29/11/2017: RUSSIA – SEEMO DISTURBED BY NEW LEGISLATION FOR FOREIGN MEDIA IN RUSSIA

Vienna, 29/11/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) voiced concern after a law was signed in Russia by president Vladimir Putin which will allow the state to have even more control over local and foreign media in the country.

The law, signed on 25 November gives authorities in the country the right to classify foreign media outlets and journalists as “foreign agents”, which would require them to submit their content to even more scrutiny and reveal their funding sources.

Not complying with these demands would lead to judicial persecution and punishments.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe.

Vienna, 22 November 2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed concern after freelance journalist Domagoj Margetic (Domagoj Margetić) received numerous threats in the previous several days.

After announcing a new season of his program “Uncensored”, which is aired on Mreža TV, the journalist received a slew of threats through social media and via email. Margetic has experienced numerous of threats and attacks in the past.

The journalist received messages which were mostly anonymous from persons accusing him of being a traitor who should be “deported from the country” and telling him that he should be “beaten and his bones should be broken”. One person suggested that someone living nearby should “pay this fool a visit so he would be afraid when going home”.

SEEMO harshly condemns these threats and calls on institutions in the country to immediately react and protect Margetic and other journalists whose safety and wellbeing are threatened.

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.

Vienna, 21/11/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed deep concern after a court in Belgrade, Serbia dropped charges against several individuals who threatened, disparaged and attacked journalists during the inauguaration of the president-elect Aleksandar Vucic (Aleksandar Vučić) in June of this year.

Several persons who presented them as members of Vucic’s security team were physically removing journalists and photo reporters from the inauguration as they were trying to take a statement from a nearby protester.

Allegedly, the judge in this case determined that there was no violence. The judge stated that the media workers were the ones who “provoked” while the security guards “helped stop a further escalation of violence”.

SEEMO expressed deep disapproval and dismay following this decision.

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.

Vienna, 17/11/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) was relieved to learn that criminal charges have been made against two police officers who attacked journalist Dusan Miljus (Dušan Miljuš) in Split, Croatia.

Miljus, a journalist of the news portal Index.hr, was reporting about a man making suicide threats at a beach in Split on 10 October, when he was approached by two police officers who verbally attacked him. Soon after, one of them forcibly took his mobile phone and threw it into the sea.

The police officially filed charges against the two perpetrators, who were removed from their positions days after the incident.

SEEMO supports this decision and asks for proper penalties for the two attackers. Steps must be taken in order to assure the safety of all journalists, as well as having their personhood respected. SEEMO also reminds authorities in Croatia that they must deal with other unresolved and dismissed cases of hate speech, threats and attacks against journalists.

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.

Vienna, 15/11/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed grave concern after the Georgian House of Representatives announced its plan for a legal initiative to remove the minimum wage funding guarantee for the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB).

Currently, the funding of public service media in the country is warranted as a fixed percentage of the GDP, but with the suggested initiative the funding model would be changed and the funding guarantee removed. This would be extremely detrimental to the independence and functioning of GPB and would expose it to political influences and pressure. GPB would depend on yearly budget decisions, thus creating instability and potential partiality in functioning and reporting. It would also devalue Georgia’s efforts so far in ensuring sustainable public service media funding.

SEEMO calls on legislative and governing institutions in Georgia to drop this legal initiative and instead focus on strengthening both public service media and independent outlets, giving them more space to do objective, professional work and adhere to ethical guidelines of journalism.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe.

Vienna, 15/11/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed harsh criticism after hateful remarks were made by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama against the country’s media and journalists in the past weeks.

On 9 November, Rama opened the EU–Western Balkans Media Days conference in Tirana, and during his speech, he went on a hate tirade against Albanian media.

Rama spoke several times in the past months negative about media. He was claiming they were “not trustworthy” and that they “violate the dignity of people in Albania from day to night”. He also added that “in Albania, the media are growing like a tumor in the hands of the rich”.

Three weeks ago Rama also verbally attacked journalists reporting from Parliament.

Additional in October, during the “Tirana Business Matching 2017” Rama told potential foreign investors: “Don’t meet journalists and don’t read newspapers, because it will upset your digestive system.” Foreign investors should t rely only on official government information,

Several months ago, during a TV show Rama played a game in which he gave his opinions on journalists as the host named them. Rama described 19 of 21 journalists names given with negative desriptions.

