TASHKENT, May 1. /Dunyo IA/. The international organization “Reporters Without Borders” (RSF) has published the 25^th World Press Freedom Index for 2026, recording an overall deterioration in conditions for journalism worldwide, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

Against the backdrop of increasing political pressure, rising authoritarian trends, and a weakening media market, scores declined in 100 out of 180 countries and territories.

In particular, despite the entry into force of the European Media Freedom Act, the situation in Europe remains inconsistent. Although EU countries continue to hold leading positions, some of them are in violation of the new norms.

Armed conflicts continue to have a devastating impact on press freedom in countries such as Iraq (162^nd), Sudan (161^st), Yemen (164^th), as well as Palestine (156^th). Against this backdrop, Syria showed significant growth – jumping from 177^th to 141^st place (+36), which marked the largest improvement of the year despite the ongoing dire situation.

The 2026 Index records a systemic deterioration of press freedom worldwide. Political pressure, armed conflicts and legal restrictions continue to undermine independent journalism, particularly in regions with authoritarian regimes and unstable security.