Press Freedom Under Fire: Report Ranks Turkey and Serbia Among Worst Offenders

Journalistic safety across Europe is facing “sustained pressure,” according to the Europe Press Freedom Report 2025 released this Tuesday. The report, backed by the Council of Europe’s Safety of Journalists Platform, highlights a significant decline in media liberties throughout 2025. This downturn is primarily attributed to a rise in legal harassment, physical violence, and “media capture” across the continent.

In 2025 alone, the platform recorded 344 press freedom alerts, a staggering 29% increase compared to the previous year. While some nations have introduced legislation to protect sources and combat disinformation, the overall trend points toward a growing environment of intimidation and censorship.

Turkey: A Hub for Legal Harassment and Detentions

The report identifies Turkey as one of the most hostile environments for independent journalism. In 2025, Turkey recorded 49 press freedom alerts, ranking only behind Russia. The landscape is marked by high-profile detentions and systemic repression that have eroded media pluralism.

Tragically, the report noted the death of freelance journalist Hakan Tosun following a brutal assault, contributing to a total of 90 physical attacks on media workers in the country. As of late 2025, 24 journalists remain in detention in Turkey, signaling an escalation in using the judiciary as a tool for silencing dissent.

Flashpoints in the Balkans: Serbia and Bulgaria

Serbia emerged as a major concern in 2025, particularly following the nationwide anti-corruption protests triggered by the Novi Sad railway canopy collapse. The report describes a hostile environment characterized by:

• Hostility Toward Independent Media: Increased attacks following protest coverage.

• Media Ownership Concentration: Growing state-party control over editorial lines.

• Transnational Repression: Efforts to target journalists beyond domestic borders.

Bulgaria, while showing “modest improvement,” remains plagued by SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation). These abusive lawsuits, often filed by influential politicians and business figures, are used systematically to bankrupt and silence investigative reporters. Deep political polarization continues to dictate the boundaries of editorial independence in the country.

A Continent-Wide Crisis of Detention

The report concludes that silencing the media has become a systematic effort across several European territories. As of December 31, 2025, a total of 148 journalists were held in detention across the region.

The “On the Tipping Point” report, compiled by 15 leading rights organizations including Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists, warns that without urgent legislative intervention at the European level, the safety of those uncovering corruption and state dysfunction will continue to deteriorate.