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.

Vienna, 13/11/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed concern regarding the latest development in the process between the Russian government funded media RT, formerly known as Russia Today, and the U.S. Department of Justice.

RT stated that today, 13 November, it “complied” with an order by the Department of Justice to register as a foreign agent under the FARA act. The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) is a United States law which requires “agents representing the interests of foreign powers in a political or quasi-political capacity” to reveal their relationship with the foreign government, as well as provide their activities and financial details.

The FARA was passed in 1938 in order to combat Nazi propaganda, and in later decades it shifted its focus to political activities such as lobbying. Establishments registered under this act must include a public disclaimer on any information that they send out and must file a version with the Justice Department within 48 hours of transmission.

”We are troubled to hear any foreign outlet – regardless of its political affiliations, is made to go through this precedent of a procedure. Propaganda and disinformation are of serious concern, it is not journalism, but this is not a way to fight against propaganda from a foreigin country” Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General stated.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe.

Vienna, 13/11/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed concern after a crew from the Croatian TV station RTL Hrvatska was intimidated by a group of Greek football supporters before a World Cup qualifying match.

As the Greek and Croatian teams were set to play at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus, Greece, RTL Hrvatska reporter Ana Strizic (Ana Strizić) and a camera operator were harassed by a group of five Greek supporters, who shouted at them “We love Serbs, Serbs are our brothers! We hate Croats”. The group also made threats to damage and destroy their equipment, after which the RTL crew retreated back to the stadium for fear of personal safety.

“We condemn this type of intimidation and hate speech against the RTL Hrvatska media crew by Greek football supporters” Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General said today. “We ask that Greek authorities look into this incident, and we call on all individuals who attempt to intimidate journalists to be reported to the authorities and properly penalized” Vujovic added.

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.

Vienna, 12/11/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed grave concern for the growing number of media freedom violations, incarcerations of media workers and overall severity of censorship on journalists in Turkey.

The Diyabakir Chief Prosecutor’s Office has prepared indictments against 24 Kurdish journalists who were initially detained on 28 August, 2016. The journalists were incarcerated after the premises of the Kurdish daily Azadiya Welat were raided, following the failed coup attempt in Turkey in July 2016. All twenty four media workers have been accused of “knowingly and willfully aiding the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)”. They all face terms of 7, 5-15 years in prison.

The journalists set to stand trial are: Ahmet Kızılay, Ahmet Boltan, Veysi Altın, Ercan Yeltaş (Ercan Yeltas), Mehmet Hüseyin Şahin (Mehmet Huseyin Sahin), Pusat Bulut, Mehmet Aydın, Mehmet Emin Aygün (Mehmet Emin Aygun), Azime Tarhan, Süreyya Dal (Sureyya Dal), Berhudan Tulpar, Yasemin Sayın, Serdal Polat, Zeynep İzgi, Hayat Yılmaz, Mehmet Emin Kaya, Mecrum Tekol, İbrahim Bayram, Engin Özelçi Arap Turan (Engin Ozelci Arap Turan), Cengiz Arslan, Ziyan Karahan, Ceylan İpek (Ceylan Ipek), and Ferit Toprak.

Aysenur Parildak (Ayşenur Parıldak), a 27-year-old reporter from the now-closed Zaman daily, appeared in court on Thursday, 9 November, where she received the decision of prolonging her current imprisonment of nearly 15 months. Parildak was arrested on 11 August of last year while at an exam in law school and charged under the country’s anti-terror laws based on her tweets. She now faces a prison sentence of up to 15 years if convicted.

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.

Vienna, 08/11/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed criticism after another Russian journalist received a five year ban from entering Ukraine.

On 7 November, Zakhar Vinogradov was removed from a train in Konotop in the early morning hours by border guards who proceeded to check his documentation. The news agency RIA Novosti correspondent was then blocked from entering Ukraine and received a ban that prohibiting him from entering the country for the next five years. The reason given for this decision was the prevention of “people working on anti-Ukrainian activities” from entering the country.

SEEMO expresses deep disapproval for this decision and calls on authorities in Ukraine to cease their practice of prohibiting entrance to Russian journalists and citizens to the country. All media workers must be allowed free access, and not be banned based on argument-less and fictional accusations.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South, East and Central Europe.