Defamation

It is a rule in Turkish politics. If a politician has nothing new to say, they start shooting the media with the ammunition left; they use their last bullet. 

I, personally, was ready. I was waiting for this dirty trick, this rush of slander? 

The 2014 report from the US-based watchdog Freedom House has underlined a global decline in freedom of the press, blaming it on harsher laws and increased violence against journalists.

The report classified the Western Balkans as a region that saw a sharp deterioration in terms of freedom of the press.

Montenegro's Media Self-regulatory Council on Wednesday called on lawmakers and other state institutions in Montenegro to adopt a special law on defamation to guarantee more effective judicial procedures in cases of defamation in the media.

The Vienna-based International Press Institute's (IPI) Turkish National Committee has announced that it will start a campaign against the increasing number of defamation lawsuits targeting journalists in Turkey.

Montenegrin watchdog MANS urged the authorities to investigate allegations by a Bosniak ex-prisoner who was convicted of libel after writing a book about his alleged torture in jail during wartime.

GERB, the biggest partner in Bulgaria's minority coalition government, on Thursday urged print media publishers to draft anti-defamation legislation.

To avoid potential charges of promoting media censorship, Krasimir Velchev, deputy chairman of centre-right GERB, said he was prepared to initiate a series of meetings with the two unions of Bulgarian publishers to discuss the idea.

Parliament on Wednesday voted in favor of lifting New Democracy MP Michalis Tamilos’s immunity for four different cases.

Tamilos faces two charges relating to the time that he was mayor of Trikala and another two that are connected to a business in which he was a partner.

Boiko Borisov has been granted nearly BGN 200,000 in damages in a libel lawsuit filed against the head of nationalist Ataka party Volen Siderov.

The verdict issued by Sofia City Court can be appealed before Sofia Court of Appeal, dnevnik.bg reported on Wednesday. The sum includes court expenses.

Journalists critical of Croatia's 'shaming' law

Advocates say the proposal would weaken media freedom in the nation.

A proposed law in Croatia that defines embarrassment, or "shaming" as a criminal offence is being criticised by journalists and media freedom advocates.

OSCE on ruling against B92 in defamation case

VIENNA -- OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović regretted the ruling by the appeals court in Belgrade against the media outlet B92.

The case concerned defamation in connection with reporting involving a former Serbian official.