21.10.2024 – Polish Journalist Threatened Over Investigative Reporting

On 14 October 2024 investigative journalist Grzegorz Rzeczkowski (@RzeczkowskiG), who works for Newsweek Polska (https://www.newsweek.pl/), revealed via his X ( formerly known as Twitter ) account that he had reported threats to the prosecutor’s office. The threats were allegedly linked to his reporting on individuals connected to Russian entities. Authors of the threats tried to force him to resign from describing the activities of people with ties to Russia. According to Rzeczkowski, these threats included attempts to coerce him into halting his work and were accompanied by warnings of a smear campaign and even destruction of his reputation. After consulting with legal advisors, Rzeczkowski decided to notify the authorities, asking them to take action to ensure his safety, as well as that of his family.

You can read his statement here: https://x.com/RzeczkowskiG/status/1845808912492065134

Rzeczkowski’s concerns emerged just as his new book “Putin’s Spies: How Kremlin Agents Are Taking Over Poland” (Szpiedzy Putina. Jak ludzie Kremla opanowują Polskę), was released by WAB Publishing House. In a public statement, he pointed out that the intimidation not only targeted him but also the publishing house, which was pressured before the book’s launch. This latest book delves into the influence of Russian agents in Poland, touching upon those who would prefer to silence the journalist.

Given the seriousness of the threats, Rzeczkowski expressed fears for his well-being, stating that he could not rule out risks to his health or life. He emphasized the importance of the authorities’ swift response to protect freedom of speech and prevent further intimidation of journalists in Poland.

Rzeczkowski has had an extensive career covering national security and intelligence issues, having previously worked with Polityka (https://www.polityka.pl/), Gazeta Wyborcza, Dziennik, Polska The Times, Metro and Przekrój, and authored several investigative books on topics concerning Russian influence and internal political conflicts in Poland. His latest work shines a light on the extent of Russian operations within Polish political and economic spheres, sparking the backlash he now faces. Rzeczkowski is also director of the Centre for Disinformation Research founded by Collegium Civitas in Warsaw in June 2024. The center will focus on researching disinformation, particularly within social media, and educating the public about the associated risks and develop strategies to counteract disinformation and collaborate with research institutions and non-governmental organizations both in Poland and internationally.

The situation underscores the broader risks faced by journalists in Poland who investigate sensitive geopolitical topics, with both the journalist and his publisher becoming targets of intimidation as a result of their work.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the threats made against investigative journalist Grzegorz Rzeczkowski following his work on Russian influence in Poland. SEEMO stresses that such intimidation tactics against journalists are an attack on press freedom and democracy. SEEMO urges the relevant authorities to ensure Rzeczkowski’s safety and to investigate this case thoroughly. SEEMO will be closely monitoring the situation to ensure that justice is served, and the perpetrators of these threats are held accountable. Journalists must be able to work freely without fear for their safety.

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.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #poland #NewsweekPolska #GrzegorzRzeczkowski #journalistattacked #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

On 13 October 2024 a car belonging to Nevenka Medić, the director of the KoSSev (https://kossev.info/) news portal, was damaged during the night or early morning in the center of North Mitrovica, Kosovo. The Citroën , registered in Kraljevo, Serbia, showed visible damage in three spots, likely caused by a flammable substance. Her car was parked near to the building where Nevenka Medić lives. Medić reported the incident to the Kosovo police, who conducted an investigation and forensic analysis.

Photos from the damaged car are visible on the KoSSev webpage:

https://kossev.info/direktorici-kosseva-ostecen-automobil/

On 25 November 2015 in an incident in the same area, Medić’s private vehicle, also used for editorial purposes, was completely set on fire, but no suspects have been prosecuted. In the same year, in the night between 10 and 11 July 2015, shots were fired at the premises of the KoSSev editorial office, and the perpetrators have not been found to this day. End of August 2015, an state employee, verbally and physically attacked Svetlana Jevtić, KoSSev journalist.

