Global Freedom of Expression |

Faludy-Kovács v. Hungary

The European Court of Human Rights found that Hungarian courts did not violate the right to reputation of a well-known poet’s widow by dismissing her claim for reputational damage against a newspaper. In 2008, Hungary’s biggest newspaper published an article with the headline that accused the widow of trampling on the memory of her late husband. The European Court of Human Rights held that the Hungarian courts struck a fair balance between freedom of expression and the right to reputation.

Magyar Kétfarkú Kutya Párt v. Hungary

The European Court of Human Rights found that the Hungarian authorities violated a political party’s freedom of expression by fining it for operating a mobile app that allowed voters to anonymously share photographs of their ballots.

Sinkova v. Ukraine

The European Court of Human Rights found that imposing a three-year suspended sentence on an artist for a provocative performance did not amount to a violation of the right to freedom of expression. In December 2010, Ms. Anna Sinkova fried eggs over the flame of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Kyiv to protest against the waste of natural gas.

Yashar Agazade and Rasul Jafarov v. Azerbaijan

The United Nations Human Rights Committee found that the process for awarding broadcasting frequencies in Azerbaijan violated the right to freedom of expression of two journalists. Mr. Agazade and Mr. Jafarov, known for their criticism of the government of Azerbaijan, had been unable to obtain a license for radio broadcasting since 2010.

An Initiative of Columbia University President Lee C. Bollinger

Columbia Global Freedom of Expression seeks to contribute to the development of an integrated and progressive jurisprudence
and to advance understanding of the norms and institutions that best protect the free flow of information and expression.

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