Delfi Meedia to file Press Council complaint over Kuuuurija report

Estonian media company Delfi Meedia will file a complaint with the Press Council over a report on the TV programme Kuuuurija titled “Spies in Delfi?”, ERR reported. Delfi Meedia editor-in-chief Urmo Soonvald said the report spread falsehoods and unjustifiably disclosed information about people who were not connected to the story.

Soonvald said the complaint was being prepared with the help of a lawyer and that filing it was certain. He said Delfi Meedia would first explain its position to readers, colleagues and the public, then submit the complaint and consider further steps. He did not rule out taking the matter to court.

Soonvald said Delfi Meedia expected Postimees Group to change the report and apologise. He argued that its overall narrative was wrong and malicious, and said the matter raised questions about the group’s values and journalistic standards. He added that the report could undermine trust not only in Delfi Meedia in the short term, but also in Postimees, Kuuuurija and Estonian journalism over time.

Postimees editor-in-chief Anvar Samost told ERR that the complaint reflected internal tensions at Delfi, which he called regrettable given that it is one of Estonia’s largest media groups. He said the Kuuuurija report had not breached journalistic ethics, describing it as carefully prepared and responsibly handled. Samost said he saw no reason to apologise to Delfi Meedia.