The KoSSev team, while refraining from speculating on the motives or perpetrators in the latest case, has confirmed that they will report the incident to relevant professional associations. Medić’s damaged vehicle is crucial for her journalistic work, particularly given her frequent field reporting. Despite the severity of the attack, there is skepticism within the KoSSev editorial team regarding the efficacy of the investigation, as the 2015 arson case remains unresolved. As results from the investigation are missing, till today it is not clear how the car caught fire in 2015.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the recent attack on the vehicle of KoSSev Director Nevenka Medić. This act of vandalism, reminiscent of previous attacks against media professionals in Kosovo, poses a serious threat to press freedom and the safety of journalists. SEEMO calls on the authorities to promptly investigate the case and hold those responsible accountable. SEEMO will be closely monitoring the situation and expect a thorough investigation to ensure the safety of all media workers in 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.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #serbia #kosovo #kossev #nevenkamedic #journalistattacked #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

On 14 October 2024 Turkish journalist Pınar Gayıp, an editor at Etkin News Agency (ETHA), was shortly detained after being summoned to the Kocamustafapaşa Şehit Sinan Acar Police Station in Istanbul, Türkiye / Turkey. The detention followed a criminal complaint filed by one individual, who was previously convicted of sexual assault in 2022. This person has allegedly persistently targeted Gayıp, accusing her of various offenses, including defamation, child abuse, and membership in a terrorist organization, due to her coverage of his assault conviction. In March 2024, Gayıp received a six-month suspended sentence linked to her reporting on the case.

Gayıp was released after giving her statement to the prosecutor. This case underscores the larger issue of using legal mechanisms to intimidate and suppress journalistic freedom in Türkiye / Turkey. This incident highlights a worrying trend of legal harassment used to silence journalists.

In one other case in Türkiye / Turkey Asuman Aranca, working for T24, is charged with “violation of privacy” at the first hearing at 2nd Criminal Court of First Instance in Istanbul after her reporting on a murder case. The next hearing, after Aranca requested more time to answer to the prosecutor’s note, will be in March 2025. According to the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, she was “exceeded the standards” of press freedom with her report. The prosecutor initiated the case in April this year. Aranca answered that she was aimed at informing the public. In April this year Aranca won the Award for Investigative Journalism in the Internet News Award category by the by the Turkish Journalists Association (Türkiye Gazeteciler Cemiyeti -TGC – https://www.tgc.org.tr)

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the legal harassment faced by Turkish journalist Pınar Gayıp, following her critical reporting. SEEMO is also alarmed about the case against Asuman Aranca, working for T24. This pattern of using legal complaints to intimidate and silence journalists is an alarming threat to press freedom. SEEMO calls for an immediate end to the unjust charges against Gayıp and Aranca and stands in solidarity with both women journalists, emphasizing that SEEMO will be closely monitoring this cases and all similar incidents aimed at suppressing free journalism in Türkiye / Turkey.

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.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #turkey #PınarGayıp #ETHA #Asuman Aranca #t24 #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

Türkiye / Turkey radio station Açık Radyo (https://acikradyo.com.tr/), known for its focus on civil society and environmental advocacy, also known as Open Radio 95.0, has had its terrestrial broadcast license revoked by the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RadyoveTelevizyonÜstKurulu– RTÜK – https://www.rtuk.gov.tr/en) after close to 30 years on the air. The decision allegedly stems from comments made during an April 2024 episode of the show “AçıkGazete,” (Open Newspaper) where the term “Armenian genocide” was used, triggering a series of program suspensions and fines. RTÜK cited the station’s failure to comply with these penalties as the reason for the cancellation.

Despite an initial court ruling halting the penalty and allowing the station to continue broadcasting the 21, Administrative Court in Ankara, Türkiye / Turkey, later overturned this decision on 27 September 2024 paving the way for the license revocation to proceed. On Friday 11 October 2024 Açık Radyo received official notice from RTÜK that the license had been revoked. As result the terrestrial broadcast on frequency 95.0, which has been continuing for 30 years, was closed by RTÜK in line with the notified decision

Açık Radyo has vowed to continue its legal fight, expressing hope that this shutdown will be temporary. In its statement, the station emphasized its long-standing role as a platform for diverse voices, from climate activism to public health and gender equality, and urged listeners and the international community to raise their voices against this attack on press freedom.

The radio station from Istanbul in Turkey, began broadcasting in November 1995 and remains a symbol of media in Türkiye / Turkey that is fighting against bureaucratic moves that silence critical discourse. In May 2000 it began broadcasting online. In 2005 the radio opened itself for students in Turkey, starting cooperation with Bilgi University. It has regular program exchanges with radio stations in different countries in Europe. It I owned by 92 persons who are holding near-equal shares

The South East Europe Media Organisation(SEEMO), condemns the recent revocation of Açık Radyo’s broadcasting license by RTÜK, a move that stifles free expression and strikes a severe blow to media freedom in Türkiye / Turkey. Açık Radyo, a vital platform for civil voices, environmental advocacy, and cultural diversity, has been unjustly silenced under bureaucratic and technical pretenses. Such actions undermine press freedom and democratic values. SEEMO calls on Turkish authorities to reverse this decision and urge the international community to stand in solidarity with Açık Radyo and all defenders of free speech.

