25/09/2017: TURKEY – CASE OF HAMZA YALCIN

TURKEY, 25/09/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) has expressed deep concern regarding the state and deterioration of media freedom in Turkey.

SEEMO previously expressed criticism for the actions of Spanish authorities, after their 3 August arrest of Swedish-Turkish journalist Hamza Yalcin (Hamza Yalçin). He was arrested after his holiday at the Barcelona airport in compliance with an international detention order requested by Turkey for “terrorist propaganda”. Yalcin, who has a Swedish and Turkish citizenship and leaves since 1984 in Sweden is still in detention in Spain. Authorities in Spain were asked not to give in to the demands of Turkey but instead to release the journalist and grant him the necessary protection in order to avoid deportation.

SEEMO welcomes news that Baltasar Garzon (Baltasar Garzón), former member of Spain’s National High Court, decided to offer pro bono defense for Yalcin. The International Baltasar Garzon Foundation (Fibgar) now represents Hamza Yalcin through the ILOCAD law firm and states that the detention violates the journalist’s basic rights and freedoms. Nine Swedish members of the European Parliament have written to the authorities in Madrid, demanding the release of Yalcin.

SEEMO repeats its appeal to the Spanish authorities not to extradite Hamza Yalçin to Turkey

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, 23/09/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed distress after renowned journalist from Crimea Mykola Semena was sentenced yesterday, 22 September, by a court in the Russia-controlled region.

In April 2016, the journalist’s house was raided and his equipment was seized. Afterwards he was briefly detained and interrogated in connection to criminal charges of allegedly calling for separatism. The charges were based on an article Semena, a contributor for KrymRealii (Crimea.Realities) – RFE/RL’s Crimea service, published earlier under a pseudonym. In the article, he allegedly “criticized Russia’s occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea”. The journalist denied any wrongdoing. <br><br>

The Court convicted Semena on separatism charges, and sentenced him to a two and a half year-long suspended sentence, as well as a ban on any future journalistic activities.

“We harshly condemn the decision of the court in Crimea, and we call on them to immediately revoke this sentence” SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic said today. “It is unacceptable for any institution or authority to prohibit an individual from doing their job – especially if that job is journalism. Mykola Semena must be freed of his sentence and allowed to express his opinions and thoughts. This type of censorship and oppression against media workers will only lead to a more dire and dangerous situation for Crimea” Vujovic added.

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

Vienna, 21/09/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) disapproves of the behavior and statements of the Serbian Defense Minister Aleksandar Vulin against the investigative network KRIK (Crime and Corruption Reporting Network) and its editor-in-chief Stevan Dojcinovic (Stevan Dojčinović).

KRIK recently published an investigative story about the origin of money used by Serbian Defence Minister Aleksandar Vulin to buy property in Belgrade. After publication, the Minister and leader of the Socialist Movement (Pokret Socijalista) lashed out against the network and Dojcinovic in several statements.

The published story dealt with Vulin purchasing an apartment in Belgrade under suspicious circumstances; Vulin claimed that he “borrowed” 205.000 EUR from his wife’s aunt from Canada. Following this, the Defence Minister verbally attacked Dojcinovic, claiming he was “a drug addict who needs to be tested for drugs. This statement was later removed from the Socialist Movement website. ” (more on https://www.krik.rs/vulin-dojcinovic-je-narkoman-mrzi-srbiju/, http://pokretsocijalista.rs/news/?id=2651 and http://pokretsocijalista.rs/news/?id=2649).

“We deplore the behavior Defence Minister Vulin has shown in the media in recent days” Oliver Vujovic SEEMO Secretary General said today. “We call on him to not only apologize to both the KRIK network and Stevan Dojcinovic for his hate speech and vile accusations, but also to reveal the truth about the investigative story that sent him on this vindictive tirade. We ask also the Serbian government and Prime Minister Ana Brnabic (Ana Brnabić) to react and investigate this case”.

