‘Frozen cases’ aim to chill investigative reporting in Greece Powerful libel plaintiffs employ procedural tactic to promote self-censorship, journalists say

by International Press Institute | Oct 10, 2016 | Greece, News |

Normally, the thought of facing nearly €2 million in libel claims brought by two very powerful business figures would be enough to make anyone nervous.

Greek journalist Augustine Zenakos, however, doesn’t seem nervous at all. He calmly sips his coffee and smokes his electronic pipe, his mind seemingly distracted only by his next article in the monthly investigative magazine UNFOLLOW, where he serves as editor-in-chief.

“Well, yes, if you think about it, €1.8 million is a huge amount and is really something that should make me worry,” he said with a smile in a recent interview with the International Press Institute (IPI). “But, these are libel suits that never actually reach court. We call them ‘frozen cases’ and they’re quite a common tactic in the Greek media landscape.”

Read the full article on IPI’s main website.