OSCE Media Freedom Representative condemns intimidation of journalists in North Macedonia, calls for urgent investigation
VIENNA, 18 April 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, condemned the intimidation and threats against TV21 journalists in the municipality of Aracinovo, in North Macedonia.
Yesterday, a TV21 journalist and camera operator were verbally threatened and intimidated while carrying out their work. The journalists were first approached by several people allegedly related to the municipality’s mayor, who, in addition to carrying out verbal assaults, wanted them to delete the recorded footage and threatened to destroy their equipment. After the journalists refused to do so, they were taken to the municipal building where they were faced with the same demands. They were subsequently transferred by force to Skopje.
“Journalists are being targeted because of their work; this is a blatant attack on freedom of the media. I strongly condemn this intimidation and threats against journalists of TV21,” Désir said.
The Editor-in-Chief of TV21 was also threatened and pressured not to publish the recordings. According to available information, this incident was reported to the police, and the Mayor of Aracinovo municipality subsequently publicly condemned the incident and apologized.
“I call on the authorities to conduct a swift investigation and to bring the perpetrators to justice. It is essential to guarantee safe working conditions for journalists,” Désir said, noting that media professionals must be able work without fear of intimidation or attack.
The Representative recalled the OSCE Ministerial Decision on Safety of Journalists, which urges participating States to “condemn publicly and unequivocally all attacks and violence against journalists” and welcomed the condemnations made by the AJM and MAN Associations of Journalists and the SSNM Independent Union of Journalists.