Justice as Legalised Terror

This series tells the human stories of individuals at the front line against a dangerous threat to cherished democratic freedoms: the systematic transformation of the justice system from protector of citizens into a weapon to silence them. Through intimate access to judges under siege, activists facing imprisonment, and families torn apart by state persecution, this documentary series reveals how quickly the rule of law can become the rule of fear.

The series focuses on European countries at different stages of autocratic rule – from Russia, Belarus and now Georgia at the extreme end to Hungary, Poland and Slovakia - countries inside the European Union where independent justice is under attack.

The series explores these questions: which changes indicate that a tipping point has been reached in the triumph of autocracy over freedom and democracy? By what mechanisms do autocrats undermine the foundations of democratic institutions, especially the judiciary? Can this process be stopped, how, and by whom? And what does the return to democracy and the rule of law look like following the departure of an authoritarian regime?

Justice as Legalised Terror presents unprecedented access to both judges and ordinary people facing persecution, behind-the-scenes protest footage, and exclusive conversations with experts and dissident leaders. Using non-linear storytelling and cross-cutting between countries, each episode builds suspense while maintaining emotional engagement.