ARTICLE 19 expresses its concern about the ongoing civil and criminal defamation proceedings against Oleg Orlov, head of the Russian human rights organisation Memorial. ARTICLE 19 is especially concerned that Orlov faces criminal charges after his civil trial – for the same alleged defamatory remarks about Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov – has already been settled.

Press release on the decriminalisation of defamation.

Press release on the defamation decriminalisation process in the UK.

Press release welcoming UNHRC recommendations for Azerbaijan.

ARTICLE 19 condemns the conviction of Faramaz Novruzoglu and Sardar Alibeyli, editor-in-chief and deputy editor of Nota newspaper, and calls upon the Government of Azerbaijan to repeal all provisions relating to defamation from the Criminal Code.

The Government of the United Kingdom has committed to decriminalising defamation by doing away with the common law offences of sedition, seditious libel and defamatory libel.

Press release on writing to the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, along with members of the Cabinet and members of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, to urge an amendment to UK legislation on criminal libel.

Letter to Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Press release on the Moldovan President's reintroduction of a ceiling on pecuniary remedies for moral damages from defamation.

Comment on the Moldovan President’s proposal on moral damages for defamation.

Briefing note on UK Libel Tourism following the ARTICLE 19 and Freedom House panel discussion on UK Libel Tourism.

Report outlining defamation law and practice in Russia, and assessing the extent to which decisions by Russian courts in defamation cases conform to the standards established by the European Court of Human Rights.

Memorandum on the Draft Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Defamation against international standards.

Memorandum on the draft Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Defamation, which seeks to decriminalise defamation and further bring Azeri law into line with international standards.

Memorandum analysing the Irish draft Defamation and Privacy Bills against international standards.

Report assessing defamation law and practice in Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine in light of their responsibilities under international law, and providing recommendations for positive change.

Intervention in a case in Lithuania in which a mental hospital sued an NGO for defamation.

Support for a proposal to abolish a criminal defamation provision that protects public officials put forth by a coalition of non-government organisations.

Note on Kosovo's draft Law on Protection from Defamation and Insult of Kosovo.

Memorandum examining provisions relating to defamation in the draft law, 'Criminal Offences against Honour and Reputation,' produced by a government working group and intended to replace the defamation provisions in the current Criminal Code.

Memorandum on the consistency of defamation provisions in the criminal and civil codes and the Law on Radio and Television with international standards.

Statement on the recently considered amendments to decriminalise defamation in the relevant provisions of the criminal and civil codes.

Note on the 'Principles of the Law of the Azerbaijani Republic on Defamation', drafted by the Yeni Nesil Journalists' Association.

Proposal formulated by ARTICLE 19 for a new defamation law for Georgia.

Memorandum analysing the criminal and civil defamation provisions contained in the Criminal and Civil Codes.

Submission to Sub-Committee E (Law and Institutions), House of Lords, on the European Commission Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council on Law Applicable to Non-Contractual Obligations (Rome II), with a focus on defamation.

Submission to Legal Affairs and Internal Market Committee European Parliament on the European Commission Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council on Law Applicable to Non-Contractual Obligations (Rome II), with a focus on defamation.

Submission on the report of the Legal Advisory Group on Defamation

Report to the Legal Advisory Group on Defamation on defamation law in Ireland.

Memorandum commenting on amendments to the libel provisions contained in the Criminal Code.

This publication is intended to serve as a reference tool for the various actors dealing with the problem of defamation in Russia. It analyses the defamation law of the Russian Federation in light of international human rights standards in this field, provides examples of how Russian legislation is being applied in practice and includes recommendations for reforming the legal framework to bring it into line with Russia's obligations under international law.

Written Comments submitted by ARTICLE 19 in the Kassabova case arguing against the application of a criminal defamation law.

Comment analysing a Supreme Economic Court decision involving the private newspaper Narodnaya Volya, in which it upheld provisions protecting the president.

Statement analysing the libel case of journalist Atia Kassabova.

Memorandum analysing the legitimacy of extracts of the Belarussian Criminal Code on defamation and insult.

Written comments submitted by ARTICLE 19 on defamation of public officals.

Written comments submitted by ARTICLE 19 and Interights to the European Court of Human Rights, outlining comparative law in the area of defamation of members of the judiciary.