29/09/2016: CROATIA – MORE TIMELY REACTIONS FROM AUTHORITIES ARE WELCOME, SEEMO STATES

Vienna, 29/09/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed its approval after learning that an individual who made threats against a journalist was promptly taken into custody.

Croatian journalist Ema Branica recently released a story about a person that was allegedly involved in financial and legal frauds, which was then aired in the Nova TV “Provjereno” show. After this, the individual in question was displeased with their portrayal in the story and started threatening the journalist by saying she will be slapped and spit on, and sending a message to Branica which concluded with the threat that she would “end up like Pukanic”. Ivo Pukanic was a journalist and editor in chief who died by a car bomb several years ago. Following this story, the perpetrator was arrested in Zagreb.

“We appreciate the fast response conducted by Croatian police authorities, and would like to showcase this as a positive example when it comes to reactions to threats against journalists” SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic said today. “Having state authorities react timely to this type of endangerment is an example of how all cases should be conducted- without delay and with proper penalization of the culprit” 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, 28/09/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) was concerned after learning that Sinisa Kovacic, general manager of the Croatian public broadcaster HRT, made public his proposals of dismissing two employees.

HRT journalist Sanja Mikleusevic Pavic was accused by Kovacic of “verbal offences” after co-signing a press release of the Croatian Journalist Association on 21 September. Kovacic stated that by doing so, the journalist violated several codes of the HRT Ethical Codex. However, sources say this was in fact a reaction to the press release, parts of which challenge the possibility of a prolonged term for Kovacic as general director. Despite the Ethical Council of HRT disagreeing with this, Kovacic punished the journalist with a pre-dismissal note.

Kovacic also began a procedure for the dismissal of Mirna Zidaric, president of the HRT Ethical Council.

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, 20/09/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemned a threat made against Dina Kleanthous, journalist and crime correspondent of the online news portal Reporter Online in Cyprus.

Around 2:30 in the morning on Monday, 19 September, Kleanthous’ car was set on fire by unknown perpetrators in the city of Nicosia. The vehicle was parked outside the journalist’s house at the time of the torching, and the material damage is said to be extensive.

The correspondent stated that she believes the reasons behind this attack were almost certainly related to her professional activities and statements.

“Authorities in Cyprus must promptly react to this extremely dangerous attack on the well-being and human rights of Dina Kleanthous. Not only does this act send a message that the journalist is not protected adequately, it is also a brutal reminder that hidden criminal structures often try to silence critical voices in aggressive ways” SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic stated today.

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, 19/09/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) once again criticized threats against media workers in Serbia.

SEEMO has previously condemned the threats made against Nedim Sejdinovic, President of Independent Association of Vojvodina Journalists (NDNV), after he participated at a round table on 11 September. Sejdinovic made political comments which were then shared by media outlets, and for which he faced threats and hate speech from multiple sources. The attacks have not subsided, and Sejdinovic was recently the recipient of an anonymous letter calling for his resignation and threatening that if he does not comply, both him and his colleague Dinko Gruhonjic, NDNV Program Director will be found “floating in the Danube”.

“The growing severity of these threats has concerned us very much” Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General said today. “We ask the institutions in Serbia to abandon their lax, tolerant attitude towards death threats and possible attacks on journalists, and finally react in a professional and equipped manner. Threats against Sejdinovic and Gruhonjic is deplorable, and needs to be sanctioned immediately” Vujovic then 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, 17/09/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemned the actions of authorities in Kosovo, after two journalists working for a Russian news agency were arrested near the village of Hoçë e Madhe/Velika Hoča.

News Front agency journalists Oksana Sazonova and Sergey Belous were filming material for a documentary regarding orthodox monasteries in Kosovo on 15 September, when they were asked for their identification by police members. The journalists failed to provide documents for legal stay in Kosovo. They were then detained and transferred to Pristina, after being accused of illegally crossing the border between Serbia and Kosovo. In the meantime, their equipment was confiscated, and the recorded material was deleted.

“It is understandable to prosecute individuals that do not follow through with necessary visa and passport requirements” said Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General. “But deleting journalistic materials and seizing equipment is unnecessary and not acceptable.” 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, 15/09/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed their condemnation of the recent events throughout several countries in South East Europe, which indicate a growing number of media freedom violations and censorship in journalism.

On 8 September, two TV crews in Republic of Macedonia / FYROM were threatened, intimidated and then blocked from filming material near a construction site in Skopje. Media workers from A1on and TV21 were reporting from a flooded construction site, when an unknown individual allegedly told the crews to get out, because they were “trespassing” on private property and even attempted to violently grab one of the cameras. According to reports, a police officer was located nearby during the incident, but made no effort to help the journalists.

On 14 September, journalist and editor at local broadcaster RTV Visoko in Bosnia and Herzegovina was attacked after leaving the premises of the station. Ismar Imamovic was assaulted by an unknown and masked perpetrator, after leaving the offices around midnight. Seconds after exiting the building, Imamovic was attacked and brutally beaten, after which he received medical treatment. At the time or this report there are no indications as to what the reasons behind this attack were, even though the assault happened after a TV debate related to the upcoming elections.

Another incident occurred on 14 September, when members of the Golden Dawn party in Greece attacked journalists on the island of Chios. Journalists were covering protests against a possible refugee detention center on the island, when clashes began between police members and marchers. A Golden Dawn supporter assaulted Ioannis Stevis, editor-in-chief of Astrapari.gr who was covering the events, hitting him and throwing his camera on the ground in order to break it. Several riot police members were present during this incident, but refused to arrest the attacker.

“A rising number of violent and abusive acts that endanger human rights and freedom of speech indicate that journalists still are not protected. We call on authorities in these countries to react immediately, and preserve the rights of journalists to do their work freely, without fear of attacks or threats. This is currently our utmost priority” 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, 12/09/2016

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) expressed growing concern after the recent arrests of journalists in Turkey.

On Saturday 10 September, journalist Ahmet Altan and his brother, academic and professor Mehmet Altan were detained by members of the Istanbul anti-terror police. The arrests, allegedly coming in lieu of investigations into the failed coup, which have been conducted since 15 July. Ahmet Altan and his brother are said to have been scrutinized because of comments they made on the eve of the coup, on a talk show on the Can Erzincan TV channel.

“We call on authorities in Turkey to immediately release Ahmet and Mehmet Altan. It is despicable to detain individuals solely based on their opinions expressed publically. Freedom of speech has reached a new low in Turkey, and we must stand up against this mounting pressure and censorship journalists in the country are facing” SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic stated this morning.

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.