Freedom Of Expression And The Chilling Effect: Two Recent Strasbourg Judgments

Freedom of expression under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights is central to the functioning of democratic society. Yet its boundaries are constantly tested when courts impose sanctions on journalists, employees, or citizens who raise matters of public concern. Two recent judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) – Arvanitis and Phileleftheros v. Cyprus (3 July 2025) and Gadzhiyev and Gostev v. Russia (15 October 2024) – provide important guidance on how national authorities must balance reputation and authority on the one hand, and freedom of expression on the other. Both highlight the dangers of disproportionate sanctions and the insidious impact of the "chilling effect" on democratic debate.