SEEMO condemns pressure on journalists in Kosovo

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) has condemned the direct pressure on journalists in Kosovo in the run-up to the recent local elections, calling on the Kosovo authorities and Eulex to investigate the incidents and punish those responsible.

(kosovocompromisestuff) Friday, December 13, 2013

While reporting on an incident during the vote, an RTV Puls crew was attacked in Gnjilane on December 1 by members of the municipality's security staff, SEEMO said.According to the Journalists’ Association of Serbia (UNS) and the Journalists’ Association of Kosovo-Metohija (DNKIM), a security staff member, identified as Vladan Aksic, intentionally hit RTV Puls cameraman Nenad Stankovic outside the municipality building, the statement said.Stankovic and other crew members reported the incident to the police, only to be detained at the police station over a long period of time for no reason whatsoever, UNS and DNKIM said.Meanwhile, none of the assailants accused were interrogated or arrested, the associations said.SEEMO called on the Kosovo authorities and Eulex to investigate incidents.It is important for journalists in Kosovo to be able to work freely, without any pressure, SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic said.We call on the Kosovo authorities to investigate all unsolved cases from the past and punish those responsible for threats and attacks on journalists, he said.