The Council of Europe, in partnership with the Supreme Court of Estonia and the Association of Estonian Journalists, successfully delivered a two-day training on countering Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) in Tartu on 29-30 April 2026. This landmark event marked the first joint capacity-building exercise for judges and journalists in Estonia on this crucial issue, reflecting the country’s deepening commitment to media freedom and judicial resilience against legal intimidation tactics.

Led by Council of Europe consultant Flutura Kusari, with the active involvement of national co-trainer Maarja Torga from the Supreme Court, the training was grounded in the Council of Europe Curriculum on Countering SLAPPs. Over 25 judges and journalists participated, engaging in interactive sessions, case studies, and group work to deepen their understanding of the abuse of litigation to silence critical voices, and the European and domestic legal mechanisms available to counteract such threats.

Participants studied key instruments such as Recommendation CM/Rec(2024)2 of the Committee of Ministers and the EU Directive (2024/1069) on protecting persons who take part in public debate from unfounded or abusive legal actions. The conversations highlighted how SLAPPs jeopardize democratic participation by encouraging self-censorship and depriving the public of vital information and emphasised the indispensable role of the judiciary in recognizing and rejecting such abuses.

Alongside legal training, participants examined SLAPP indicators based on Council of Europe and EU standards, explored platforms for documenting abusive lawsuits, and discussed support channels available to those targeted.

Feedback for the event was overwhelmingly positive, with participants rating it highly for its relevance, interactive format, and practical value.

This training builds on the Council of Europe’s ongoing commitment to defending freedom of expression, in line with its New Democratic Pact for Europe, and marks the third activity in Estonia on anti-SLAPP themes since 2025. The Council’s recent work also includes providing expert legal opinions on draft Estonian legislation and launching the RESIST project to counter disinformation across Europe.

The training was organised by the Council of Europe Division for Cooperation on Freedom of Expression.