November 23, 2015

23/11/2015: GREECE – SEEMO CRITICIZES DECISION OF GREEK INSTITUTIONS

Vienna, 23/11/2015

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) asks for the release of official details about two foreign journalists arrested in Chalkidiki.

On 23 November in the city of Polygyros in Northern Greece, American Angela Anderson and Italian Francesca Pagani were arrested for allegedly recording trial proceedings, which is against the law in Greece. The case being tried was against several Greek citizens and activists engaged in protesting the exploitation of gold mines for ecological reasons.

The judge accused the two journalists of filming inside the court room, while they claim to have been filming outside of it.

The judge immediately ordered them to be put on trial and afterwards arrested, following which they were detained in the Polygyros police department in. Their equipment was confiscated.

“SEEMO is asking authorities to release more details about this case. It is not acceptable to block journalists’ reporting in connection with a court case.” SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic stated.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South East and Central Europe. SEEMO’s press freedom work is supported by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) project, as part of a grant by the European Commission.