued to deteriorate and recorded over 2,400 incidents with a notable increase of the use of violent threatening media freedom by the end intimidation and censorship tactics to silence of the third quarter of 2016. journalists throughout European Union member states, candidates for entry and ¹Some reports contain multiple updates and therefore the number of reports does not represent the total neighbouring countries. number of media freedom violations monitored.

1 2 MMF 2016 Q3 |

VIOLATIONS

DEATHS Four journalists were killed in the third Italy. In Russia, 12 reports were filed to the quarter. In Turkey, soldiers shot and killed map. Elena Kostyuchenko, a correspondent for Mustafa Cambaz, a photographer with the pro- independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, and government newspaper Yeni Safak. In Ukraine, Diana Khachatryan, a reporter for independent Pavel Sheremet, a Belarusian journalist working Takie Dela website, were assaulted twice for online investigative newspaper Ukrayinska over the course of one day in Beslan, North Pravda and Radio Vesti, was killed in a car Ossetia. Publisher of the newspaper Moskovski explosion; journalist and founder of news agency Komsomolets Chernozemye Denis Shaikin FOUR JOURNALISTS, Novy Region Alexander Shchetinin was found was severely beaten inside a police station. In INCIDENTS OF dead with a bullet wound to the head in his Ukraine, 11 reports of violence were recorded. apartment in Kiev. In Russia, Andrey Nazarenko, Serhiy Medianyk, a journalist working for the MUSTAFA CAMBAZ, a cameraman for state TV channel Russia-1 anti-corruption programme StopCor, and his PHYSICAL ASSAULT was found dead in his apartment in Moscow with crew were repeatedly assaulted when they were PAVEL SHEREMET, two bullet wounds – one in the head and one in reporting on alleged illegal activities. Medianyk AND INJURY his body. was hospitalised with a concussion. In Italy, ALEXANDER SHCHETININ reporters were injured in eight separate incidents. WERE DOCUMENTED “With nine out of every 10 murders of journalists Political correspondent for La Gazzetta di Parma, AND ANDREY NAZARENKO never solved, the vicious cycle of impunity still Pierluigi Dallapina, was punched by an alleged IN TOTAL prevails. It has to be broken. There can be no supporter of the centre-left Democratic Party exception to the very basic rule that all attacks and then treated in hospital. He was reportedly WERE KILLED on journalists must be investigated quickly and unable to work for four days. IN Q3 2016. thoroughly. We should never give up the fight for DURING Q3 2016. journalists’ safety and the struggle to end impunity Attacks on journalists continued to occur at for crimes committed against journalists,” Dunja far-right rallies. Members of the Greek neo- Mijatovic, OSCE Representative on Freedom of nazi party Golden Dawn assaulted journalists the Media, said. who were covering a protest against a refugee detention centre on the island of Chios. Two PHYSICAL ASSAULTS AND INJURY photographers were assaulted by supporters of In total, 54 incidents of physical assaults and the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany injury were documented, with more than half party following the party’s electoral success in of incidents occurring in Russia, Ukraine and regional parliamentary elections.

3 4 MMF 2016 Q3 |

VIOLATIONS

IN Q3 2016, 107 MEDIA PROFESSIONALS WERE ARRESTED AND 150 WERE DETAINED AND RELEASED.

