29/08/2016: UKRAINE – SEEMO CALLS ON UKRAINIAN AUTHORITIES TO BRING MURDERERS OF JOURNALIST TO JUSTICE

Vienna, 29/08/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) was saddened and shocked by the death of Russian journalist Alexander Shchetinin, who was found in his apartment in the Podol district of Kiev.

Shchtetin was found with a bullet wound to the head during the night between 27 and 28 August. The victim, a long-time journalist, editor and founder of Noviy Region news agency, was often criticized by some of the highest political figures in both Russia and Ukraine. Authorities have launched an investigation into his murder.

SEEMO members were deeply disturbed by the news of this brutal murder, and call on authorities in Ukraine to conduct a transparent and swift investigation, and bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice as soon as possible.

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, 28/08/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) was alarmed to learn about attacks on public broadcaster RTK and its General Director.

On 23 August, unknown perpetrators threw a hand grenade at the premises of the public broadcaster RTK. No persons were injured and no arrests were made regarding this case. On29 August, another hand grenade exploded in a suburb of Pristina, which is said to have been intended to hurt Mentor Shala, the General Director of RTK. The explosion occurred in close to Shala’s family home.

‘SEEMO calls on authorities to promptly investigate these attacks, and do everything necessary to preserve and protect media workers and their rights. An attack on someone’s life, if it is not investigated and punished, is a bad sign for conditions in Kosovo’, SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic 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, 28/08/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) called on institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to immediately react to the harassment of journalist Lejla Colak.

On 26 August, Colak wrote a Facebook post expressing her personal opinion about women wearing burkas, hijabs and similar religious garments. After her statement was interpreted as offensive by a member of the BiH Armed Forces, he wrote a caption asking if ‘anyone would volunteer’ to assault the journalist, adding that he would ‘compensate’ any person for that action himself. Several other comments followed, with individuals suggesting that Colak should be ‘burned alive’ and run over by a car.

After the case became public, the member of the BIH Armed Forces deleted his Facebook post and apologized. According to sources, he will be dismissed from his position after an investigation establishes whether the threats were factual.

“SEEMO is disturbed by the harassment of journalist Lejla Colak by a member of the armed forces for freely expressing her opinion,’ said SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic. ‘We sincerely hope that this matter will be investigated and the responsible individual held accountable under the law’.

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, 27/08/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed concern after a recent broadcast ban in Turkey.

On26 August, an attack was launched by the PKK in the Sirnak district of Cizre, a town on the border of Turkey and Syria. A vehicle containing explosives detonated, killing three civilians, 11 police officers, and injuring over 70 others. Following the attack, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) announced a temporary broadcast ban for all news outlets regarding the explosion, claiming that this is a case with high risk of public disorder and posed a risk to national security.

‘Broadcast bans have become a common occurrence in Turkey after attacks’ said SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic. ‘In times of crisis, people rely more heavily than ever on balanced and up to date coverage of ongoing events. Receiving clear information during difficult situations is essential. We call on authorities in Turkey and especially the RTUK, to revoke the broadcast ban immediately, and to avoid using this method of censorship again’, 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, 23/08/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is concerned by comments that Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic made about the country’s public broadcaster RTS (Radio Television of Serbia).

During a press conference on August 22, the Prime Minister made remarks after a RTS report. The prime minister criticized the public broadcaster and some RTS editors as “political persons”. He stated a number of times that he has not appeared on RTS in the past several months because he is dissatisfied with their reporting, and that he will continue to disregard the outlet.

‘We at SEEMO find this view by the prime minister of Serbia highly problematic’, 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.

Vienna, 23/08/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is concerned by comments that Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic made about the country’s public broadcaster RTS (Radio Television of Serbia).

During a press conference on August 22, the Prime Minister made remarks after a RTS report. The prime minister criticized the public broadcaster and some RTS editors as “political persons”. He stated a number of times that he has not appeared on RTS in the past several months because he is dissatisfied with their reporting, and that he will continue to disregard the outlet.

