I know you are not asking me to give the definition, because there is plenty online, here is just one:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_speech

My understanding is: the above mentioned freedom, protected by law, will guarantee you that you are free to express yourself, and you won't be punished just by what you say.

With exceptions: :-)

You will ge in trouble if:
1. you threat people
2. make false accusations
3. curse and dam, racial slur..
...
a lot of time public officials are less protected of the verbal abuse simply because ... they are public officials (for the same reason, in other places, they are over-protected)

I just spent a few min on the case you mentioned, the person is charged of threat.... not even racial slur (because it is about a public official)

What I see here is: the law is clear and the process is transparent, not like another place where you can just disappear for reasons you can only guess.