ARREST / DETENTION A total of 107 media professionals were arrested director of Azadliq newspaper, an outlet often independent regional website The Caucasian “The situation in the Caucasus and 150 detained in the third quarter. On 25 critical of the state, was detained and arrested on Knot, was sentenced to three years in jail on July, nine days after the failed coup, Turkish multiple charges. Seven media professionals were allegedly trumped-up drug possession charges. remains extremely dangerous for authorities began to crackdown on the press with detained or arrested in Russia. Police detained The state-owned Polish Security Printing Works journalists. Alleged kidnappings, the first wave of arrest warrants for 42 journalists Kristina Gorelik, a Radio Free Europe/Radio initiated two lawsuits against media outlets. assaults and arrests on spurious on the basis of being part of the “so-called media Liberty correspondent, while she was filming The Printing Works asked a court on 31 August leg of terrorist” Gülenist Terror Organisation a documentary about Valentina Cherevatenko, to bar the national left-liberal daily Gazeta charges continued to occur in (FETÖ). Reporters were targeted regardless of the director of human rights NGO Don Women. Wyborcza from publishing articles about the the third quarter. The ongoing publications they were affiliated with. The second Three journalists were detained in Greece. Stratis government-owned company for one year. The wave targeted Zaman newspaper when on 27 Balaskas, the then editor-in-chief of Empros, was second lawsuit was filed against Ringier Axel violence against journalists July authorities issued warrants for the detention given a three-month prison sentence for calling a Springer Polska and its weekly Newsweek on has had a pernicious effect of 47 former executives or senior journalists of school director a “neo-Nazi”. 28 September, for reputational damage. In the newspaper, which was seized by government Belarus, nine articles published on the pro- on press freedom and, as a trustees in March 2016. CRIMINAL CHARGES / CIVIL LAWSUITS opposition website 1863x.com were declared result, journalists are often too All 98 journalists arrested in Turkey were charged. “extremist” as part of a case against detained Nine journalists were detained and 17 were The majority were accused of being linked to editor-in-chief, Eduward Palchys, who is frightened to report on topics the arrested in the other 41 countries monitored by FETÖ, which officials say orchestrated the failed currently facing charges of inciting hatred. authorities might not tolerate.” the project. Ahead of a September constitutional coup attempt on 15 July. Prominent cases referendum in Azerbaijan, four journalists were also occurred in Russia, Poland and Belarus. HANNAH MACHLIN, detained and two were arrested. Faig Amirli, the Journalist Zhalaudi Geriev, working for the Project officer for Mapping Media Freedom

5 6 MMF 2016 Q3 |

ATTACKS TO PROPERTY INTIMIDATION Media professionals were subject to attacks to The platform documented a 37% rise of debated what has been dubbed the “snoopers’

