Marking World Press Freedom Day on 3 May, free voices from North Macedonia are sounding the alarm about a growing threat to democracy: Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs). These lawsuits, often disguised as defamation or civil claims, are increasingly used to intimidate journalists, drain their resources, and silence critical reporting.

In the continuous efforts to address such threats, the European Union and Council of Europe joint action “Protecting Freedom of Expression and of the Media in North Macedonia (PRO-FREX)” has mobilised media professionals, law enforcement, lawyers, prosecutors and judges to build a national resilience against legal intimidation tactics posed to freedom of speech.

Judge Aleksandar Shopov from the Appellate Court in Skopje, and a PRO-FREX trainer, shared his experience and the importance of the PRO-FREX action to help build a better understanding among judges of the core principles of freedom of expression and the protection of journalists. According to him, the shared knowledge and in particular the Recommendation CM/Rec(2024)2 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on countering the use of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs)  represented a crucial step forward – it gave us a clear framework to recognise and address abusive lawsuits. “Even before any specific anti-SLAPP legislation was adopted, judges already had guidance rooted in European standards and case-law from the European Court of Human Rights. We were already using these tools to shape our own jurisprudence and to safeguard the public interest in open debates,” shared Shopov.

Another trainer on freedom of expression and SLAPPs is Lazar Sandev, a legal professional from Skopje, North Macedonia. He explained that, as a lawyer dealing with SLAPP lawsuits and also a trainer within the PRO-FREX action, he is now more aware about the Council of Europe recommendations as a tool for identifying and resisting such abuses. “The trainings we organise with the support of PRO-FREX action are essential to strengthen the capacities of judges, prosecutors and lawyers in dealing with SLAPPs cases. This approach contributes to the ongoing advancement and protection of freedom of expression as a fundamental human right,” stressed Sandev, who is a legal representative of the journalists involved in the Investigative Reporting Lab (IRL) – one of the most prominent investigative journalism platforms in North Macedonia and beyond.

IRL is well-known for uncovering complex corruption scandals, illicit financial flows, and abuse of power, and consequently has frequently been targeted by SLAPPs. These lawsuits aim not only to punish journalists for their revelations but to deter future reporting in the public interest. Journalists like Saska Cvetkovska, IRL’s Editor-in-Chief, and Maja Jovanovska, investigative reporter at the Lab, speak to us about such pressures firsthand. Both Cvetkovska and Jovanovska have been involved in high-profile investigations that triggered retaliatory lawsuits, as well as waves of hate speech and coordinated online harassment. As women journalists reporting on corruption and abuse of power, they are often subjected to gender-based attacks aimed at discrediting and intimidating them. Despite these pressures, IRL continues to report fearlessly - offering a clear example of why robust legal and institutional protections against SLAPPs and abuse are urgently needed.