Press freedom under pressure: Northern Cyprus ranked 82nd in world rankings

Northern Cyprus ranked 82nd in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Despite an improvement in position compared to last year, when the region was in 91st place, the report emphasizes that systemic problems in the media sphere persist.

According to the study, Northern Cyprus's overall score rose from 54.84 to 56.57 points. However, experts note that in practice, pressure on journalists and media organizations continues to have a significant impact on the level of freedom of speech.

In terms of individual indicators, the region ranked 81st in the political criterion, 115th in the economic, 89th in the legal, 110th in the social, and 59th in the security level. This indicates a heterogeneous situation where relatively stable security is combined with economic and institutional constraints.

Particular attention in the report is paid to the structure of media ownership. It is emphasized that a significant portion of the media belongs to entrepreneurs with broad commercial interests, which can influence editorial policy. In addition, informal links between politicians and media owners are noted, capable of undermining the independence of journalism.

Key problems also include lawsuits against journalists, threats and verbal attacks, as well as a tendency toward self-censorship. The growing influence of Turkish capital in the region's media sector is also mentioned separately.

The report emphasizes that despite formal guarantees of press freedom in the legislation, they can be limited by considerations of public order, national security, and morality. Experts believe that real improvement of the situation requires structural reforms and strengthening the independence of the media.