NB8 Statement in response to the report by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media

Joint Statement on behalf of the Nordic and Baltic states in response to the report by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Ambassador Jan Braathu

Delivered by the Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Latvia Ms Ieva Lapiņa

OSCE Permanent Council 1544^th meeting

November 27, 2025

Thank you, Mister Chairperson. 

I deliver this statement on behalf of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, and my own country Latvia.

We welcome the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM) Mr Jan Braathu to the Permanent Council and thank him for the regular reports at the Permanent Council. 

Ambassador Braathu, we agree with your assessment, that over the years media freedom in the OSCE region has faced unprecedented disruptions, escalating repression in a broader context of the democratic decline. Therefore, we highly appreciate your work to promote adherence to the OSCE commitments on media freedom, freedom of expression, the free flow of information, and the safety of journalists as stated in Helsinki Final Act and re-affirmed in subsequent commitments.

We highly appreciate your vocal stance on safety of journalists and condemnation of Russia`s deliberate attacks on Ukrainian journalists during Russia`s war of aggression.

We also see that Russia`s war of aggression in Ukraine has been accompanied by a complete media crackdown in Russia. Independent media in Russia have been silenced, while state-controlled outlets receive substantial funding and backing. Reportedly in 2025, the Russian government is planning to allocate at least 137.2 billion roubles (approx. 1.18 billion EUR) to state outlets and platforms. State control over the information sphere is a crucial part of Russia’s war effort, highlighting the connection between media control and that war effort.

Ambassador Braathu, as you rightly pointed out in your report, “Manipulation of information threatens not only media freedom, but also democracy and security”. Russia uses disinformation and information manipulation within its territory, and also targets societies abroad, with an aim to erode public trust, polarize societies and weaken democratic institutions.  One of the most recent examples, also raised in the Permanent Council, was the dissemination of false information claiming that Latvia is “deporting hundreds of Russian citizens”. This is an example of disinformation and intimidation tactics and attempts to broaden their so-called sphere of influence.

We also strongly condemn continued direct attacks by Belarus` authorities on media freedom, harassment, arbitrary arrests and unjust sentences on fabricated charges of journalists and media actors. Repressive measures extend beyond the country’s borders, including transnational persecution and trials in absentia.

Further, we are alarmed by the situation in Georgia, where independent media face a concerted crack down marked by arrests of journalists and media actors, intimidation tactics, and legislative measures designed to undermine their work. Adoption of the Foreign Agents Registration Act and requirement to register media and journalists as “foreign agents” is an example of the stigmatization of independent journalism. This, together with recent amendments to the Law on Grants and the Law on Broadcasting, erodes democracy and undermines media freedom and pluralism in Georgia. Likewise, we share the concern reflected in this report over the restrictive media landscape in Azerbaijan, where more than 20 journalists have been detained or imprisoned over the last few months.

We call on the authorities of Georgia and Azerbaijan to immediately release all unjustly detained journalists and media actors that have been arbitrarily detained, and to ensure freedom of expression and of the media.

Media freedom, freedom of expression, media pluralism, safety of journalists, especially female journalists, both online and offline, form the core of democracy and therefore are among our top priorities.  

We thank you, Ambassador Braathu, and your colleagues for the work and for the cross-dimensional approach the RFoM is taking forward new ideas to address the issues of the freedom of the media.

The Nordic and Baltic states will continue supporting independent media, defending freedom of expression online and offline, and efforts to strengthen resilience of democracies.

We will continue to engage closely with the RFoM office to collectively safeguard media freedom. 

Thank you, Mister Chairperson.