OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media meets with Chargé d'Affaires of the Permanent Mission of Greece to the OSCE

On 5 May, Teresa Ribeiro, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), met with Chargé d'Affaires Georgios Daskalopoulos, to discuss media freedom developments and challenges in Greece.

During the meeting, Ribeiro and Daskalopoulos discussed the issue of safety of journalists, in particular the murder of journalist Giorgos Karaivaz, which shocked the nation and people across Europe. Daskalopoulos informed Ribeiro that Greek authorities are treating the investigation with the highest priority, and are fully committed to bringing the perpetrators to justice.

They also discussed challenges surrounding the ability of journalists to report freely during public assemblies, following a new Greek National Plan on the Management of Public Outdoor Assemblies, and a number of recent incidents of excessive use of force by law enforcement during such gatherings. Daskalopoulos affirmed that independent bodies are investigating cases of possible excessive force. He also explained that the intention of the National Plan is to improve the modus operandi of law enforcement in safeguarding the right of freedom of assembly, as well as to protect journalists reporting on such public assemblies.

Ribeiro and Daskalopoulos agreed that the current pandemic has brought many new challenges to media freedom, and that a free, independent and pluralistic media can help the full realization of our human rights and build societies that are more inclusive.

Daskalopoulos highlighted the importance Greece places on media freedom in international bodies, including through its membership in the Group of Friends on Safety of Journalists at the UN and the OSCE.

Ribeiro concluded by reaffirming her readiness to support the Greek authorities, welcoming a continued close co-operation between the RFoM Office and the Greek Permanent Mission to the OSCE.