24.07.2024 – Russian Court Sentenced Journalist Masha Gessen in Absentia for ‘Fake’ Military Information

On 15 July 2024, the Basmanny District Court in Moscow (Москва), Russia, convicted in absentia Masha Gessen (Мария Александровна Гессен), born on 13 January 1967, a Russian-American journalist. Masha Gessen is in exile. The court sentenced Gessen to eight years in prison for allegedly disseminating “fake” information about the Russian military nd war in Ukraine. Additionally, Gessen is banned from managing websites for four years.

Gessen announced that she identifies as trans and nonbinary. Gessen prefers to be referred to in English using the pronoun they and them . Gessen was active in the past in a Russian LGBT rights organization. Gessen has dual Russian and US citizenship

This case against Gessen, initiated in late August 2023, stems from a September 2022 interview with Russian journalist Yury Dud (Ю́рий Дудь). Russian authorities accused Gessen of spreading false information regarding the Russian military’s actions in the Bucha massacre (Бучанська різанина). In December 2023, Russian authorities issued an arrest warrant for Gessen, who resides in the United States, and ordered their arrest in absentia. Gessen expressed concerns that the warrant could restrict the international travel.

Masha Gessen is a prominent journalist and author known for their critical stance on Russian politics. Gessen wrote extensively about President of Russia Vladimir Putin (Владимир Путин) and have been a significant voice in highlighting human rights abuses. Gessen’s conviction is seen as part of a broader crackdown on dissent and independent journalism in Russia. Russian authorities have consistently denied the presence of political prisoners and have labeled many dissenting voices as threats to national security.

The Basmanny Court’s ruling is a stark reminder of the risks faced by journalists who challenge the official narratives of authoritarian regimes. Gessen’s case exemplifies the lengths to which such governments will go to suppress freedom of speech and silence critical perspectives.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the recent conviction and sentencing of exiled journalist Masha Gessen by the Basmanny District Court in Moscow. This verdict, exemplifies the extreme measures taken by Russian authorities to stifle independent journalism and suppress dissenting voices. Gessen’s prosecution for allegedly disseminating “fake” information about the Russian military is a blatant attempt to intimidate and silence those who dare to question official narratives. SEEMO calls for the immediate reversal of this unjust sentence and urges Russian authorities to cease their transnational repression of journalists.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #russia #mashagessen #SEEMO #journalistarrested #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

Kazakh journalist Duman Mukhammedkarim (Думан Мұхаммедкәрім), known for his popular YouTube channel “Ne Deidi?” (What Do They Say? – https://www.youtube.com/@ND-arnasy/featured), has been hospitalized in Qonaev (Қонаев), Kazakhstan, due to severe health issues. His health has significantly deteriorated due to ongoing stress and multiple hunger strikes. He suffers from kidney and stomach problems, as well as a protruding disc that causes severe back pain, making it difficult for him to sit for more than two or three hours.

Mukhammedkarim was detained in June 2023 after conducting an online interview with Mukhtar Ablyazov (Мұхтар Әблязовтан), a fugitive banker and government critic. Ablyazov’s movement, the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (Қазақстанның демократиялық таңдауы – ҚДТ), was labeled extremist and banned in March 2018. This led to Mukhammedkarim facing charges of financing an extremist group and participating in banned group activities.

Mukhammedkarim’s trial commenced on 12 February 2024, but he alleged that he was beaten by jail guards, prompting an investigation that was later closed due to “lack of evidence.” His trial was postponed but has since resumed. If convicted, he faces up to 12 years in prison.

Throughout his detention, Mukhammedkarim has frequently protested his treatment by going on hunger strikes. His weight dropped dramatically from 95 kilograms to 60 kilograms, although he has regained about five kilograms since ending his most recent hunger strike. He has repeatedly halted his hunger strikes due to health concerns or partial fulfillment of his demands.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is in solildarity with Duman Mukhammedkarim. Mukhammedkarim faces up to 12 years in prison under accusations of financing and participating in an extremist group. SEEMO calls the authorities to secure all health support the journalists needs, stop the coutr process against him and respect human rights and press freedom in the country.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

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On 19 July 2024 US journalist Evan Gershkovich, born on 26 October 1991, has been sentenced to 16 years in a Russian in a security penal colony,on charges of espionage, following accusations from Russian authorities that he was collecting confidential information for the United Stated (U.S.) government. Russian prosecutors accused him of working for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Gershkovich, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal (https://www.wsj.com/), has consistently denied these allegations, which have been widely condemned as unfounded and politically motivated by his employer and the U.S. government.

