CPJ, others oppose prosecution of Italian investigative journalists in leaks probe

The Committee to Protect Journalists and more than 70 other signatories, including Italian and international press freedom groups and European media outlets, called on Italy on Tuesday to respect the right to report, rather than risk criminalizing journalism by prosecuting three reporters with Italy’s Domani newspaper in order to identify their sources.

In a leaks probe, Giovanni Tizian, Nello Trocchia, and Stefano Vergine could face up to nine years in prison for articles they published in October 2022, based on confidential documents. Their reporting alleged a conflict of interest concerning Italy’s Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, who filed a complaint with the aim of identifying the journalists’ source.

Read the full statement below: