16:31 3 May 2025
Independent Media in Europe and Central Asia Under Pressure
Independent media across Europe and Central Asia are facing a mounting economic crisis, worsened by geopolitical tensions and the abrupt end of U.S. support. Cuts to USAID and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty funding have left many outlets, especially in Ukraine, vulnerable. Nearly 90 percent of Ukrainian newsrooms relied on foreign aid – its loss now threatens reporting on Russian war crimes and corruption.
According to a new report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), exiled media from Russia and Belarus face mass layoffs, while in Georgia, restrictive laws and oligarchic control of advertising block independent funding. In Azerbaijan, critical outlets are silenced or forced into exile.
Within the EU and the Balkans, public media are under threat from budget cuts and political pressure, particularly in Slovakia, Serbia, and Bosnia. Implementation of the European Media Freedom Act remains slow, leaving the sector exposed.
RSF warns that this economic decline fuels growing political manipulation of the media—from smear campaigns in Moldova to SLAPP lawsuits in Croatia. Yet, there are glimmers of hope: Estonia now ranks second globally for press freedom, and Poland is rebounding after rolling back legal harassment of journalists.
(RSF)
