Royal & High Court of Justice. Photo: Wikipedia.

Fifteen organisations condemn lawsuits brought by ENRC against the Financial Times, Harper Collins, and journalist Tom Burgis in London

8 October 2021

The undersigned organisations express their serious concern at the legal proceedings that have been filed in a UK court against journalist and author Tom Burgis, his publisher HarperCollins, and his employer the Financial Times (FT). Two lawsuits have been filed by Kazakh multinational mining company, Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC), for what it claims are a series of “untrue” and “highly damaging” allegations made by the defendants about the company. 

The first lawsuit, against Burgis and HarperCollins, centres around multiple passages in Burgis’ 2020 book Kleptopia: How Dirty Money is Conquering the World. The second lawsuit, against Burgis and the FT, relates to two FT articles by Burgis, eleven Twitter posts by Burgis based on the articles, and an FT podcast in which Burgis was interviewed about his investigation. 

“We are extremely concerned that the lawsuits against Tom Burgis, HarperCollins, and the FT are Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs). SLAPPs are a form of legal harassment used by those with deep pockets to silence journalists and other public watchdogs by exploiting intimidatingly long and expensive legal procedures,” the undersigned organisations said. 

The lawsuits filed in London follow earlier legal suits by ENRC in US courts against HarperCollins seeking disclosure of wide-ranging information relating to the publication of Burgis’ book and newspaper articles published in the FT. In the London lawsuits, ENRC claims that the publications defamed the company, including by falsely suggesting that it was involved in the deaths of two whistleblowers (former ENRC employees), whose bodies were found at a motel in Missouri in 2015. 

A criminal investigation by the UK’s Serious Fraud Office into alleged corruption within ENRC opened in 2013 and is ongoing. It is understood to be focused on allegations of fraud, bribery and corruption around the acquisition of substantial mineral assets in the Democratic Republic of Congo and elsewhere. No charges have yet been brought. ENRC denies all allegations.

Since the SFO announced its investigation, ENRC has initiated a wave of more than 18 legal proceedings in the US and the UK against journalists, lawyers, investigators, contractors, and a former SFO official and the SFO itself. In June 2021, twenty-two organisations issued a statement condemning the ENRC’s lawsuits against public watchdogs. 

“The lawsuits against Burgis, HarperCollins, and the FT are the latest in a deluge of litigation brought  by ENRC as it attempts  to robustly challenge corruption allegations,” the organisations said. “We are extremely concerned that ENRC’s legal tactics are a further attempt to silence those who interrogate any possible links between the company and incidents that warrant proper public scrutiny.”

“We urge the UK government to consider measures, including legal measures, that would protect journalists and other public watchdogs from abusive legal actions that are aimed at silencing them,” the organisations concluded. “Our democracy relies on their ability to hold power to account.”

The legal proceedings against Burgis, HarperCollins, and the FT were filed at the High Court of Justice of England and Wales on 27 August. The first hearing has yet to be scheduled.

Signed by:

ARTICLE 19

Blueprint for Free Speech

Campaign for Freedom of Information in Scotland (CFoIS)

English PEN

European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)

IFEX

Index on Censorship

Justice for Journalists Foundation

Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP)

Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT)

PEN International

Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

Rights and Accountability in Development (RAID)

Spotlight on Corruption

The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation

Read news by categories:

Related news

Statement

Turkey: Media Freedom organisations call for action as press freedom violations surge in Turkey in 2025

READ MORE
Feature

Ukraine: Media organisations call upon President Zelensky to sign bill allowing journalist access to parliamentary committee sessions

ECPMF urges President Zelensky to sign Draft Law 11321, ensuring greater transparency and access to parliamentary committee sessions for journalists and civil society in Ukraine.

READ MORE
ECPMF

Georgia: Press freedom partners call for release of Mzia Amaglobeli, end to crackdown on free press

Press freedom organisations demand the release of Georgian journalist Mzia Amaglobeli and an end to the crackdown on media. Amaglobeli faces unjust charges and alleged mistreatment.

READ MORE
Feature

EU must not yield in protecting free speech and discriminated groups

Discover why regulating Meta and other BigTech giants is essential to safeguard free speech and protect vulnerable communities in the EU.

READ MORE
ECPMF

Open letter to Mr. Albin Kurti, President of Vetevendosje Movement and Prime Minister of Kosovo

Media freedom groups call on Kosovo’s PM Albin Kurti to reverse his party’s boycott of T7, TV Dukagjini, and Klan Kosova. Public accountability and media freedom must be upheld during elections.

READ MORE
ECPMF

Press freedom groups in solidarity with journalists and media in Georgia

International press freedom groups express solidarity with Georgian journalists amid escalating violence and attacks on independent media during Tbilisi protests.

READ MORE