VIOLATIONS their property 49 times. Six arson attacks were intimidation against journalists over the third charter,” which, as part of the Investigatory Powers JOURNALISTS carried out in Ukraine, Cyprus and Italy. The quarter totalling 112 incidents, of which 16 Bill, would allow the “relevant public authorities” studios of the national Ukrainian TV channel REPORTED 49 occurred in Ukraine and 13 in Italy. Government to obtain journalists’ communications data with Inter were set on fire, leading to the evacuation officials intimidated media professionals in 22 the aim of identifying or confirming the identity of 30 people and one journalist was injured. The ATTACKS TO incidents. The Prime Minister of Serbia called of anonymous sources. The Albanian parliament car belonging to Mario Guido was burned and media outlets “scum”; the Hungarian mayor drafted an anti-corruption law which would allow the following month his home was set on fire. PROPERTY IN of Érpatak and colleagues, including an MP, any journalist or media organisation reporting Additional cars belonging to journalists were chased a journalist in a car; the environmental Q3 2016. on the case pursued by the authorities to face also set on fire in Ukraine, Cyprus and Italy. minister of Macedonia threatened a journalist up to three years in prison in order to combat over the phone; and the mayor of Zagreb, Croatia, “any inappropriate influence on the work of the Six explosive devices were used to target denigrated a journalist after an interview. special prosecutors”. journalists in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, the Netherlands and Russia. An improvised The platform verified 15 death threats directed at In Turkey, an emergency decree introduced explosive device exploded in front of the home of media professionals and outlets. These included prison sentences of up to one year and fines no editor-in-chief of Ljubuski, Tihomir Bradvica, in “Reporters Without Borders is the Serbian investigative outlet KRIK and the less than 5,000TL (€1,470) for “sharing and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Two explosive devices deeply concerned by the many French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. publishing false news”. were detonated at Kosovo’s public broadcaster cases of the use of violent Radio Television Kosovo: one was thrown at the LEGAL MEASURES A court in Ourense, Spain, ruled that regional headquarters in Pristina; eight days later another intimidation tactics to silence A broad range of laws were introduced during daily newspaper La Voz de Galicia and its was aimed at the private home of the director. In journalists over the past few the third quarter that infringe on press freedom. columnist Jose Manuel Rubin have to pay the Netherlands, crime blogger Martin Kok found months. Acts of violence, and In France, the National Assembly passed an €5,000 to Miguel Angel Perez de Juan Romero, an explosive device under his parked car. In amendment where journalists would be subject a politician from ruling center-right Partido impunity for these acts, has another instance, a cameraperson and a reporter to up to seven years imprisonment for protecting Popular party, for “attack on his honour”. for channel SBS6’s news programme Hart van a serious chilling effect on sources when the case involved revealing the Manuel Rubin published a column in La Voz de Nederland had fireworks thrown at them while freedom of expression and identity of an intelligence officer, divulging Galicia on 4 October 2015, when he criticised covering a shooting in the centre of Amsterdam. freedom of information. The classified information or supplying false the politician for doing “nothing” during his In Russia, a Molotov cocktail was thrown into increasing use of violence to information. In the UK, the House of Lords mandate in the senate. the house of Elena Suslova, deputy editor of the silence critical voices is part of independent newspaper Otkrytaya Gazeta. a global trend of deteriorating In Turkey, on 16 July 2016, soldiers belonging press freedom, which must to units attempting to topple the government be addressed as a matter of seized control of the Ankara studios of the 112 REPORTS OF INTIMIDATION, WHICH INCLUDES state broadcaster Turkish Radio and Television urgent priority.” and forced news anchor Tijen Karas to read a PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE, SEXUAL HARASSMENT, REBECCA VINCENT, televised statement at gunpoint. Other outlets TROLLING, CYBERBULLYING AND DEFAMATION UK Bureau Director for were raided and searched in the months WERE RECORDED IN Q3 2016. following the failed coup including Meydan Reporters Without Borders (RSF) newspaper and the headquarters of the pro- Kurdish magazine Ozgur Halk. 7 8 MMF 2016 Q3 |

VIOLATIONS

BLOCKED ACCESS Journalists or sources were blocked in 82 based in the Spanish city of Toledo, fired nine incidents. During the September Duma employees due to poor financial results, the elections in Russia, journalists were blocked management revealed in a note to workers. at least 16 times from reporting from polling Reporters also lost their jobs after sharing stations. Reuters journalists were barred social media posts on their private accounts. 82 INSTANCES OF BLOCKED ACCESS WERE from reporting at polling stations three times Azerbaijani journalist Farahim Ilgaroglu was in Siberia; a journalist from independent fired from APA news agency after sharing a TV channel Dozhd verifying voter fraud was picture on his personal Facebook page from an REPORTED BY JOURNALISTS IN Q3 2016. barred and was pushed out of a polling station opposition rally. Vuk Bacanovic, a journalist and in Moscow; journalists from multiple media columnist for several media outlets, was fired outlets, including the BBC, were kicked out of from the Radio-Television of the Federation the Territorial Electoral Commission building in of Bosnia and Herzegovina for writing alleged St. Petersburg. racist posts on his personal Facebook account.

JOURNALISTS REPORTED 22 INCIDENTS In Crimea, four websites were blocked including WORKS CENSORED Crimea.Realities, a project of Radio Liberty. MMF recorded that 30 works were reported OF EMPLOYMENT LOSS IN Q3 2016. In Lithuania, three Russian TV channels censored or altered in the third quarter. In were taken off the air: Pervyj Baltiskyj Kanal, Belarus, state TV channels censored content Lithuania’s most popular Russian-language from oppositional candidates three times in the TV channel, along with REN TV and NTV- run-up to the August parliamentary elections. Mir Lithuania. The head of news at France Télévisions, a French public national television broadcaster, 30 WORKS WERE REPORTED JOBS LOST delayed a documentary on Nicolas Sarkozy’s The platform recorded 22 incidents where alleged illegal 2012 election funding from CENSORED OR ALTERED IN Q3 2016. journalists lost their jobs (excluding Turkey, airing on 29 September in the run-up to the where thousands of journalists lost their elections. In Russia, a leaked audio recording job in the aftermath of the failed coup. See of a meeting which took place between news case study). In Lithuania, the entire staff of agency RBC editorial staff and their new Sakai-based newspaper Valscius, consisting editors revealed that journalists were told they of one editor and six journalists, quit after a must not cross a white line, that is to say not local well-known businessman took over the cover a certain type of subjects. paper. La Tribuna de Toledo, a local newspaper

