05/03/2017: NORTH MACEDONIA – SEEMO CALLS ON AUTHORITIES IN MACEDONIA TO RESPECT MEDIA FREEDOM AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Vienna, 05/03/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed deep concern once again, after news of violent behavior and attacks on journalists in Macedonia continue to surface..

After condemning the attack on two media workers during protests in Skopje, SEEMO learned that the perpetrators, who left a journalist and a cameraman with injuries severe enough for hospitalization, have not yet been found. On Wednesday March 1, journalist and columnist Branko Trickovski, a known critic of the previous government, reported two young men coming to his home and accusing him of being “a traitor”, yelling at him and later posting the video of the attack on YouTube.

The office front door of the TV 24 correspondents’ team in Ohrid was vandalized with nationalistic slurs. No perpetrators or suspects have been held in any of the attacks.

On 1 March, journalist Borjan Jovanovski was spat on and accused of being „a traitor“ by a man while he was sitting in a restaurant in Skopje. Jovanovski later stated that he believes the attacker was commissioned by officials of the ruling political party.

Independent media outlets and civil society organizations in Macedonia have been facing great pressure and are commonly being verbally attacked by political officials in public, defamed in smear campaigns, and subjected to tax raids and other attempts at intimidation and censorship. The ruling party also vowed to “de-Sorosize” the NGO sector in the country, claiming that their agendas are influenced by foreign funding- specifically funding by George Soros, a Hungarian-American businessman and investor, whose name has become a synonym for “foreign spies” in the country.

Tensions have risen since the elections held in December 2016, when the ruling party was unable to form a government, and they have since been constantly attempting to prevent the opposition from doing the same. The growing number of attacks and verbal abuses against media workers coincide with statements given by the previous Prime Minister, in which he calls on the citizens to “protect their country”.

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, 05/03/2017

The Vienna based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is alarmed about the developments in Macedonia (Republic of Macedonia / FYROM).

Reporter Aleksandar Todevski and cameraman Vladimir Zhelcevski, from A1on, a news website, were hospitalized after being attacked on the streets in Skopje by five men on Tuesday 28 February 2017 in the evening.

On 2 March editor at NOVA TV Borjan Jovanovski, who received many threats in the past, was verbally attacked as “traitor” during a lunch in a restaurant in Skopje. A young man spat in his face.

SEEMO was informed by five cases of verbal threats against journalists in Skopje in the past seven days included threats against journalists Branko Trickovski, who is also a columnist for the critical newspaper Sloboden Pecat, Two young men turned up at his home and accused him of being a “traitor. Two year ago, on 13 May 2015 his car was set on fire.

Prior to this, it was revealed on 11 January 2017 that Daniela Takeva, journalist of a local TV station in Berovo, will take legal action against the town’s Mayor after he left a status on his Facebook account in which he used derogatory language and hate speech against Takeva.

On 23 January unknown perpetrators set fire to the home garage of journalist Zoran Miloshevski in the town of Prilep. Miloshevski is a correspondent for the weekly Fokus, owner of web portal Publikum and associate of the portal Free Macedonia, and is also known for his fierce criticism of the current political establishment in the country. The fire was put out and the incident was reported to police authorities.

Many journalists who are critical about VMRO DPMNE party and former prime Minister Nikola Gruevski are being subjected to an incendiary campaign on social networks and some web-pages.

A campaign initiative titled Stop Operation Soros (SOS) was launched mid-January in Macedonia and is dedicated to “countering the influence of American activist and billionaire George Soros”. The founders of this initiative claim to be a group of open-minded citizens, but have in actuality been linked to the government and pro-government media. This speculation was backed up after former PM and current leader of ruling party VMRO DPMNE Nikola Gruevski came out to the media and verbally attacked NGO’s that receive funding from abroad.

Independent media outlets and non-government organizations in Macedonia are commonly mentioned as “Sorosoids” by pro-government groups, also if they are not receiving any money from the Soros foundation.

Several VMRO-DPMNE supporters named the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) as a “Soros propaganda”, as also propaganda service of the main opposition Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM). On 12 February in a TV show the host claimed BIRN belonged to a media network financed by the British intelligence service.

