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In Azerbaijan five independent reporters, including award-winning journalist Idrak Abbasov, were brutally assaulted just weeks before the Eurovision Song Contest.

At least 13 political prisoners remain behind bars in Belarus, two weeks after the release of the former presidential candidate Andrei Sannikau.

Between responsibility and reality: How can we guarantee free expression online? As the internet becomes a central feature of everyday life, opinion is still divided on how to make it work for the common good.

In 2011, more than 60,000 people sought help in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) after exhausting all judicial remedies before national courts. Now some EU member states propose reforms of this institution because of a huge number of applications. Dozens of European organizations see these efforts as a threat and call to refrain from further reforms of the ECHR.

According to human rights and free speech organisation Article 19, the year 2011 has seen both positive and negative developments regarding freedom of expression and freedom of information in the region of East and Horn of Africa. Unfortunately, restrictive legislation in all East and Horn African countries continued to operate last year, with no signs of the acts that violated international and regional standards on freedom of expression being repealed.

The research and information centre Memorial from Russia won the 2012 Index on Censorship Award. Azerbaijani journalist Idrak Abbasov won the journalism award, Bahrain Centre for Human Rights accepted the Advocacy Award, Freedom Fone by Kubatana won the Innovation Award, Syrian cartoonist Ali Ferzat accepted the Arts Award.

Last week police officers in Kenya assaulted three reporters and detained one. This week Ugandan police attacked two journalists in separate incidents outside of police stations. Journalist community says the impunity in Eastern Africa must come to an end.

Four independent Belarusian journalists have not been allowed to leave Belarus since beginning of March 2012. Authorities offer official explanations that the journalists are debtors in bankruptcy cases or interested parties in relation to debtors.

After the 2011 financial crisis and hyperinflation in Belarus, state media face declining print runs, budget expenditures and loss of staff members.