RSF - Reporters sans frontières

06/15/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/15/2026 10:05

Police violence in France: a trial that must set an example for the protection of journalists

The trial of a member of the Motorised Anti-Violence Brigade (BRAV-M), charged with intentional violence by a public official against Pierre Tremblay, a videographer for the HuffPost news website, and the destruction of photojournalist Florian Poitout's equipment during a protest in July 2023, will open on 16 June at the Paris judicial court. Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a civil party in the proceedings, and HuffPost welcome the start of this trial and call on the court to deliver an exemplary ruling in the fight against impunity for violence committed against journalists, and more broadly for press freedom in France.

Almost three years after a joint complaint was filed with RSF and following an investigation by the General Inspectorate of the National Police (IGPN), a member of the BRAV-M will appear on 16 June, before the Paris judicial court for intentional acts of violence against HuffPost news website videographer Pierre Tremblay and the damage to photojournalist Florian Poitout's equipment.

Pierre Tremblay was the victim of police violence while covering a protest, in Paris on 8 July 2023, in memory of Adama Traoré - who died in police custody in a Parisian suburb in 2016 - for the HuffPost news website. Thrown to the ground by officers from the BRAV-M, the journalist suffered a sprained wrist that required one week off work and the immobilisation of his hand for three weeks. Freelance photojournalist Florian Poitout, who was taking pictures of the rally for the Abaca Press news agency, was also subjected to unlawful use of force by the same unit.

The week following their assault, the two reporters filed a complaint with the IGPN. Pierre Tremblay, supported by the management of HuffPost, also filed a complaint with the public prosecutor's office. RSF is a civil party in this case and will be present at the trial.

"We hope this trial will be an opportunity to shed light on the increasingly frequent obstacles and acts of violence that we, as journalists, face when covering protests in France. In recent years, several colleagues have been victims of violence at the hands of law enforcement, often by members of the controversial BRAV-M. It is time for the courts to condemn these unacceptable attacks on press freedom.

Pierre Tremblay, Sara Taleb et Arnaud Aubron
Videographer, editorial director, and CEO of HuffPost

"The opening of this trial is a significant step forward for the protection of journalists in France, particularly when they are covering law enforcement operations. Of the 21 complaints filed by RSF alongside journalists who have been victims of police violence since 2019, this is only the third trial to open, a sign of the difficulties encountered in obtaining justice. We now expect the courts to send a clear message: violence committed against journalists cannot go unpunished.

Laure Chauvel
Head of the RSF France Desk

This trial follows two other cases that resulted in convictions for similar offences. In February 2023, the police officer responsible for the violence against journalist Kevin Figuier - who was injured while covering a "Yellow Vest" protest in April 2019 - was sentenced by the Toulouse Criminal Court to a suspended fine of 2,000 euros and ordered to pay 800 euros in damages to the journalist. More recently, in March 2026, the CRS riot police officer who committed acts of violence against freelance photojournalist Adrien Lévy-Cariès - who, in December 2018, was also covering a "Yellow Vest" protest - was sentenced to a 20-month suspended prison term, as requested by the prosecution.

Published on 15.06.2026
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