Europe Faces Rising Press Freedom Crisis as 165 Journalists Remain Detained

December 23, 2025 – Europe –

The Council of Europe’s Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists reports that 165 journalists and media workers are currently detained across Europe. This alarming figure signals an escalating threat to press freedom, with governments increasingly resorting to legal repression, arbitrary arrests, and vague national security charges to silence dissenting voices.

Among the most concerning cases is Azerbaijan, which has detained at least 30 journalists, primarily for their investigative reporting on corruption or government abuses. Belarus and Russia continue to top the list, with 44 and 29 journalists detained, respectively. Many of these reporters have been jailed for covering protests, criticizing state authorities, or working with foreign media outlets.

Recent cases illustrate the disturbing breadth of this repression. In Turkey, seven journalists were arrested in January 2025 following home raids, accused of “spreading terrorist propaganda.” Meanwhile, Swedish journalist Joakim Medin was briefly held in Istanbul on vague terrorism allegations while in transit. In Serbia, columnist Dejan Ilić was charged with “causing public panic” after publishing an article critical of government narratives. These arrests, often carried out without due process, aim to deter independent reporting and chill journalistic inquiry.

In occupied Ukraine, Yevhenii Ilchenko, a citizen-journalist from Melitopol, was reportedly tortured after his arrest, shedding light on the dangers journalists face in conflict zones and territories under authoritarian control.

The Council of Europe’s platform has issued urgent alerts and called on member states to uphold commitments to media freedom and human rights. Yet, despite these efforts, many governments continue to exploit anti-terrorism and defamation laws to suppress the press.

This growing wave of detentions undermines democratic institutions and threatens the public’s right to information. Advocacy groups are urging stronger legal protections, independent judiciary oversight, and international pressure to reverse the trend. Without immediate reforms, Europe’s reputation as a bastion of press freedom risks eroding under the weight of state-sponsored censorship and intimidation.

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