Gershkovich was detained on 29 March 2023, while reporting in Yekaterinburg (Екатеринбург), Russia. Since his arrest, he has spent nearly 16 months in a Moscow (Москва), Russia, prison. Despite his and his employer’s insistence on his innocence, the Russian court found him guilty in a trial, conducted with little transparency. Unlike earlier court appearances where journalists could briefly see Gershkovich, access was completely barred during the recent proceedings.

The prosecutor in the case sought an 18-year sentence, close to the maximum penalty for espionage under Russian law, which is often criticized for its vague definitions and susceptibility to misuse for political ends. Gershkovich’s legal team now has 15 days to file an appeal.

The Wall Street Journal condemned the verdict, describing it as “shameful and false,” and reiterated their call for Gershkovich’s immediate release, emphasizing that journalism is not a crime.

You can read the Wall Street Journal article here: https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/evan-gershkovich-russia-trial-dbabd6e3

High-level allegedly discussions between the U.S. and Russia about a potential prisoner exchange, which might include Gershkovich, have been ongoing. Russian Foreign Minister confirmed that these negotiations are taking place.

Gershkovich’s conviction is the first of its kind against an American journalist in Russia since the Cold War and signals a severe crackdown on press freedom. The U.S. government has declared his detention unlawful and continues to advocate for his release. Various international organisations and bodies have expressed their support for Gershkovich.

In a parallel development, the American-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva (Алсу Курмашева) has been detained in Russia for nearly nine months on charges related to failing to register as a foreign agent, further highlighting the escalating tensions and risks faced by journalists in Russia.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) strongly condemns the unjust sentencing of Evan Gershkovich to 16 years in prison on baseless charges of espionage by Russian authorities. This politically motivated case represents a blatant attack on press freedom and an alarming precedent for the treatment of journalists. SEEMO calls for Evan’s immediate release and urge the international community to stand against such blatant violations of human rights and journalistic independence. Journalism is not a crime, and those who report the truth should not be persecuted for their work.

You can read previous SEEMO articles about Evan Gershkovich and also Alsu Kurmasheva case here: https://seemo.org/ressources/29-06-2024-russia-evan-gershkovichs-espionage-trial-no-accreditation-for-schneider-from-orf-and-eu-media-ban/ ; https://seemo.org/ressources/23-10-2023-russian-authorities-detain-journalist-alsu-kurmasheva/

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

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Award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker Melita Vrsaljko, who works for Faktograf (https://faktograf.hr/) and the Climate Portal (Klimatski Portal – https://klima.faktograf.hr/), recently faced two violent attacks while performing her duties. These incidents have raised significant concerns about the safety of journalists in Croatia, particularly those working in smaller communities.

Faktograf web portal is published by the Association for the Informed Public and is part of IFCN (International Fact Checking Network). Klimatski Portal reports about the climate crisis.

The first attack occurred on 15 July 2024 in a village near Zadar, Croatia, where Vrsaljko and a cameraman were documenting an emerging illegal dump site. As they were passing by the site, a man confronted them. He allegedly threatened violence and damage to their equipment and physically attacked Vrsaljko. All happened on public property. She defended herself by kicking him to free herself. Despite reporting the incident to the police, Vrsaljko was charged and given a restraining order to stay at least 50 meters away from the attacker.

The following day, on 16 July 2024 Vrsaljko faced another attack, this time in her own home. The daughter of the initial attacker allegedly violently entered Vrsaljko’s home, physically assaulted her, snatched her mobile phone, and attempted to delete the recordings of her father. Vrsaljko had to bite the attacker in self-defense to free herself and call the police. The police detained the attacker, but their response to the incidents has been criticized for mischaracterizing the assaults as public order offenses, implying Vrsaljko was equally involved.

Both attackers are allegedly related to a local politician.

Vrsaljko took to social media to describe her ordeal. She emphasized that the motive behind the attacks was to intimidate and silence her journalistic work.

The lawyer of Faktograf announced the intention to file a complaint with the State Attorney’s Office, citing the Criminal Code provisions. They stressed that the attacks were deliberate attempts to hinder her journalistic activities through violence, threats, and harassment.