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.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech#southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #turkey #AçıkRadyo #SEEMO #pressfreedom#mediafreedom #freemedia

Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Volodymyrivna Roshchyna (Вікторія Володимирівна Рощина), born on 6 October 1996, who disappeared while reporting in Russian-occupied territories, has tragically died in Russian captivity, according to official sources. Her death, which occurred during a transfer between Taganrog (Таганрог), Russia, and Moscow (Москва), Russia, for a potential prisoner exchange on 19 September 2024, was confirmed by Ukrainian authorities.

Roshchyna, 27, was a freelance journalist known for her in-depth coverage of the war in Ukraine. She had previously reported for outlets like Hromadske (Громадське), Ukrainska Pravda (Українськаправда – https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (РадиоСлободнаЕвропа/РадиоСлобода – https://www.rferl.org/) and had garnered attention for her bold reporting from Russian-controlled areas in Ukraine, such as Crimea (Крим) and Donbas (Донбас). Her work provided firsthand accounts of life under occupation, documenting the harrowing effects of the conflict on civilians. Before her latest disappearance in August 2023, she had already faced detention by Russian forces in 2022 but was released after ten days. Roshchyna was a recipient of the Courage in Journalism Award in 2022 by the International Women’s Media Foundation’s.

Her death has sparked widespread calls for a thorough investigation. AndriyYusov (АндрійЮсов), of Ukraine’s Military Intelligence, confirmed that Roshchyna was part of an impending prisoner exchange, but the exact circumstances of her death remain unclear. Ukrainian authorities are now investigating how and why this transfer led to her death.

This tragic event underscores the dangers faced by journalists reporting from conflict zones. Roshchyna’s passing highlights the ongoing risks to freedom of the press, as well as the immense personal cost of truth-telling in war-torn regions. Russian authorities must provide a full account of her detention and death. Her death is part of a broader pattern of increasing threats against Ukrainian journalists, many of whom remain detained or missing in Russian-controlled territories. It underscores the need for urgent international action to protect the press in war zones and ensure that those responsible for her death are held accountable.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), expresses deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Ukrainian journalist ViktoriaRoshchina, whose tragic death in Russian captivity is a profound loss for press freedom and humanity. SEEMO strongly condemns the ongoing war and the violence it perpetuates against civilians and against journalists who risk their lives to report the truth. SEEMO calls on all parties to respect international law and protect the rights and safety of journalists. The war must end, and those responsible for such atrocities must be held accountable.

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.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #ukraine #war #ViktoriaRoshchina #UkrainskaPravda #rferl #journalistdeath#SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

Roshchyna (Вікторія Володимирівна Рощина), born on 6 October 1996, who disappeared while reporting in Russian-occupied territories, has tragically died in Russian captivity, according to official sources. Her death, which occurred during a transfer between Taganrog (Таганрог), Russia, and Moscow (Москва), Russia, for a potential prisoner exchange on 19 September 2024, was confirmed by Ukrainian authorities.

Roshchyna, 27, was a freelance journalist known for her in-depth coverage of the war in Ukraine. She had previously reported for outlets like Hromadske (Громадське), Ukrainska Pravda (Українськаправда – https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (РадиоСлободнаЕвропа/РадиоСлобода – https://www.rferl.org/) and had garnered attention for her bold reporting from Russian-controlled areas in Ukraine, such as Crimea (Крим) and Donbas (Донбас). Her work provided firsthand accounts of life under occupation, documenting the harrowing effects of the conflict on civilians. Before her latest disappearance in August 2023, she had already faced detention by Russian forces in 2022 but was released after ten days. Roshchyna was a recipient of the Courage in Journalism Award in 2022 by the International Women’s Media Foundation’s.

Her death has sparked widespread calls for a thorough investigation. AndriyYusov (АндрійЮсов), of Ukraine’s Military Intelligence, confirmed that Roshchyna was part of an impending prisoner exchange, but the exact circumstances of her death remain unclear. Ukrainian authorities are now investigating how and why this transfer led to her death.

