BFMI Alarmed by threats to media reporting on the luxury lifestyle of Orban’s circle.
President of Hungary’s Integrity Authority demands compensation and retraction from EUalive and Atlatszo
The Balkan Free Media Initiative today expressed alarm at the legal letter issued to Hungary’s investigative news outlet, Atlatszo.hu, and its Brussels-based partner, EUalive, demanding 5 million forints (approximately 14.000 €) in compensation and a full retraction.
According to Georgi Gotev, editor of EUalive, the demands, issued on behalf of Ferenc Biro, the President of Hungary’s Integrity Authority, responsible for overseeing the expenditure of European Union funds, were in response to an investigation into the luxury lifestyles of Viktor Orban’s inner circle and business allies.
EUalive is a recent media start-up operating out of Belgium and Bulgaria with media partners across central and South-east Europe. According to Grotev, paying the demanded damages could bankrupt the organisation.
“Georgi Gotev is a co-founder of BFMI and a media professional dedicated to both raising the profile of the Balkan region in the European Union and building a free and vibrant media environment,” said Antoinette Nikolova, Director of BFMI. “It is time for Hungary to end the practice of intimidating journalists for reporting on those who exercise power,
The threat arrived just before the 7th May deadline for Member States to implement the European Union’s Anti-SLAPP Directive – designed to protect journalists and others from vexatious litigation.
“The new government must prioritise implementing the Anti-SLAPP Directive,” added Nikolova.
“I want to express my deepest and warmest thanks to the entire international press community in Brussels, as well as to the leading journalistic and press freedom organisations that have already reached out with messages of solidarity and offers of support,” said Gotev. “In these challenging moments, when independent media face strategic lawsuits designed to intimidate and silence, your swift and overwhelming backing reminds us why we do this work. We are not alone - and that makes all the difference.”
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