9 10 MMF 2016 Q3 |

CASE STUDY: TURKEY CASE STUDY: TURKEY 98 133 On 15 July shots heard inside the General Staff On 20 July the printing and distribution of headquarters in Ankara signalled the beginning prominent satirical magazine LeMan were MEDIA WERE of the assault against Turkey’s democratic blocked by police. Two days later the offices PROFESSIONALS DETAINED institutions. Tanks and fighter jets opened fire of Meydan newspaper were raided and sealed on and around parliament and other buildings, by law enforcement. By 23 July, a total of 30 WERE ARRESTED AND LATER resulting in the death of more than 240 people. websites had been blocked. On 27 August RTUK Officials linked the attempt to preacher Fethullah ruled to shut down a further 29 TV stations, AND CHARGED; RELEASED. Gülen, founder of the Gülen movement, who is claiming they were broadcasting without a living in self-imposed exile in the US. Six days proper license. On 28 September more than 20 later on 21 July, President Erdogan declared a radio and TV stations were shut down by a court TURKEY IS THE TOP JAILER OF JOURNALISTS state of emergency in 81 provinces of Turkey, order. All outlets were either Kurdish or Alevi which gave him and his cabinet “sweeping new (Alevis constitute the largest religious minority OF ANY COUNTRY MONITORED BY MMF. powers” aimed at rooting out Gülen supporters. in Turkey).

This was the catalyst to an unparalleled level BY 30 SEPTEMBER, 45 NEWSPAPERS, of attacks on media freedom during the third 15 MAGAZINES, 18 TV STATIONS, quarter. Almost a third of incidents – a total of 23 RADIO STATIONS, 29 PUBLISHING 114 – published on MMF in this period occurred in Turkey. The data, which was analysed in HOUSES AND THREE NEWS AGENCIES collaboration with the Platform for Independent HAD BEEN SHUT DOWN. Journalists (P24), indicates that from 1 July until 30 September, 98 journalists were ARRESTS/DETAINMENT arrested and charged, 133 media professionals Ten times more journalists were arrested, and were detained, 133 media outlets were shut nine times more detained, in Turkey compared down and approximately 2,500 journalists lost to the other 41 countries MMF monitors. A TOTAL OF their jobs. Journalists were detained and charged with being part of the media leg of FETÖ. Arrest MEDIA OUTLETS SHUT DOWN warrants were released in waves, which led The emergency rule was used to silence media to formal charges being filed in the courts. outlets. On 19 July around 20 news sites were Journalists were consistently detained, released blocked by the Telecommunications Authority and re-detained, creating a climate of fear and and Turkey’s Radio and Television Supreme uncertainty. As these arrests began, many who Board (RTUK), which monitors and regulates worked for opposition outlets fled the country radio and television broadcasts, cancelled the including former Cumhuriyet editor-in-chief 2500 licences of 24 TV and radio channels because Can Dundar and Yavuz Baydar, a founding JOBS LOST. of their alleged ties with the Gülen movement. member of P24.