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, 01/03/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed deep concern after last night’s violent events and attacks on journalists during protests in Skopje, Macedonia.

Demonstrators and supporters of former ruling party VMRO DPMNE began protesting on Monday after it was revealed that a potential political coalition could be created between the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) and ethnic Albanian parties. Thousands joined the rally on Tuesday in Skopje, as well as towns such as Bitola, Kumanovo, Kicevo, Prilep and several others. Protesters claim that the coalition could endanger ethnic Macedonian interests.

At the sight of the protests on 28 February, a journalist and cameraman from the outlet A1on were physically attacked by several protesters. After being punched in the head repeatedly, both media workers were sent to the Emergency Center to receive medical care for their injuries. In the meantime, the attackers also broke their camera and then fled the scene.

Protest organizers and other attendees did not help or protect A1on journalists from this attack, despite the media crew simply being there to report the events occurring at the scene.

„We call on authorities in the country to immediately launch an investigation and find the perpetrators of this attack“ Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General stated.

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, 23/02/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed its concern as the crackdown against journalists, activists and freedom fighters continues in Azerbaijan.

After recent arrests and detentions of at least 12 media workers, bloggers and journalists, local news website editor ElchinIsmayilli was arrested on 17 February and accused of “extortion of money and aggravated abuse of influential position” (Articles 182.2.2 and Article 308.2 of the Criminal Code), accusations which the journalist denies.

>On 22 February, the Baku Court of Appeal dismissed the arrest appeal made by Ismayilli’s lawyer, after claiming that an investigation conducted previously proves the journalist was caught “red-handed” while taking a bribe from an employee of the Department of Tourism of Ismayilly region where they both live. The journalist claims that the official in question is actually an old friend, and that he asked for a loan. Ismayilli’s arrest was ordered by a regional official who was often the target of criticism by Ismayilli in the past. The journalist claims all charges are false and that he is being persecuted because of his professional activities and opinions.

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

Vienna, 21/02/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed its criticism of institutions in Turkey after another rise in violations against journalists.

Since 14 February Deniz Yucel (Deniz Yücel), a German-Turkish journalist, correspondent for German newspaper Die Welt, is in police custody: According to the regulations of the state of emergency, he can be held in police custody for up to 14 days without a hearing before a judge. Yucel presented himself at police headquarters to answer investigators’ questions after being sought out in connection to a hacker scandal and publishing of emails from the private email account of Turkish Energy Minister Berat Albayrak.

The information was reported by a number of outlets and more than six journalists have so far been detained in relation to this case. Yucel was accused of allegedly “being a member of a terrorist organization, disseminating terrorist propaganda and misuse of data”.

On the same evening of 14 February, pro-Kurdish journalist Selahattin Aslan was detained by airport security after his arrival from Diyarbakir to Istanbul. According to sources, Aslan is being held at the Istanbul Department of Police, and his investigation details are unavailable due to a confidentiality order that was issued.

On 17 February, satirical magazine Girgir was closed after the paper published a caricature of the Prophet Moses on its cover page. The caricaturist and all other employees have been laid off. An investigation has been launched on the charges of “insulting religious values adopted by a group of people” which is in the Turkish Criminal Code (Article 216).

According to representatives of the Turkish opposition, the number of jailed journalists has exceeded 150. “More Turkish journalists are currently in jail than were in prison under junta rule in the 1980s”, main opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu from the CHP (“Republican People’s Party”) said. According to SEEMO evidence, Turkey also closed down more than 140 media outlets since the attempted coup in July 2016.

“We harshly condemn the behavior and actions of authorities in Turkey towards journalists” SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic stated today. “Arrests, detentions, legal charges and other pressures are nothing more but a form of intimidation committed by the very same institutions that ought to protect journalists and their rights. We call on them to drop charges and release all media workers that are currently in detention or awaiting trial on charges of belonging to a terrorist group and similar absurdities. There is no justice if legal processes against journalists are not transparent and truthful. The only weapon journalists use is their word, so these brutal retaliations against them concern us continuously” 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, 14/02/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemned the behavior of local authorities in Serbia after their unacceptable and unprofessional behavior towards a journalist from the daily paper Danas.

