November 24, 2015

24/11/2015: KOSOVO – SEEMO URGES INVESTIGATION OF KOSSEV ATTACKS

Vienna, 24/11/2015

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) urges authorities in Kosovo to investigate and resolve cases of pressure and attacks made on the Kossev news portal.

The vehicle of Kossev journalist Nevenka Medic was set on fire in the early hours of 24 November. The fire allegedly ignited because of electrical issues inside the vehicle, but there has been speculation that the incident could be related to other attacks directed at the staff of the portal. Prior to this incident, the Kossev offices were shot at by unknown perpetrators. No one was injured in the incident, but when they arrived to work in July, 11 journalists noticed several gunshots had been fired into the walls and through the windows of the premises. Only a month later, reporter Svetlana Jevtic was physically attacked and verbally insulted by an employee of the Kosovo Property Agency.

“We call the authorities to protect the Kossev journalists, and create a safer environment for all media workers in Kosovo”, 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.