This tragic event underscores the dangers faced by journalists reporting from conflict zones. Roshchyna’s passing highlights the ongoing risks to freedom of the press, as well as the immense personal cost of truth-telling in war-torn regions. Russian authorities must provide a full account of her detention and death. Her death is part of a broader pattern of increasing threats against Ukrainian journalists, many of whom remain detained or missing in Russian-controlled territories. It underscores the need for urgent international action to protect the press in war zones and ensure that those responsible for her death are held accountable.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), expresses deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Ukrainian journalist ViktoriaRoshchina, whose tragic death in Russian captivity is a profound loss for press freedom and humanity. SEEMO strongly condemns the ongoing war and the violence it perpetuates against civilians and against journalists who risk their lives to report the truth. SEEMO calls on all parties to respect international law and protect the rights and safety of journalists. The war must end, and those responsible for such atrocities must be held accountable.

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.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #ukraine #war #ViktoriaRoshchina #UkrainskaPravda #rferl #journalistdeath#SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

On 5 October 2024 one Croatian minister allegedly launched an online attack against journalist and columnist, Ante Tomić, sparking widespread concern about the state of press freedom in Croatia. The controversy arose after several media outlets, including Tomić’s column in Jutarnji list (https://www.jutarnji.hr/), published critical reports on a minister’s decision to appoint four highly paid advisers. In a response on his Facebook page, the minister described critical journalists as “semi-literate” and “paid mercenaries” “who work not to contribute but to destroy any attempt to step forward”

You can read the column mentioned here: https://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/ovo-je-kolumna-ante-tomica-zbog-koje-je-podivljao-ministar-prvi-mu-reze-meso-da-se-ne-udavi-drugi-muti-cedevitu-15509020

In the post Tomić was called a “communist militant” and a “bucket journalist,” referencing a shocking 2014 attack. This metaphorical use of the previous attack aimed to further discredit the journalist, accusing him of undermining the minister’s work.

Tomić criticized excessive salaries for advisers in a time of economic challenges.

Public figures have a responsibility to engage with the media constructively, and this case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining respect for journalistic independence and the critical role it plays in holding those in power accountable. Many in Croatia are now awaiting a public statement from the government to address the politician’s remarks and demonstrate a commitment to upholding press freedom in the country.

Ante Tomić is a Croatian journalist, columnist, and novelist known for his satirical and humorous writing. Born in 1970 in Split, Croatia, he has gained recognition for his sharp critiques of political and social issues in Croatia. A regular contributor to Jutarnji List, Tomić uses his platform to challenge political figures and societal norms, often sparking controversy. His notable works include novels such as Što je muškarac bez brkova (What’s a Man Without a Mustache?), which was adapted into a film. he was facing several times attacks.

In 2014, someone threw a bucket of faeces at Anto Tomić on the street in Split.

In 2016 he was attacked in Split when he was walking with a friend by two people, one of whom hit his friend, and his hat was stolen.

Tomić remains an influential figure in Croatian media, known for his fearless commentary and wit.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the recent online targeting of journalists, and especially of Ante Tomić by a Croatian minister. The use of inflammatory rhetoric and derogatory remarks from a high-ranking government official not only threatens the safety and well-being of journalists but also undermines press freedom in Croatia. Such hostile language can incite further violence and hostility towards media professionals, which is unacceptable in a democratic society. The Croatian government must urgently react after a member of this government was targeting journalists.

SEEMO will be closely monitoring the situation and urges Croatian authorities to publicly condemn these attacks and ensure that journalists can perform their duties without fear of reprisal.

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.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #croatia #antetomic #jutarnjilist #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

In early October 2024, the Council of Media Ethics in Albania (Këshilli Shqiptar i Medias – KSHM – https://kshm.al/) and the independent researcher Blerjana Bino became the focus of defamatory campaigns. These attacks have amplified concerns about a growing trend of hostility towards independent media and civil society organizations in Albania.

On 6 October 2024, over an online platform, Blerjana Bino (@BlerjanaB), a researcher and executive director of Science and Inovation for Development (SCiDEV – https://scidevcenter.org/), was verbally attacked in a smear campaign. The attacks were in response to the on 25 July 2024 published shadow report on media freedom in Albania, published in collaboration with Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT – https://www.balcanicaucaso.org/eng) from Italy. This report, part of the European Commission’s 2024 Rule of Law assessment, analyzed media freedom and highlighted key challenges in Albania’s media landscape. In the campaign Bino was accused of producing biased reports. Inflammatory language that jeopardized her safety was used.

You can read the report here: https://www.balcanicaucaso.org/eng/Occasional-papers/Media-Freedom-in-Albania-a-Shadow-Report. Bino also cooperates with the West Balkan Safe journalists network.

These incidents followed a separate attack by one other online platform, which retaliated after a ruling by KSHM Board of Ethics. The article misleadingly framed the Board’s decision as an infringement of press freedom, reflecting a worrying trend of media retaliation against regulatory bodies.

