
Releasing political prisoners such as Mr. His imprisonment, on spurious charges, is a violation of his human rights and an affront to Georgia’s democracy. Nikoloz Gvaramia, an outspoken media figure and political activist. In the letter, the legislators cite the case of Mr.

Helsinki Commission, Chairman Representative Joe Wilson (SC-02), Co-Chairman Senator Ben Cardin (MD), and Ranking Members Representative Steve Cohen (TN-09) and Senator Roger Wicker (MS) sent a letter to Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili urging her to intervene to break the cycle of political prosecution in the country. WASHINGTON- The leadership of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the U.S. Staff Contact: Jordan Warlick, policy advisor
MEDIA FREEDOM PROFESSIONAL
Helsinki Commissioners have paid particular attention to the problem of impunity for those who murder journalists, attacks on or imprisonment of journalists for their professional activities, disinformation in the OSCE region, and provisions of laws that inherently violate free speech norms including criminal defamation and insult laws. The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media works to ensure the safety of journalists, assist with the development of media pluralism online and offline, and hold participating States accountable for any economic, legal, and extralegal measures to restrict independent journalists and outlets. In the Helsinki Final Act, OSCE participating States recognized the essential and influential role of press and media, and commited themselves to improving access to information and working conditions for journalists. The Dutch government supports the independence of journalists and media organisations.Freedom of the media is the fundamental right of various forms of media-including print, radio, television, and online media-to operate freely in society without government control, restriction, or censorship. In some countries, freedom of expression is under threat. The reason for these grants is that more and more local and regional newspapers, magazines and broadcasters are disappearing or having to cut back, which could harm democracy. The Fund awards up to around €2 million a year in grants for innovative journalism and regional cooperation between journalists’ organisations. The Fund targets not only newspapers and magazines but also journalistic websites. The government makes an active contribution to independent journalism and thus to safeguarding freedom of expression with grants from the Journalism Promotion Fund. Government support through Journalism Promotion Fund

MEDIA FREEDOM TV
Broadcasters decide for themselves what they will broadcast on radio, TV and the internet. The Media Act states that public and commercial broadcasters have editorial independence, which means that they are responsible for the form and content of their programmes. Broadcasters responsible for the form and content of programmes And here too, the court decides afterwards whether what someone said or wrote was against the law. So freedom of expression also applies to the internet.

In the Netherlands, everyone may express their thoughts or feelings in newspapers or magazines, or on the radio, TV or internet. The court decides after the event whether someone has broken the law.įreedom of expression is laid down in theĮuropean Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamentalįreedoms as well. Defamation and inciting to hatred and discrimination, for example, areįorbidden. In theĮveryone may say or write whatever they want, provided they do not break the

Press freedom is an integral part of freedom of expression. Press freedom in the Constitution and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR) Provided they do not break the law, everyone can say and write whatever they want. In the Netherlands, the government may not interfere with what people say or write. A free press is indispensable in a democratic society.
