> Do you have real examples of western governments taking down independent journalists using free speech to speak truth to power? Because that would do a lot to win me over.
Belarus:
"Freedom of the press in Belarus remains extremely restricted. State-owned media are subordinated to the president and harassment and censorship of independent media are routine. The government subjects both independent and foreign media to systematic political intimidation, especially for reporting on the deteriorating economy and human rights abuses. Journalists are harassed and detained"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_in_Belarus
Turkey(which is mix of eastern and western but is part of the EU so I think counts):
Belarus:
"Freedom of the press in Belarus remains extremely restricted. State-owned media are subordinated to the president and harassment and censorship of independent media are routine. The government subjects both independent and foreign media to systematic political intimidation, especially for reporting on the deteriorating economy and human rights abuses. Journalists are harassed and detained" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_in_Belarus
Turkey(which is mix of eastern and western but is part of the EU so I think counts):
"Turkey has earned an accolade which holds no glory: according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, it is the biggest jailer of journalists in the world" https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2017/02/free-tur...