The Croatian Ministry of Culture and Media also condemned the attacks, reiterating its commitment to media freedom and the safety of journalists. They assured continuous efforts to enforce media legislation and protocols to protect journalists from such assaults.

These incidents underscore the risks faced by journalists like Vrsaljko, who are dedicated to uncovering important local issues despite the dangers. The attacks on her are a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for media freedom on local level in Croatia.

According to Faktograf the association has for years endured violent threats.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the recent violent attacks on journalist Melita Vrsaljko, which occurred both while she was performing her duties and later at her home. These assaults represent an unacceptable attempt to intimidate and silence a journalist dedicated to uncovering the truth. SEEMO urges local authorities to thoroughly investigate these incidents and ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable, reinforcing the importance of protecting press freedom and the safety of journalists.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #croatia #melitavrsaljko #faktograf #klimatskiportal #journalistassaulted #journalistattacked #SEEMO #journalistarrested #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

The Serbian lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) magazine “Optimist” (https://www.optimist.rs/) has expressed concerns about its potential closure, highlighting the absence of support from Serbia’s Ministry of Information and Telecommunications.

First number of Optimist was published in June 2011. Editor in chief of the magazine is Predrag Azdejković, a fighter for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community in Serbia.

“Optimist” has issued a warning about the imminent danger to its existence as the sole LGBT media outlet in Serbia and the surrounding region. This threat emerged following the alleged decision by the Ministry not to back its initiative, “Thirty Years Since the Decriminalization of Homosexuality in Serbia.”

Consequently, “Optimist” has declared that its future remains uncertain without proper financial support. The magazine has urged the Ministry of Information and Minister to devise a solution to avert its shutdown.

The magazine also underscored the unequal treatment, noting that media outlets for other minority groups are safeguarded from closure through dedicated grants at the national, local, and provincial levels. In contrast, LGBT media outlets depend on the discretion of the commission members who review their projects.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is extending its full support to the LGBT magazine “Optimist” and will be closely monitoring the situation to ensure that the media outlet receives the necessary backing to continue its operations. SEEMO emphasizes the importance of supporting the only regular LGBT media outlet in Serbia and stands in solidarity with “Optimist” in light of the recent report and recommendations from the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #serbia #lgbt #optimist #SEEMO #journalistarrested #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

On Wednesday 10 July 2024 Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office (Генеральной прокуратурой Российской Федерации) labeled The Moscow Times (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/) as an “undesirable organization,” effectively banning its activities within the country. This designation subjects anyone cooperating with the outlet to criminal prosecution, further stifling independent voices and press freedom.

You can read the statement here: https://epp.genproc.gov.ru/web/gprf/mass-media/news?item=96249378

The decission in Russian is: Принято решение о признании нежелательной на территории Российской Федерации деятельности иностранной неправительственной организации The Moscow Times.

According to a statement by the Prosecutor General’s Office, The Moscow Times was targeted for allegedly discrediting the Russian government’s decisions in both domestic and foreign policy.

The Moscow Times, which has been providing news in English and Russian since 1992, relocated to Amsterdam in 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Moscow Times has been a vital source of news and a training ground for numerous journalists who have gone on to become prominent foreign correspondents. However, the Russian government’s designation places its staff and collaborators at significant risk, making it increasingly difficult to maintain their operations and protect their sources.

Despite this crackdown, The Moscow Times’ founder Derk Sauer, a citizen of the Netherlands, emphasized their commitment to continue practicing independent journalism, a task increasingly perilous in Putin’s Russia. The outlet joins a growing list of media organizations, including Meduza (https://meduza.io/en), TV Rain, The Insider (https://theins.ru/en), iStories (https://istories.media/en/), and Radio Liberty (https://www.rferl.org/Russia), which have all faced similar repression under the “undesirable organization” label.

In an editorial note, The Moscow Times reaffirmed its commitment to truthful reporting despite the increasing pressures and threats. The outlet called for continued support from readers to defy the Kremlin’s (Московский Кремль), Russia, efforts to suppress independent journalism.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the Russian government’s decision to label The Moscow Times as an “undesirable organization,” a move aimed at silencing journalism and stifling free expression. SEEMO is deeply concerned about this blatant attack on press freedom and will be closely monitoring the situation to ensure that the rights of journalists and media outlets are protected.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #russia #moscowtimes #SEEMO #journalistarrested #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

On the evening of 14 July 2024, an incident occurred on the main bridge over the river Ibar (Ibër) in Kosovska Mitrovica (Mitrovicë), Kosovo. The river Ibar divides the city and its inhabitants. The southern side is predominantly home to ethnic Albanians, while the north side is predominantly home to ethnic Serbs. Around 9 PM, a visibly intoxicated allegedly Albanian man attacked journalists Biljana Radomirović from Politika daily( https://www.politika.rs/) from Belgrade and Zoran Vlašković from “Jedinstvo”(https://jedinstvo.rs/). All happened without any provocation from the journalists, when the person was throwing a beer bottle at them while they were reporting.

