JX Fund – European Fund for Journalism in Exile

When an autocracy persecutes, scilences, intimidates its critics outside the country, it is referred to as transnational repression. The topic has gained prominance in recent years, as dissidents from russia and belarus have increasingly sought refuge in the EU. But regimes suppress not only activities inside their own borders, but also try to pressure ones in exile.

What do Saudi journalist Turki al-Jasser, Philippine journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and Chinese journalist Zhang Zhan have in common? All were prosecuted in the name of “national security” between 2020 and 2026. They are far from isolated cases. From Gaza to Hong Kong to Managua, 100s of journalists are being targeted for providing citizens with reliable news.

Websites of at least six exiled Belarusian news outlets and one journalists’ association, including Zerkalo and Reform.news, have been targeted since March by DDoS attacks, which aim to overwhelm websites with floods of internet traffic. The targeted media sites were all effectively banned from operating in Belarus after authorities labeled them “extremist” groups.

Written by media practitioners, editors, media coaches and consultants who have actively worked with MDIF’s partner outlets in the region, this report brings together articles on how independent media organizations are adapting, innovating and building resilience in increasingly difficult political and financial environments.

For the first time in the history of the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) World Press Freedom Index, over half of the world’s countries now fall into the “difficult” or “very serious” categories for press freedom. In 25 years, the average score of all 180 countries and territories surveyed in the Index has never been so low.

The PEN International Case List’s primary role is to inform its membership and others engaged in advocacy for free expression and serves to enable PEN Centres to identify where their focus could be. It is an indication of where the problems lie in any given year, enabling reflection on patterns and trends that can serve to inform future actions.

Last year, governments all over the world assassinated, assaulted, kidnapped, threatened, and harassed critics beyond their borders. Freedom House recorded 126 new incidents of physical, direct transnational repression during the year, bringing the total number of cases in our database, which spans 2014 to 2025, to 1,375.

According to Radzivon Biahliak, chairman of the Association of Belarusians in Latvia Supolka, the main achievement of advocacy efforts so far is that Belarusian journalists have remained at LSM+. The Belarusian section’s archive has also been preserved. Additionally, stories covering life and events in the diaspora are regularly published.

Belarusian independent media-in-exile face a unique financial crisis that goes far beyond typical non-profit sustainability challenges. Cut off from their home country since 2020, these outlets face two challenges: their mission has never been more critical, yet their traditional revenue models have completely collapsed.

What does it take to address the funding needs of public interest media with locally anchored solutions? Public interest media remains an essential pillar of democratic societies. Ensuring its future will require funding systems that are more diverse, more resilient, and more locally rooted than before. This report provides valuable insights into what it takes to begin building those systems.

This research examines the impact of Trumps reelection and the later U.S. aid cuts on Independent Media. The authors also look at how it devastated exiled media from Belarus, Myanmar, Nicaragua & El Salvador – among the hardest hit. Lost relocation support, diplomatic protection & up to 40% of revenue. Other donors haven’t filled the gap.

Reporters Without Borders investigates how the Chinese state’s global media strategy aims to extend control over international information and narratives, from expanding state broadcasters abroad to influencing foreign media and exporting censorship models. The report warns this push could threaten independent journalism and press freedom worldwide.

As Belarus prepares for another presidential election under President Lukashenko, opposition leaders and activists – including those in exile – are divided over whether engaging in dialogue with the regime can advance change. While some see negotiation as tactical, others warn it legitimizes repression and sidelines independent and exiled voices pushing for democratic reform.

This report introduces the previously unknown Spyware ResidentBat used by the Belarussian secret service KGB. It targets Android phones and is installed through physical device access. Broad application permissions and an accessibility service allow the app access to a wide range of data, spanning phone calls, SMS, encrypted messenger chats and files on the phone.

This report by the Centre for Eastern Studies examines the Kremlin’s expanding control over Russia’s digital space and its impact on independent information. It explores how censorship, surveillance and platform restrictions have pushed many independent media outlets into exile – while these outlets develop new strategies to continue reaching audiences inside Russia.

On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) is releasing a new report “Ending the Silence on Online Harassment of Journalists”. Authored by journalist and tech policy advisor Elodie Vialle, the report provides an overview of the widespread phenomenon that is online harassment targeting journalists, whose normalisation makes it harder to address.

Since the 2020 presidential elections in Belarus, independent media have been wiped out due to severe state repression. Journalists faced arrests, raids, and newsroom destruction, forcing many into exile. Some left the profession, others continue abroad—37 media workers remain imprisoned. Journalism education has changed drastically.

Criminal cases are being opened against independent reporters, editorial offices are declared “extremist formations,” and readers, experts, and sources who cooperate with them face prison. Independent media websites are blocked, budgets are minimal. But despite threats, an information blockade, and financial difficulties, Belarusian journalists remain in the profession and continue reporting on what is really happening in Belarus.