Page 12 of 46 European Parliament, Stelios Kouloglou, raised the issue of SLAPPs with the European Commission, citing the example of the mayor of Alexandroupolis targeting journalist and trade union activist Antonis Telopoulos with retaliatory lawsuits. Censorship or Content Restrictions for Members of the Press and Other Media, Including Online Media: The government did not censor media although many NGOs said major outlets tended not to publish unflattering news about the government, including allegations of human rights violations, impeding informed civic participation. In August the Council of State – the highest administrative court – requested the EU Court of Justice decide whether the National Radio and Television Council (NRTC) had the authority to fine websites for “violations of human dignity” as it did with radio and TV. The Council of State ruled web-based television services were not obliged to abide by national radio and television regulations and therefore the NRTC could not fine them. National television and radio media service providers had to register with the NTRC. The government also maintained a register of accredited local websites that were required to display their certification on their homepage. A similar electronic registry was in place for regional and local press. Libel/Slander Laws: The law provided criminal penalties for conviction of defamation, including libel and slander. Individuals convicted of crimes could not claim slander for discussion of their crimes. Media freedom Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2023 United States Department of State • Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor