South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) calls for explanation from the Kosovo authorities regarding the repeated denial of entry to Serbian journalist Svetlana Vukmirović, who works for the national broadcaster Radio Television of Serbia (RTS). Vukmirović has been barred from entering Kosovo multiple times since 2018, the latest being on 1 May 2023.
Vukmirović, known for her coverage of the Serb minority community in Kosovo and those who left Kosovo during and after the 1998-99 war, questions the basis for her entry denial. She highlights that her Serbian ID card previously allowed her to enter Kosovo unhindered. The Kosovo authorities cited her as a potential threat to public order, internal security, public health, or international relations.
The incident has sparked concerns among international media and press freedom associations and organisations, with calls for respect of journalists rights and the freedom of movement.
South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is asking the Government in Pristina to respect freedom of movement for journalists. SEEMO Is asking the Ministry of Internal Affair of Kosovo, the Border authorities of Kosovo and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to allow immediately Vukmirović to enter Kosovo.
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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