Transparency in political circles in Serbia is rare and for a high political representative of the country to behave in such a manner, attempting to discredit journalists and censor their outlets, is truly undemocratic and unacceptable” 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, 20/09/2017

“You’re a dead man,” they say on the phone to Tommaso Clavarino. Spokesperson of the ministry of Estonia defines him a useful idiot. Solidarity from Assostampa Subalpina

“Russian Spy, you’re a dead man”: it is the message that on July 26, 2017 an Estonian user, at the moment yet unknown, recorded in the telephone answering machine of Tommaso Clavarino, Italian freelance photojournalist who had published on the website of the Dutch De Correspondent two days earlier a written and photographic reportage (read) to signal the increased participation of Baltic people to associations that in these countries train civilians to use weapons to be ready to help national military formations in the event of war. Among the people portrayed in the photos, there are numerous youths still with no beards on their faces of an unknown age. The newspaper highlighted the fact, using the expression “child soldiers” in the title, which is not contained in the text written by Clavarino (the title has been modified).

On July 26, the spokesman of the Estonian Ministry of Defence reacted with statements that had great media coverage. The spokesperson called Clavarino “a useful idiot” paid by the Russian government and accused him of misinformation, even of having built the pictures (read). Clavarino was not given the opportunity to replicate and when the comments against him became more threatening he decided to report the facts to the investigators. On August 5, he denounced the telephone threat and filed a lawsuit against the author of the article and the newspaper that first reported allegations made by the Ministry of Defence.

The photojournalist has produced the report to document the phenomenon that forces many Baltic citizens to become volunteers trained in the use of weapons, a phenomenon that saw a spike after the annexation of Crimea by Russia, for fear of a civil clash.

Although the reportage speaks of the phenomenon by referring to the three Baltic countries (and thus also to Estonia), Clavarino stated that he photographed the use of weapons training in Lithuania and Latvia, but not in Estonia, and did so between April and June 2017, after requesting and obtaining authorization from the organizers of these initiatives. He explained that the boys he photographed had compressed air guns.

“I’m a photojournalist, I show what I see through my camera’s lens. Therefore, I’m offended that, in order to diminish the content of those images, they are reported as ‘photomontages’. I am surprised that none of the many Estonian journalists who spread the accusations of the ministry spokesperson has tried to get to know my version of the case” Clavarino adds.

The reporter received solidarity from the Assostampa Subalpina

Vienna, 19/09/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed concern after it was revealed that an upcoming discussion in the Ukrainian Parliament suggests a potential 50% reduction of the public broadcaster draft budget for 2018.

On 15 September, the Cabinet of Ministers voted to adopt the draft law “On the State Budget for 2018”. On the same day, the state budget draft for 2018 was submitted to the parliament.

The annual budget is usually foreseen by the Law on Public Television and Radio Broadcasting of Ukraine, but it is now being set for discussion, which would allow for a cut in the 2018 budget of UA:PBC (National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine). The old budget was 1,5 billion UAH (approx. 47 million EUR), the government now plans to cut this to 776 million UAH (approx. 25 million EUR). This would make it one of the smallest in Europe when compared to other public broadcasters in the region; smaller countries have budgets several times higher, but which cover smaller geographic areas and communities.

“This is a dangerous attack on the public broadcasting. SEEMO calls on the Government of Ukraine to ensure independent and fair funding for the public RTV “, Oliver Vujovic, secretary general of SEEMO said.

SEEMO expressed concern and criticism of this draft budget proposal and calls on authorities within the Ukrainian Parliament and government to revise their suggestion and generate one that is more in line with the democratic values of free speech and press freedom. Public broadcasters must be allowed to work independently and with a budget equipped to cover the expenses of a country with Ukraine’s geographical proportions.

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

Vienna, 19/09/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed deep concern for the wellbeing of Vukasin Obradovic (Vukašin Obradović), former president of the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS), who began a hunger strike today.

Obradovic is founder of the weekly paper Vranjske, which he had to declare closed yesterday, 18 September, after weeks of dealing with “financial and political pressures”. According to different sources, Obradovic barricaded himself in the offices of Vranjske and refused to speak to family, coworkers or the media.

The weekly had recently gone through several weeks of interrogation and investigation by tax and other inspectors, finally leading to its closure.

According to Obradovic himself, “this is the move of a desperate man who sees no other way to end his journalistic career and at the same time keep at least the minimum of self respect and dignity necessary to feel like a man, as a human being”.

SEEMO expresses grave concern for our colleague, friend and esteemed journalist, and reminds Obradovic and other journalists in Serbia faced with a difficult media situation that our support is always there. SEEMO has been following the work of Vranjske, a independent local media outlet in an atmosphere of censorship and struggle, for almost two decades and is sorry for its closure, and hopes a different end to this story is possible. “Local media in Serbia are in very hard position. Vranjske is only one example, we have also many other local media in the country with serious problems. The position of professional media in Serbia is very hard, especially of media that are critical about the politicians in power”, Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO secretary general said.

