19 December 2003

PRESS FREEDOM WORSENING, SAYS FREEDOM HOUSE


In Romania, 13 journalists have been physically attacked this year, reports Freedom House. On 3 December, Ino Ardelean became the 14th. A journalist for "Evenimentul Zilei," a newspaper in Timisoara, Ardelean was beaten unconscious by unknown thugs while walking home.

He suffered a broken jaw and other head injuries. The brutal beating came after Ardelean reported on alleged corruption among local leaders of the Social Democratic Party and criticised other officials.

Ardelean's beating is part of a worrying trend in Romania, where the intimidation of journalists is the latest evidence of worsening press-freedom conditions, says Freedom House. Other problems include official attempts to deny advertising revenue to critical media outlets and the use of politically motivated fines against journalists and media.

Many privately owned media outlets also lack genuine editorial independence and tend to be used as mouthpieces for the political and business interests of their owners. And Romania's penal code continues to treat insult and libel as a criminal offence and is often used to silence criticism of public figures, notes Freedom House.

"As Romania prepares for elections in 2004, the further erosion of press freedom will result in unbalanced campaign coverage and a misinformed electorate, threatening prospects for an open and transparent voting process," the organisation warns.

Read Freedom House's assessment of Romania: http://www.freedomhouse.org/research/freeworld/2003/countryratings/romania.htm
Visit the IFEX website for alerts and reports on Romania: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/211/

Romania

Call for withdrawal of Civil Code modifications said to infringe on access to information, press freedom 17 March 2009 Football officials incite players to hurt, abuse journalists 17 September 2008 Senate adopts law calling for "equality" in the transmission of good and bad news by radio and television stations 2 July 2008 Journalist detained briefly, questioned by police for covering arrest of protestors 4 April 2008 Journalists' safety endangered by president's "abusive and offensive behaviour," says IFJ 24 May 2007


Eastern Europe, Caucasus, Central Asia

TURKEY: Cameraman assaulted while on duty 5 February 2010 KYRGYZSTAN: Editor of opposition newspaper threatened 5 February 2010 TAJIKISTAN: Judges seek millions from three weeklies in civil libel case 4 February 2010 KAZAKHSTAN: Press seizure underscores concerns about government's commitment to freedom 4 February 2010 AZERBAIJAN: Editor sentenced to a year and a half of "corrective labour" in libel case 3 February 2010