10/10/2017: BULGARIA – ATTACKS ON MEDIA WORKERS IN BULGARIA UNACCEPTABLE, SEEMO STATES

Vienna, 10/10/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed criticism after members of the Bulgarian government implicitly threatened a journalist of NOVA TV during a TV show. </p>

On 6 October, Nova Televizia morning talk show host Viktor Nikolaev was part of a debate with GERB lawmaker and parliament member Anton Todorov and Deputy Prime Minister Valeri Simeonov. The journalist posed questions regarding the recent purchase of a fighter jet for the Bulgarian Air Force and also questioned the disreputable appointments of the MP’s friends and family during recent local elections, which was a point of discussion in the Parliament as well.

Todorov, who was involved in the recent jet purchase, responded by accusing Nikolaev of “shaking the state” with his inquiry and “using very strong words” and alluded to the fact that the journalists’ former colleague Anna Tsolova had been removed from the program, and Nikoalev will also soon be removed. The lawmaker added that “they will eat your bread; they have already taken your colleagues’ bread”.

Deputy Prime Minister Simeonov asked the host how he was appointed at Nova TV by stating, “don’t you have relatives? Aren’t they working somewhere? Where do they work?”, implying that the journalist had been employed through connections. Simeonov also added that “if he had evil intentions, he could make a scandal out of it”. <br><br>

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, 08/10/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed deep concern regarding recent incidents and the overall media atmosphere in Russia.

Yesterday, 7 October, was the anniversary of the brutal murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya. Despite some progress having been made in the case, the eleven years that have passed since her death have not brought any closure. In 2014, five court sentences were handed to individuals proven to be involved in the murder of Politkovskaya, but the actual identities of the individuals who ordered it have yet to be established.

On 29 September, the Russian media regulatory agency Roskomnadzor summoned representatives of the company Turner Informatsionnye Programmy I Stil Zhizni, which broadcasts CNN International in Russia. They were issued an official warning over alleged “violations of media law” according to the regulator. The Roskomnadzor statement says that “the activities of the CNN International television channel revealed violations of the media legislation in Russia, for which administrative liability is provided in accordance with the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation.”

A day prior to this, on 28 September, CNN reported about Russia buying ads on the social network Facebook during the 2016 presidential campaign in the USA. Some of the ads were allegedly targeting African Americans and using racial violence and hate speech.

“Recent weeks and months have brought a new level of tension in Russian media, and we call on authorities in the country to begin work on allowing outlets and journalists to function freely and without pressures” SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic stated today. “The challenges which media workers face in Russia today cast a shadow on freedom of speech and thought. We urge institutions in the country to help us alleviate some of these concerns by allowing media to function independently and without governmental meddling” Vujovic added.

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

Vienna, 08/10/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed concern regarding the recently proposed draft law in Romania, which allegedly has the intent to regulate the national news agency AGERPRES.

The law proposal is set to be discussed by the Romanian Parliament on 11 October and was put forth by the newly elected Minister of Culture Lucian Romascanu while he was still president of the Culture Committee of the Romanian Senate. Along with Romascanu, the draft was signed by four other senators.

Unlike the current law, which prohibits bias by any political party towards the head of the news agency, this draft law proposes that a political majority has the right to decide to dismiss the director general of Agerpres. The same provisions would stand for the administration boards of both Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation (SRR) and the Romanian National Television Corporation (SRTV), allowing them to be dismissed before the end of their mandates in order to align with the prevailing political forces.

SEEMO expressed deep concern for this draft law and called on the minister of culture and others who proposed it to immediately revoke the document, since it clearly presents a threat to the independence and free functioning of Agerpres and other relevant outlets in Romania. It is unacceptable for political parties to have a regulated method of censorship and filtration of information, and thus SEEMO urges members of the Romanian Parliament to dismiss this proposal at once.

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, 05/10/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) voiced concern after the sudden dismissal of a Latvian Radio Board member by the broadcast body, the National Electronic Mass Media Council (NEPLP), was announced and became effective on 28 September.

<p>After NEPLP expressed non-confidence against board member Sigita Roke (Sigita Roķe), two new members were installed yesterday, 4 October. Una Klapkalne was appointed as the Chairwoman of the Management Board of Latvian Radio and Marite Tukisa (Mārīte Tukiša) as a Management Board member for financial management for five year terms.