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, 17/09/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed harsh criticism after revealing that journalist Mykhailo Tkach (Михайло Ткач) and camera operator Boris Trotsenko (Борис Троценко) were attacked by employees of the State Guard Department of Ukraine (DSGU).

Tkach and Trotsenko, who work within the RFE/RL’s crew for the investigative program Schemes, were setting up equipment near a restaurant complex in the village of Kozyn, where allegedly the son of the Attorney General Alexander Lutsenko was celebrating his wedding.

The DSGU forces were guarding the event, and journalists say they even saw snipers at the scene. In order to film the entrance, the media workers were repeatedly asked to show their IDs. Once they were getting ready to film Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, they were stopped by physical force. As a result of the assault, cameraman Trotsenko was diagnosed with injuries on his hands and a possible concussion. According to Tkach, DSGU members repeatedly attacked the cameraman while he was calling the police.

After an official investigation was initiated by DSGU, the head of the institution, Valeriy Geletey, personally apologized for the assault committed by his subordinates.

While SEEMO supports the fast reaction and ensuing apology, it also reminds authorities in Ukraine that this type of unsolicited violent behavior towards media workers is unacceptable and asks for actual penalties against those involved in the assault. State institutions in the country must show their determination to provide safety and protection for journalists.

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

Vienna, 16/09/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) denounced today’s vicious physical attack against two journalists in Belgrade, Serbia.

A protest was organised today by right-wing political movement Pokret Dveri, the Green Party of Serbia and the syndicate Sloga in front of the building of the TV station Pink. Demonstrators gathered to allegedly protest several reality-shows the TV station produces, ask for better conditions for workers and “help remove the darkness from the media scene”.

TV Pink journalists Gordana Uzelac and Maja Dragovic (Maja Dragović) were attacked by members of Dveri while they were present at the protest. According to Maja Dragovic, she and a colleague saw Gordana Uzelac lying on the ground after an attack, and while trying to carry her into the TV Pink headquarters, she herself was repeatedly hit in the back and head. Uzelac was taken to the hospital and later a security camera confirmed the identity of the Dveri member who assaulted her.

“The utterly troubling media scene in Serbia seems to continually worsen, which we see though information about brutal attacks on both male and female journalists in the country” Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General stated. “We condemn these horrific attacks and ask the perpetrators to be persecuted legally as soon as possible.” Vujovic also said.

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, 14/09/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed criticism after authorities in Montenegro failed to react properly following the death threats received by journalist Vladimir Otasevic (Vladimir Otašević).

The journalist claims that during a phone call with a brother of a high level Montenegrin politician, on Monday, 11 September, he received threats. According to Otasevic, while he was trying to obtain a phone number the brother of the politician verbally threatened him by referring to the 2004 death of editor-in-chief and founder of daily Dan Dusko Jovanovic (Duško Jovanović). After the brother of the politician subsequently denied these charges, daily Dan released an audio of the conversation and threats.

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, 10/09/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) was troubled to learn that after being released from prison on 7 September, Kazakh critical journalist Zhanbolat Mamay (Жанболат Мамай) received a sentence which bans him from working as a journalist for a period of three years. Mamay works as editor for the “Tribuna ” (Трибуна – Саяси калам).

Mamay was arrested on 10 February 2017 on charges of alleged embezzlement of funds for Mukhtar Ablyazov (Мухтар Аблязов), a government opponent now living in exile. Despite having no real evidence of laundering funds, a court in Almaty sentenced him. The Kazakhstani authorities have labeled him a “member of Mukhtar Ablyazov’s criminal organisation”. The seven months he spent in prison before being released will be deducted from the three year ban. Mamay is the editor of opposition paper Tribuna/Sayasi Kalam, which is suspected to be the actual reason for the trumped up charges against him. The newspaper was one of the last remaining media outlets still critical of the regime. It was forced to close after Mamay’s arrest.

“We are deeply concerned for the state of press freedom and human rights in Kazakhstan” Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General said today. “Not only is a restriction of this sort foolish and unacceptable, it also shows how dire the media situation is in the country. We call on authorities to revoke their sentence and allow Zhanbolat Mamay to work freely, now that he is free again at last” Vujovic added.

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