The War On News

How governments have limited journalists, 1900 to today.

Search in Europe, stage: punish, national level

The number of entries reflects the depth of this record, not the severity of a country's conduct.

8 incidents match this view.

Country: Belarus, RSF 2026 rank: 165th of 180 Hungary, RSF 2026 rank: 74th of 180 Russia, RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180 Serbia, RSF 2026 rank: 104th of 180 United Kingdom, RSF 2026 rank: 18th of 180

Continent: Europe

Tactic: Insult and defamation laws (3) Detention and violence (2) Access bans (2) Surveillance and subpoenas (2) Shutdowns and blocking (1) Funding and ownership pressure (1)

Stage: Punish (8)

Outcome: Sustained (3) Ongoing (2) Unknown (1) Upheld by a court (1) Reversed (1)

Level: National (8)

Head of government: Aleksandar Vucic Alexander Lukashenko David Cameron Slobodan Milosevic Viktor Orban Vladimir Putin

DateIncidentCountryTacticHead of governmentOutcome
September 5, 2025Serbian police strike, detain and disarm journalists covering anti-government protestsSerbia (RSF 2026 rank: 104th of 180)Detention and violenceAleksandar VucicOngoing
June 16, 2022Russia: entry bans, visa restrictions and bureau closures for foreign correspondentsRussia (RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180)Access bansVladimir PutinSustained (June 16, 2022)
March 4, 2022Russia criminalizes 'fake' reporting on the military, up to 15 years in prisonRussia (RSF 2026 rank: 172nd of 180)Insult and defamation lawsVladimir PutinSustained
July 2021Hungary: investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi's phone is infected with Pegasus spywareHungary (RSF 2026 rank: 74th of 180)Surveillance and subpoenasViktor OrbanOngoing (July 1, 2021)
August 29, 2020Belarus: accreditation withdrawn from 17 journalists working for foreign outletsBelarus (RSF 2026 rank: 165th of 180)Access bansAlexander LukashenkoSustained (August 29, 2020)
March 30, 2020Hungary criminalizes false coronavirus information and grants Orban decree powersHungary (RSF 2026 rank: 74th of 180)Insult and defamation lawsViktor OrbanUnknown
August 18, 2013United Kingdom detains journalist's partner under terrorism law and oversees destruction of Guardian hard drives holding Snowden filesUnited Kingdom (RSF 2026 rank: 18th of 180)Surveillance and subpoenasDavid CameronUpheld by a court (January 19, 2016)
October 20, 1998Serbia's Public Information Act lets courts fine independent newspapers into financial dangerSerbia (RSF 2026 rank: 104th of 180)Insult and defamation lawsSlobodan MilosevicReversed (January 1, 2001)
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