Despite having sent a press release inviting members of the media to an event in Belgrade, Serbia, the City administration decided that a journalist from the daily Danas was not welcome to attend the gathering. Once at the location of the event, the journalist was told by members of the city PR Services that he cannot be present at the opening of a new wheelchair ramp, out of fear that he might ask a City Manager also present there some “tricky questions”. He was also told that the invitation to Danas was revoked earlier that day because of “certain articles they had written in the previous days”.

SEEMO call Belgrade City administration, as well as the City Manager in attendance to publically apologize to the journalist and to the daily Danas as well. Press conferences and events by public authorities must be open for journalists and It is unacceptable to revoke invitations and forbid journalists from attending an event.

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, 13/02/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed deep concern after the vehicle of journalist Sergey Goos was torched by unknown perpetrators.

In the night between 11 and 12 February, Goos’ car was set on fire in the courtyard of the building where he lives in the city of Kamianske, located in the Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine.

According to the journalist and the journalistic union in the country, this was a warning sign to those who speak truth and are critical of the establishment in Ukraine. Goos is the editor-in-chief of a local newspaper and former President of the Independent Media Trade Union of Ukraine (IMTUU). He also stated that he had “no doubt” his car was torched because of the paper’s professional and truthful work.

“We harshly condemn this attempt at intimidation” SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic said this morning. “Not only is this a gruesome threat and sign of intolerance, it also shows us, once again, how dire the media situation in Ukraine currently is. We call on authorities to launch a transparent and prompt investigation, and uncover the perpetrators of this crime” Vujovic added.

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

Vienna, 13/02/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed condemnation and revolt after learning that independent journalist and open critic of the government Zhanbolat Mamay (Жанболат Мамай) was arrested on 10 February. He should stay according to local sources for two months in jail.

Mamay is the editor of the newspaper Tribuna (Саяси қалам: Трибуна), which is considered to be the last remaining independent media outlet in the country, known for being outspoken about criticizing the ruling establishment. After his arrest, the editor was charged with abusing his position within the daily to allegedly launder money for a business tycoon, who is wanted by Kazakhstan and Russia for embezzlement. Mamay denies the charges.

This is not his first encounter with governmental pressures: in June 2012, Mamay was arrested and detained for almost a month, on charges of allegedly being involved in “instigating social discord”.

“The Kazakh government has been conducting a continuous tirade against independent media outlets for years now. We call on the government to immediately release Zhanbolat Mamay from detention and drop all charges against him.” Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General said today.

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

Vienna, 10/02/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) was concerned to learn about the latest developments within the Serbian public broadcasting service of Vojvodina (RTV).

After several management board changes in 2016, the editorial and journalistic staff of the broadcaster seem to be changing once again.

According to the Independent Journalists’ Association of Vojvodina (NDNV), members of the ruling political party have taken over most of the positions within the media outlet, and have begun dictating new editorial policies. Allegedly, two news articles that were published on the website of RTV were later removed because they were critical of the Prime Minister.

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!, 02/02/2017

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemned the detention of Ozgur Gundem daily editor Hulya Karakaya in Turkey on August 3, at Diyabakir airport.

SEEMO recently expressed its support for the JINHA news agency and other Kurdish media outlets in the country that have been blocked by the Presidency of Telecommunication and Communication (TIB).

Following the SEEMO protest letter, Karakaya was arrested at the airport by police members along with Nizamettin Yilmaz, distributor for the daily, and Azadiya Welat. Only Yilmaz currently remains in custody under charges of ‘distributing illegal newspapers’, even though Ozgur Gundem is a registered, legal news outlet. JINHA initially reported that Hulya Karakaya had been detained and accused of being a member of a terrorist organization.

‘Days after SEEMO called on authorities in the country to cease their pressure against media outlets, especially Kurdish ones, things were taken one step further with the arrests of individuals under the guise of baseless accusations. Similar charges are often brought up against media workers who disagree with the ruling establishment in Turkey. We insist that all journalists must be released from detention, and any charges against them immediately dropped’, said SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic.

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.