12 He knows of no legal or de facto consequences in Paraguay of the statements made by the alleged victim, other than the lawsuit filed against the latter as a result of his opinions a situation which had “major” national and international repercussions. He has no evidence of the impact that the lawsuit filed against Mr. Canese had on other people who reported acts of corruption. There was greater “prudence” and “apprehension” in the information disseminated in the media and in the opinions of the journalists and those who denounced this type of act, for fear of actions being filed against them. Throughout the political transition in Paraguay, there were numerous cases of journalists prosecuted for the offenses of slander, calumny and grave injuria. During the 1990s, Mr. Wasmosy brought actions against two journalists for slander and injuria, due to their opinions on the “Case of Conempa and Itaipú.” As President of the Journalists’ Trade Union he is aware of the actions against journalists or other persons for denouncing acts or omissions concerning matters of public interest or with regard to public figures. The witness cited the case of two journalists from the newspaper “ABC Color” who were sued by former President Wasmosy for slander and grave injuria, because, in an investigative piece of journalism, they denounced the linkages of the former head of State “with illegal deals” involving the principal fuel and petroleum products processing and distribution company in Paraguay The criminal prosecution of those who criticize has drastic consequences, akin to censorship or self-censorship, on individuals who might bring accusations against or question public figures or those in power. The result is a high risk of violating freedom of expression, which resembles prior censorship. Imposing restrictions on leaving the country can become a limitation of freedom of movement, if it is not proved that, in a specific case, this measure is necessary owing to a risk of harming other juridical guarantees or rights. In general, whatever the area they work in, public officials involved in corrupt acts in Paraguay are not punished or even prosecuted. In this situation, impunity has been the rule, with some exceptions in recent years; this has been exposed in reports by national and international civil organizations, and has put Paraguay among the first three countries in the world with the highest rate of corruption, and in first place in America. 59. The State forwarded the testimonial statements of Hermann Baumann, Ramón Jiménez Gaona and Oscar Aranda, and the expert report of Juan Carlos Dionisio Mendonça del Puerto (supra para. 31), all of them made before the Chief Public Recording Officer of the Government of the Republic of Paraguay (affidavits), in accordance with the instructions of the President in the Order of February 27, 2004 (supra para. 29). The Court will now summarize the relevant parts of these statements. a) Testimony of Hermann Baumann, member of the CONEMPA Board of Directors