In India we have been going through this the last 14 years or so.

Look up Stanswamy [0], an octagenarian jailed on the basis of trumped up charges and planted evidence (most likely with the help of Israeli companies). Journalists held in jail for five years without any charges pressed. Same fate for those who criticize the government too vocally.

Now pretty much all of the press is but a government press release with a few holding out here and there.

[0] https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/12/13/stan-swamy-h...