REPORTS
Journalists’ associations react to the imposition of a “punitive fine” against a media outlet
In November 2024, domestic and international journalists’ associations expressed their opposition to the imposition of a 161,000 euro tax fine against the newspaper Documento, which they interpreted as a punitive measure, pressuring press freedom.
On 22 November 2024, the Panhellenic Federation of Journalists’ Unions issued a statement, calling on the government to immediately stop the policy of punitive fines that places inordinate pressure on media outlets, endangering both press freedom and employment in the industry.
The fine of 161,000 euros was imposed after an allegedly “fast track” tax audit for the 2018 financial year. In 2017 Documento was fined 245,000 euros. According to the newspaper, this fine was imposed because Documento received 474,164 euros from advertisers without filing the necessary tax documents. The second fine was imposed for a similar reason.
In response to the 2017 fine, which the outlet condemned as politically motivated, Documento provided hundreds of invoices from other media outlets to demonstrate that it is standard commercial practice to make discounts of up to 99% for customers who book large advertising packages.The newspaper plans to appeal the fine in court, but based on Greek law, the newspaper must pay the full amount of the fine until a verdict is reached.
The incident was recorded under the category of “violation of media freedom” by the press freedom violation reporting mechanism Mapping Media Freedom, which is an initiative of the European Centre for Press & Media Freedom – ECPMF.
Mapping Media Freedom details that, “over the past year, Documento had published a series of investigations into the actions of the Greek government, including the operation of its tax collection mechanism, namely the AADE, revealing alleged misconduct. According to Documento, four years ago anonymous letters were sent to the Greek tax services, which then led to an extensive tax audit on the newspaper’s financial records. Each time the check was finished, the case file was forwarded to another service to redo it. The newspaper does not deny the discounts were made by the newspaper in 2017 and 2018 to customers, but said these were made on the basis of free commercial negotiation and in no way constituted illegal “black” money. Documento denied any wrongdoing and denounced what it said were arbitrary audits and the exorbitant fines as an attempt by the Greek government to close down the newspaper, which has published leading investigative reporting on abuses of power, such as the recent wiretapping scandal in Greece.”
Under the rule of law, individual rights and freedom of the press are protected and journalists have the right to exercise their profession freely and independently, free from censorship and influence.
However, in this case, international and domestic journalists’ associations express their opposition to the imposition of yet another tax fine against the newspaper Documento, raising the issue of vindictive prosecution of the newspaper for its reporting, violation of freedom of the press and interference in the exercise of the journalistic profession.
Bank Account number: 1100 0232 0016 560
IBAN: GR56 0140 1100 1100 0232 0016 560
BIC: CRBAGRAA
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