11 12 MMF 2016 Q3 |

The first batch of warrants was issued on 23 July over half of the arrests occurred in Turkey were

by the Antalya Police Department for the arrest launched on terror charges or took place during CASE STUDY: TURKEY of 19 journalists for alleged ties to the Gülen anti-terror operations. In the second quarter community. On 25 July authorities issued arrest 43% of all arrests in the countries covered warrants for a further 42 journalists as part of by the map took place in Turkey, where there an inquiry into the failed coup. Two days later were 18 verified incidents reported. During the TO THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT: 47 warrants were issued to former executives or third quarter, President Erdogan used the fear Immediately and unconditionally release all journalists, media workers senior journalists of Zaman newspaper which surrounding the coup to further clamp down · and others arrested for exercising their right to freedom of expression, was shut down in March 2016. On 5 August on the press, with opposition and pro-Kurdish unless the authorities can present credible and individualised evidence 12 journalists on the warrant list were arrested outlets being disproportionately targeted. of involvement in internationally recognised criminal offences; for “serving the purposes of FETÖ” following a court order. On 11 August 43 employees The post-coup attempt period is considered Revoke executive decree no. 668 and 675, and reinstate media outlets of Turkish Radio and Television, the national by many to be a “witch hunt” against alleged · arbitrarily closed down; public broadcaster in Turkey, were detained. By Gülenists. The endless seizures of outlets 18 August 19 out of 43 detained TRT employees mean “journalists who do not end up in jail find Guarantee that any restrictions on the right to freedom of expression were charged. themselves out in the streets” Yavuz Baydar · during the state of emergency are strictly proportionate to the exigencies wrote for Index on Censorship in July. of the situation, as required under international human rights law; JOB LOSSES Thousands of jobs were lost during the third In reaction to this unprecedented attack on press Ensure transparency of legal proceedings concerning those being quarter due to the shutting down media outlets, freedom Index on Censorship, the European · tried on charges related to the involvement in the coup attempt. purging state outlets and the revoking of press Federation of Journalists, Reporters Without cards. On 19 July court-appointed trustees fired Borders and other organisations took part in the majority of the staff at Cihan news agency: an advocacy mission to Turkey coordinated by 60 reporters, editors and technical staff; Cihan Article 19 where recommendations on how to TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY: was seized by trustees after the takeover of address the situation were drafted. We reiterate the Zaman Media Group in March 2016. On these recommendations and add on new ones · While continuing to condemn the coup attempt, simultaneously the same day, the Directorate General of Press in light of the latest journalists’ arrests and condemn the crackdown of independent media and press; and Information decertified press cards of 34 closure of media outlets. journalists over alleged threats to national · Support local initiatives aimed at promoting freedom of expression, security. On 21 July over 300 employees for BY THE CLOSE OF THE strengthening journalistic ethics and generation of solidarity among the national broadcaster TRT were suspended THIRD QUARTER, 98 MEDIA media outlets; from their jobs. By 29 July the total number of revoked press cards reached 330. By 30 PROFESSIONALS WERE ARRESTED · Continue to accurately report on violations to press freedom; September 660 press cards were canceled and AND CHARGED; 133 WERE a total of 2500 jobs were lost. · Inform governments and civil society groups on the ongoing DETAINED AND LATER RELEASED. human rights violations. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TURKEY IS THE TOP JAILER OF Violations to press freedom in Turkey have JOURNALISTS OF ANY COUNTRY consistently risen and media freedom has severely deteriorated in 2016. In the first quarter MONITORED BY MMF.

13 14 Please note these numbers relate to the number of verified incidents reported to the map. Because of the nature of crowdsourced reporting, they should not be taken as representing absolute numbers. For example, although Belarus has less reports than France and Italy over the reported period, it has one of the most restrictive media environments in Europe and ranks 156 out of 180 in Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index. The rise in the number of reports for France is partly due to incidents that took place during several weeks of protests against new labour legislation. Similarly, the number of reported incidents of censorship also appears low given the number of other types of incidents reported to the map. This can be due to an increase of acts of intimidation and pressure that deter media workers from reporting such cases. mappingmediafreedom.org

NETHERLANDS: 7

FRANCE: 11 CROATIA: ITALY: 29 9

SPAIN: 15

CO-FUNDED BY THE