Vienna, 13/10/2017
The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) strongly condemned an attack on Vehbi Kajtazi, the editor of online newsportal Insajderi in Prishtina, Kosovo.
Kajtazi was attacked today on 13 October at around 14:30 in a bar in the center of the city. There are no specific details about the assault yet, but local media have published images of the editor with blood on his forehead. He also stated that he had identified his attacker and cited the reason for the attack as his work.
This attack comes only two months after the attack on Parim Olluri, who is also an editor for Insajderi.
It was revealed that after police interrogated people sitting near Kajtazi’s assailant, they took a suspect to the police station.
Kajzari is known for his stories regarding corruption and crime in Kosovo.
SEEMO calls on authorities in Kosovo to react accordingly and launch an investigation followed by penalties for the attacker. It is deeply troubling that media workers can be assaulted in the daylight and in public without a possibility of suffering any repercussions, if their political connections are strong enough. Institutions in the country must prove that they are ready and willing to work on the protection of human rights and freedom of speech.
SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe and its 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.