Both online platforms employed similar rhetoric to undermine advocates of ethical journalism in Albania.

SEEMO also condemns the attack on Top News journalist Alketa Shaba and member of her camera team during a live broadcast of a political protest in Tirana on 7 October 2024.

During the reporting one person verbal attacked and physical assaulted Shaba and members of the Top News team. A group of citizens, who were in the near of the incident, stopped the attacker from continuing the attack. Shaba informed about the incident the police office in Tirana.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns this campaign of defamation and will be monitoring the situation closely to ensure that media freedom and journalistic integrity are upheld. SEEMO also urges the authorities in Tirana to conduct a fast and transparent investigation connected to the attack on Top News team and arrest the responsible person for this attack.

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.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #albania #BlerjanaBino #SCiDEV #journalistattack #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia #AlketaShaba #Topnews #Tirana

In recent days, the editor-in-chief of the Regional Information Agency JUGpress (Regionalna informativna agencija – JUGpress – https://jugpress.com/), Ljiljana Stojanović, has faced relentless attacks in tabloids.

The hostility stems from questions she raised during a press conference held in Leskovac, Serbia, on 5 October 2024 directed at one politician. Stojanović asked the politician to explain the logical meaning of her criticism directed at couples who do not want/cannot have one or more children, or who enter married life later and later, when she herself, by her own admission, started a family “relatively late”.

Following this question, Stojanović was subjected to online media onslaught, accused of invading privacy and being disrespectful. The attacks claimed on social media that the journalist’s comments reflected a “brutal hatred” for women and motherhood, framing it as opposition to government policies.

JUGpress has strongly refuted these accusations, emphasizing that Stojanović’s question was neither a personal attack nor an affront to women, but rather an effort to hold public officials accountable for their statements. The media outlet underlined that their reporting, including the press conference in question, follows professional standards, and that they stand by their mission to serve the public interest by asking the hard questions that those in power may not want to hear.

According to Stojanović and the team at JUGpress they remain resolute in their commitment to journalistic integrity, asserting that they will continue to ask difficult questions in the public interest, despite attempts to silence them. As a media outlet serving southern Serbia, JUGpress insists that their work will remain focused on objective reporting and accountability, refusing to be swayed by external pressures.

You can read JUGpress article here: https://jugpress.com/urednistvo-jugpress-a-povodom-napada-ministarki-mesarovic-i-djurdjevic-stamenkovski/

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the recent attacks on Ljiljana Stojanović, editor of the Regional Information Agency JUGpress, following her legitimate journalistic question at the Leskovac press conference. The targeted campaign is unacceptable and a clear attempt to suppress press freedom. SEEMO will closely monitor this situation to ensure that independent journalism in Serbia is protected, and calls for accountability from public officials involved in inciting these attacks.

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.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #serbia #jugpress #ljiljanastojanovic #journalistattack #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

On 2 October 2024 the Basic Court in Šabac, Serbia, sentenced one individual to two years in prison for posting wanted-style posters featuring the editor-in-chief of newspaper Podrinske (https://podrinske.com/) Isidora Kovačević, one lawyer and one during the incident time still minor. He was found guilty of endangering their safety, receiving 10 months for each adult and 5 months for the minor, culminating in a combined two-year sentence. Additionally, he is prohibited from approaching or communicating with the victims for a year after serving his sentence.

The case has been ongoing for three years, including over a year of trial. While the verdict offers some relief, it highlights systemic issues within the justice system, especially delays and obstructions tied to those connected to the political elite. The posters, which surfaced after a violent protest in Šabac in 2021, accused Kovačević of being a “media sponsor of thugs” and targeted the others similarly.

Despite the sentencing, questions remain about the full extent of those involved, as this individual is believed not to have acted alone. The police have yet to uncover who printed and coordinated the poster distribution. Kovačević hopes the verdict is just the beginning and that further investigations will identify all those responsible, sending a clear message that threats to journalists’ safety will not be tolerated.

The person who had admitted to the actions claimed he was coerced by unnamed individuals, and is already serving a separate five-year sentence. Despite his claims of being under the influence of alcohol during the incident, the court found him criminally responsible. The case remains open to appeal.

You can read previous SEEMO article about this case here: https://seemo.org/ressources/22-12-2023-ongoing-threats-against-journalist-isidora-kovacevic-in-sabac-serbia/

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) will closely monitor the case and urges authorities to continue their pursuit of those responsible, sending a clear message that threats to media workers will not go unpunished.

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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