Countries against NGOs: Slovakia, Albania, Kyrgyzstan

The Slovak National Party (SNS) is proposing a law to increase transparency in non-governmental organisations (NGOs). According to the proposed law, NGOs that receive more than 5,000 euros per year in foreign financing would be marked and labelled as “organisations with foreign support”. Additionally, SNS is also suggesting the expansion of the possibility of compulsory dissolution of NGOs. However, they view the government’s plans as restrictions similar to those in Hungary. Meanwhile, Albania has announced the establishment of a parliamentary commission to investigate foreign influence and financing of non-governmental organisations, social media and traditional media.

Kyrgyz authorities have introduced a new law that tightens state control over foreign-funded non-governmental organisations. However, human rights groups have criticised the law as being too restrictive. Western countries have called this an attack on independent Kyrgyz media.

The US Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has reported that a total of 90 Palestinian journalists, two Israelis and three Lebanese journalists have been killed so far in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This is the highest death toll among journalists in any modern conflict monitored by CPJ. Israeli forces detained 25 more Palestinian journalists, and four journalists are missing. Israel also prohibits foreign media from entering Gaza, and on Israeli territory, they must adhere to the rules and censorship of the Israeli military censor.