In the night from 23 to 24 October 2024 an arson attack targeted the car of Blagoj Sersemov (Благој Серсемов), the editor-in-chief and director of MNet (https://mnet.mk/). MNET is television and online media outlet in Štip (Штип), North Macedonia. Unknown individuals set fire to his car while it was parked in the courtyard of his family house. This deliberate act not only destroyed property but posed a serious threat to the safety of Sersemov’s family and neighbors.
A photo of his car after the attack is onlilne visible:
In reaction to the incident, Sersemov expressed deep concern and said that this isn’t just an attack on him personally, but on all media. And that his family safety has been seriously jeopardized.
This attack comes at a time when Sersemov is also facing a series of baseless defamation lawsuits. Legal proceedings are ongoing at the Basic Court in Štip, North Macedonia: He has a support of the Association of Journalists of Macedonia (Здружение на новинари на Македонија – AJM – https://znm.org.mk/en/), which is representing him in these cases.
Such threats and attacks against journalists are unacceptable in any democratic society that values press freedom. This incident, which appears to be a targeted act of intimidation, aims not only to damage property but to silence the media and create a climate of fear among journalists in North Macedonia.
Authorities in North Macedonia have been urged to conduct a swift and thorough investigation to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice. Incidents like these cannot go unpunished, and the response to them must send a clear message that press freedom will be defended and upheld.
Following the public outcry, the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Štip has initiated a formal investigation into the case. Orders have been given to conduct expert examinations to determine the cause of the fire and identify any potential suspects.
Police and firefighters responded swiftly to the scene, managing to extinguish the fire without any injuries reported.
The attack on Sersemov has drawn significant attention both locally and internationally, with calls for greater protection of journalists. Every attack on a journalist is an attack on the public’s right to information, as well as on democratic values and the rights of citizens.
The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the recent attack on the property of a journalist in North Macedonia, which threatens both media freedom and the safety of journalists and their families. Such acts of intimidation have no place in a democratic society. SEEMO urges the authorities to conduct a swift and thorough investigation to bring those responsible to justice. SEEMO will continue to closely monitor the developments of this case and support efforts to ensure the protection of journalists in the region.
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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