14/9/2018 – BULGARIA: TWO JOURNALISTS ARRESTED

14/9/2018 – BULGARIA: TWO JOURNALISTS ARRESTED

September 14, 2018 • • disabled comments

Vienna, 14 September 2018

The South East Europe Media Organisation condemns the police action against two investigative journalists in Bulgaria. Yesterday evening, on 13 September 2018 , journalists Dimitar Stoyanov of Bivol and Attila Biro of Rise Romania were arrested in Bulgaria. Both journalists where investigating a massive EU funds fraud.

The journalists got the information that documents that are evidence of fraud with European funds are being burned in a field. The journalists informed the police and went to the place to save what could be saved of the evidence. When they arrived police officers jumped on them right where the documents, were deposited.

Karin Kneissl, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Integration of Austria (2018)

September 12, 2018 • • disabled comments

The number of journalists who fall victim to attacks, arbitrary detentions and even murder has increased substantially around the globe. However, the safety of journalists is an essential condition for the realization of the universal, inalienable right to freedom of expression and of the media, as stipulated in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 19(2) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. States have a clear responsibility to protect journalists to ensure safe working conditions.

Austria is thus supporting the protection and safety of journalists at international level and speaks out in international fora against increasing restrictions on freedom of the press.

On the basis of the first Austrian resolution on the safety of journalists in the Human Rights Council in 2012, Austria has frequently taken action to promote and develop this important issue in the work of UN human rights fora. In September 2016, a new comprehensive resolution on the safety of journalists was initiated by Austria and adopted in the HRC. It urges the immediate release of all arbitrarily arrested and imprisoned journalists and unreservedly condemns attacks on media companies. The text highlights in particular the specific risks journalists are subjected to in the digital age, as well as specific risks faced by women journalists in the exercise of their work. The resolution is the strongest text adopted by the HRC on this topic so far and is made all the more significant by the fact that it was co-sponsored by more than 90 states and adopted by consensus.

Moreover, the topic of safety of journalists played an important role during Austria’s Chairmanship-in-Office of the OSCE in 2017. In February 2017 Austria organized a high-level conference on Freedom of the Media in the Western Balkans with a special focus on the safety of journalists and media ethics. In October of that year, Austria organized an expert conference together with the Council of Europe and the Office of the OSCE-Media Representative on the topic of internet freedom with an emphasis on the role and responsibility of internet intermediaries.

One of the most important NGOs active in promoting freedom of the press in the Western Balkans and in Central Europe is the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO). Since its inception, this organization has launched numerous initiatives that have succeeded in supporting journalists in the free exercise of their profession. This makes SEEMO a particularly important partner of the Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs in the region.

I am very pleased that SEEMO is continuing its valuable efforts and remains committed to promoting a free media landscape and wish the organization every success for the future.

Karin Kneissl

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Integration of Austria (2018)

10/9/2018: GREECE – POLICE ATTACKED JOURNALITS

September 10, 2018 • • disabled comments

Vienna, 10 September 2018

The South East Europe Media Organiation is worried about police actions against journalists in Greece. During a protest on 8 September the local police attacked journalist Tasos Aslanidis who is working for the webportal Thestival.gr.

5/9/2018: BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – THREATS

September 5, 2018 • • disabled comments

Vienna, 5 September 2018

The South East Europe Media Organisation demands a protection and investigation of threats against Dino Jahic, editor-in-chief of the Center for Investigative Journalism of Serbia (CIJS).

In the past days, Jahic and his team have been constantly exposed to insults, as also death threats.

The threats started after a statement issued by the president of Republika Srpska (part of Bosnia and Herzegovina), Milorad Dodik, who attacked the editor-in-chief of CINS on 21 August. Dodik was accusing Jahic of leading a centre that demolishes the political structures in the region.

 

28/8/2018: BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – JOURNALIST ATTACKED

August 28, 2018 • • disabled comments

Vienna, 28 August 2018

The Vienna South East Europe Media Organisation is asking the authorities in Republika Srpska / Bosnia and Herzegovina to protect journalist Vladimir Kovačević: He was attacked last night by two masked men with a metal stick on the entrance of the house he lives. He got injury in his head area. Vladimir Kovačević is a journalist from BN TV The attack was reported to the police and an investigation has been launched.

21/8/2018: CROATIA – THREATS AGAINST ZOVAK

August 21, 2018 • • disabled comments

Vienna, 21 August 2018

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) strongly condemns death threats against Domagoj Zovak, satirist and editor of the News satirical show at TV N1.

Zovak received death threat after the last episode of his show that addressed recent Day of remembrance of military action Oluja. Several threat were published on social media and on at Facebook said: ”You will get the bullet to the back of your head too”

20/8/2018: GREECE – THREATS AGAINST JOURNALIST

August 20, 2018 • • disabled comments

Vienna, 20 August 2018

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the online campaign, including threats, by far-right organisations and individuals in Greece against Stratis Balaskas, a journalist based Mytilene on island Lesbos in Greece. Balaskas is covering refugee-related stories for news agency, ANA-MPA, and for website, Lesvosnews.net.

11/8/2018: ROMANIA – POLICE IS NOT RESPECTING JOURNALISTS

August 11, 2018 • • disabled comments

Vienna, 11 August 2018

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) sent today a letter to police officials in Romania asking them to take more care about journalists and respect journalists who are reporting from demonstrations. This letter was sent and signed by SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic, after two Austrian media representatives were suffering police violence and harassment yesterday on 10 August 2018 during violent clashes between police and protestors in Bucharest.

Cameraman Robert Reinprecht and correspondent Ernst Geleg were amongst 450 people who were injured as tens of thousands of Romanians.They were live reporting into the main national TV news Zeit im Bild on public TV broadcaster ORF when the police attacked them.

During this demonstration the Romanian police used violence in total against around 15 journalists. Robert Mihăilescu, working for Hotnews.ro was beaten by police officers, who also smashed his mobile phone. Also attacked by police were journalists working for Casa Jurnalistului, Documentaria.ro, Agerpres, news Digi24 and German Deutsche Welle.

7/8/2018: BELEARUS – POLICE AGAINST JOURNALISTS

August 7, 2018 • • disabled comments

Vienna, 7 August 2018

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns today’s police raids on two media outlets in Minsk. the news agency BelaPAN and the news website Tut.by were visited by police and at least four journalists were taken into police custody for questioning. Both media outlets reported that more arrests were made in the afternoon.

Police took in a police investigation Tut.by editor-in-chief Maryna Zolatava, Tut.by journalists Hanna Kaltyhina and Halina Ulasik, and BelaPAN reporter Tatsyana Karavyankova.