Biljana Radomirović sustained minor injuries to her leg from the incident. The rapid intervention of Italian Carabinieri, who are part of the international mission, helped treat her injuries quickly. Despite the insistence of the Carabinieri, Radomirović and Vlašković initially refused to call the Kosovo police. However, a police patrol arrived shortly afterward, summoned by the Carabinieri. Emergency medical services from the Clinical Hospital Center (Kliničko Bolnički Centar – KBC) Kosovska Mitrovica (Mitrovicë) also arrived on the scene to provide further medical attention, though Radomirović declined to go to the hospital.

Radomirović explained that the attacker, already known to the police, quickly fled towards the southern part of the city after the attack. She also noted that she refused to give a statement at the Northern police station or press charges against the attacker.

The Kosovo police have assured that they will take all necessary measures in collaboration with the Southern police station to apprehend the attacker.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the attack on journalists Biljana Radomirović and Zoran Vlašković in Kosovska Mitrovica (Mitrovicë), Kosovo. Such acts of violence against media professionals are unacceptable. SEEMO demands that the perpetrator be held accountable and assures that it will closely monitor the progress of this case to ensure justice is served.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

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Açık Radyo (https://acikradyo.com.tr/), an Turkish radio station, recently had its broadcast license revoked by Türkiye / Turkey Radio and Television Supreme Council (Radyo ve Televizyon Üst Kurulu – RTÜK – https://www.rtuk.gov.tr/about-us/1749/en) after mentioning the Armenian genocide during a program. This decision follows a history of penalties and suspensions imposed on the station and other media outlets in Türkiye / Turkey.

In April 2024 a guest on Açık Radyo’s program “Açık Gazete” referenced the Armenian genocide, stating it was the 109th anniversary of the deportations and massacres on Ottoman soil. RTÜK allegedly accused the station of inciting societal hatred and hostility under Article 8 of Law No. 6112 and imposed a fine along with a five-day suspension. Despite paying the fine, Açık Radyo continued its broadcasts, which RTÜK viewed as a violation of the suspension terms. Consequently, in July 2024, RTÜK canceled the station’s broadcasting license.

One RTÜK member nominated by the main opposition party The Republican People’s Party (Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi – CHP), criticized the decision, highlighting that the station had paid the fine and suggesting that RTÜK should have considered press freedom in their ruling. Açık Radyo issued a statement condemning the revocation, asserting that the remarks made during their program were within the scope of freedom of expression and press freedom as guaranteed by international human rights law, including the European Convention on Human Rights. The station announced plans to pursue legal actions against RTÜK’s decision while maintaining their commitment to broadcasting according to universal journalism principles.

The revocation of Açık Radyo’s license is part of a broader pattern of penalties imposed by RTÜK on media outlets critical of the government. This year alone, six different TV and radio channels, including Now TV (https://www.nowtv.com.tr/) and Tele1 (https://tele1.com.tr/), have faced administrative fines and suspensions for their critical content. These actions are seen as systematic harassment of independent media in Türkiye / Turkey, undermining freedom of expression and media pluralism.

The case of Açık Radyo highlights the ongoing struggles faced by independent media in Türkiye / Turkey. The revocation of its license is a significant blow to press freedom in the country, signaling a tightening grip on media by regulatory authorities.

Eighteen Turkish and international media and press freedom organizations, including South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), have signed a statement condemning the decision by RTÜK to cancel the broadcast license of Açık Radyo.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the revocation of Açık Radyo’s broadcast license by Türkiye / Turkey Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK). This action represents a severe violation of press freedom and freedom of expression, which are cornerstones of any democratic society. SEEMO will be closely monitoring the situation and urges RTÜK to reinstate Açık Radyo’s license immediately, allowing the station to continue its critical role in providing independent journalism and fostering public debate.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

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