‘We at SEEMO find this view by the prime minister of Serbia highly problematic’, 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.

Vienna, 23/08/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) was alarmed by an attack targeting the public broadcaster Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK) yesterday in Pristina.

On 22 August, a hand grenade was thrown into the yard of RTK, where both the main building and transmission antennas for the broadcaster are located. Several journalists were working in the building at the time of the attack, but none suffered any injuries. The perpetrators are currently not known, and an investigation is said to be underway.

‘SEEMO calls on the police and other institutions in Kosovo to react and follow up on this case with a transparent and swift investigation. Attackers behind this crime must be found and brought to justice, in order to show that authorities in Kosovo are committed to protection of journalists and their rights’, 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.

Vienna, 11/08/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) called on institutions in Turkey to cease the enormous pressure imposed against journalists and media workers.

On 5 August, DIHA News Agency reporters Selman Keles and Idris Yilmaz were taken into custody while shooting in the Yusekova district, and detained in the local police directorate.

Mustafa Sutlas, Ismail Agan, Mehmet Ali Celebi and Osman Zorba are facing lawsuits on terrorist propaganda charges because of their work in Tukenmez magazine, an outlet that often writes about Kurdish issues. The prosecutor accused the journalists of praising the PKK and KCK organizations funded by the Kurdish Workers’ Party in their stories.

On 7 August, Kurdish television station Med Nuce TV stated that the satellite through which it broadcasts its programming is facing severe signal attacks, and that this is a part of the growing state persecution against media.

Journalists Hasan Akbas, Serpil Berk, Firat Topal and Serbest Sertac Kayar were arrested on 10 August while covering a car blast in the city of Diyarbakir.

‘SEEMO is deeply troubled by the current state of media freedom and the curbing of free expression rights in Turkey,’ said SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic. ‘We stand in solidarity with journalists and media workers in Turkey and the international community to condemn the repressive atmosphere that has taken hold since the failed coup in July.’

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, 04/08/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed concern regarding media freedom violations that have followed the failed coup attempt in Turkey on 15 July.

Arrest warrants were issued against twelve former daily Zaman newspaper journalists after the alleged coup. They were charged with involvement in the overthrow and its alleged instigator Fetullah Gulen. After Zaman was closed due to the investigation, 47 media workers employed had detention orders issued against them, on charges of being members of an armed terrorist organization.

Arrest warrants have been issued against the following journalists: Alaattin Güner, Şeref Yılmaz, Ahmet Metin Sekizkardeş, Faruk Akkan, Mehmet Özdemir, Fevzi Yazıcı, Zafer Özsoy, Cuma Kaya and Hakan Taşdelen on charges being a member of an ‘armed terrorist organization’, Hüseyin Turan and Murat Avcıoğlu on charges of ‘aiding a terrorist organization’ as non-members and Mümtazer Türköne, Zaman columnist, on charges of ‘serving the purposes of a Fethullahist terrorist organization’.

‘According to SEEMO sources, there are over 70 journalists in prison in Turkey right now’, SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic said. ‘This number is dangerously high for any country, and signals a new low when it comes to democratic principles and freedom of expression in the country. We call on institutions in Turkey to immediately release our colleagues, before this situation deteriorates further’.

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, 02/08/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemned the actions of the Turkish Presidency of Telecommunication and Communication (TIB), and called on the institution to their decisions which are harmful and put pressure on media in the country.

On 24 July, TIB blocked numerous Kurdish media outlets in the aftermath of the coup attempt and clashes that occurred in response to it. The first website to be blocked was the Jin News Agency (JINHA), which is also the first and only women’s news agency in Turkey. This was the sixth time the web portal has been blocked by TIB.

SEEMO fully supports all media workers within JINHA and calls on the Telecommunications and Communications Presidency to abandon all practices of blocking news websites in the country. Furthermore, SEEMO members ask that Turkish authorities release all detained journalists and end oppression against journalists and media outlets. Freedom of expression is crucial in transitional societies and must not suffer because of political interests.

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 Commissio.