The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) strongly calls for release of imprisoned journalists in Europe. Following the reports from the EFJ national affiliates, 149 journalists will spend New Year’s Eve in prison in Europe:
- 56 in Russia and occupied Ukraine;
- 37 in Azerbaijan;
- 28 in Belarus;
- 25 in Turkey;
- 2 in Armenia;
- 1 in Georgia.
Read the full list, here.
2025 was a disastrous year for journalists in Europe. Ten of them were killed in the exercise of their profession on the European continent, mainly in Ukraine. That’s more than in Africa (9 killed). More than on the American continent (8 killed).
The figures also highlight a deeply worrying trend: the use of drones to target journalists or their vehicles. Ukrainian journalists Olena Hramova, Yevhen Karmazin and Tetyana Kulyk, as well as French journalist Antoni Lallican, were deliberately killed by Russian drones. Russian journalist Ivan Zuev was reportedly also killed in a drone attack.
In Europe, the number of journalists imprisoned (149) has risen by nearly 40% compared to last year, mainly due to intensified repression in Azerbaijan and Russia, where jailing journalists on unfounded and disproportionate charges continued to be the norm. This is the highest figure recorded in Europe since 2018.
In 2025, Georgian journalist Mzia Amaglobeli, co-founder of the independent media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, personified the fate of imprisoned journalists when the European Parliament rewarded her with the Sakharov Prize, together with imprisoned Polish-Belarusian journalist Andrzej Poczobut.
The situation has seriously worsened in Azerbaijan, which has become one of the most repressive states towards journalists. Azerbaijan has dismantled nearly all independent media through arrests and smear campaigns. Azerbaijan alone accounts for more than 40% of the cases of journalists imprisoned in all Council of Europe member countries.
EFJ General Secretary Ricardo Gutiérrez raised the plight of journalists in prison in Europe during his speech at the end of year event of the Representation of the European Commission in Belgium: “The Europe of which I am proud is the Europe that has mobilised in the past to obtain the release of unjustly imprisoned Turkish journalists. That’s the kind of Europe we need today.”
The EFJ calls on the European Union and its Member States to step up pressure on Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Turkey, Armenia and Georgia to release the journalists imprisoned there. “In recent months, we have witnessed too many compromises by European political leaders with the enemies of democracy and press freedom”, insisted EFJ President Maja Sever. “It is high time to reconnect with the fundamental values of the Union, starting with the uncompromising defence of the right of citizens to have access to free, independent and credible information”.
Source: EFJ
