Abstract
In its jurisprudence, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has formulated quite extensive requirements regarding admissibility of disseminating value judgments. These requirements make up the test described by this court as fair comment. These include the conditions linked with the form of such a statement and the requirement of a sufficient factual basis for a judgement. The latter is the most controversial premise. The article presents the evolution of the ECHR’s views on it. In particular, the thesis was formulated that, when examining satisfaction of the said requirement, the court applies an approach that is increasingly tolerant of the authors of the disputed statement. The importance of the factor of a specific category of the aforementioned judgements was also emphasized.