The Institute of Maltese Journalists (IGM) said on Wednesday it was deeply disappointed by the Speaker’s refusal to give it a copy of the Standards Czar’s report on the 2019 journalist lock-up at Castille.

George Hyzler had investigated the case following a complaint by the IGM. He found that former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had breached ethics when journalists were locked inside the building after a press conference.

The report has not yet been published although it has since been leaked to the media. On Monday, the two government MPs on Parliament’s ethics committee voted against the publication of the report. The decision not to publish was sealed by Speaker Anglu Farrugia’s casting vote.

The IGM said it interpreted this is a sign of collusion intended to cover anti-democratic behaviour carried out against the media. It said that, as the complainant, it expected to be given a copy of the report by the Speaker.

The Institute called for respect towards journalists and expressed its support to the members of the press who were involved in the November 2019 incident.