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

Vienna, 05/10/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed condemnation for the recent physical attack on a journalist in Armenia.

On 28 September, Narine Avetisyan, editor-in-chief of Lori TV station, was attacked while performing her professional duties in the city of Vanadzor. While filming the asphalting of a road in heavy rain, the journalist was physically attacked by Tigran Nazaryan, head of the Shinplus construction company, and several of his employees. Avetisyan’s mobile was taken away by force and she was pushed to the ground.

“SEEMO condemns this attack on the safety and wellbeing of Narine Avetisyan, a journalist who has already been attacked several times while reporting on other corruption cases” Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General said today. “This is a clear indicator that not only is press freedom endangered by citizens in Armenia, the government also sees the censorship of media workers as a normal occurrence. The fact that no investigation was started against the perpetrators proves this point once more. We urge authorities in the country to react and penalize those involved in the attack on this journalist and protect Avetisyan from potential future attacks” Vujovic added.

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

Vienna, 05/10/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed condemnation for the recent physical attack on a journalist in Armenia. </p>

On 28 September, Narine Avetisyan, editor-in-chief of Lori TV station, was attacked while performing her professional duties in the city of Vanadzor. While filming the asphalting of a road in heavy rain, the journalist was physically attacked by Tigran Nazaryan, head of the Shinplus construction company, and several of his employees. Avetisyan’s mobile was taken away by force and she was pushed to the ground.

“SEEMO condemns this attack on the safety and wellbeing of Narine Avetisyan, a journalist who has already been attacked several times while reporting on other corruption cases” Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General said today. “This is a clear indicator that not only is press freedom endangered by citizens in Armenia, the government also sees the censorship of media workers as a normal occurrence. The fact that no investigation was started against the perpetrators proves this point once more. We urge authorities in the country to react and penalize those involved in the attack on this journalist and protect Avetisyan from potential future attacks” Vujovic added.

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

Vienna, 03/10/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed concern and detest for the current state of media ownership and rights in Hungary.

According to local and international watchdogs, the Hungarian PM Viktor Orban’s (Viktor Orbán) government and his affiliates have allegedly bought most of the regional newspapers in the country.

Until recently, 18 newspapers belonging to different counties in Hungary had varying ownership, spanning from small local businesses to large media conglomerates. These regional outlets were sold to Mediaworks, a company controlled by a businessman, who then sold the company to a close friend of Orban.

Through various cronies and government-friendly businessmen, the remainder of the independent media was sold. In August of this year, the national tabloid Bors and two other outlets were sold to Avalue Befektetési Ltd which is controlled by Andy Vajna, the owner of commercial broadcaster TV2 and a member of Orbán’s small circle of trusted businessmen.

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, 01/10/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed condemnation after freelance journalist Islam Shikhali was attacked and beaten by members of the police while covering an event in the city of Lankaran, Azerbaijan.

On 30 September, Shikhali was held by police forces for an hour. During that time, he was beaten and his equipment was examined. The journalist stated that after this, the police took him back to the capital Baku overnight. The Lankaran police department later negated claims that he had been held there illegally for an hour or that he was sent back to the capital.

SEEMO sees such attacks on journalists and censorship attempts as a clear signal that media freedom and human rights in Azerbaijan have reached a new low, and that mediation between media workers and state institutions is necessary. It is unacceptable for authorities and institutions belonging to the government to attack, interrogate and intimidate journalists simply because they are doing their job.

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

Vienna, 29/09/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed deep concern for the human rights and media freedom violations committed against imprisoned human rights activist and lawyer Buzurgmehr Yorov.

According to his family and other sources, Yorov has been repeatedly beaten and abused by police officials in prison. The lawyer was convicted last year to 17 years of incarceration for alleged fraud and “insulting the leader of the nation”. Yorov was initially arrested in September 2015 when Tajik authorities accused him and another lawyer, Nuriddin Mahkamov, of fraud and forgery. This was followed by additional charges of allegedly inciting ethnic enmity, calling for the overthrow of the government, and support of extremist activity.

SEEMO expresses deep concern for the state of human rights and basic freedoms in Tajikistan and calls on authorities to immediately release Buzurgmehr Yorov. SEEMO also urges institutions in Tajikistan to release all other political prisoners, activists and journalists currently behind bars. The damaging position Yorov was put in is not only undemocratic but also highly dangerous for other free thinkers in the country.

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