11/11/2015: ALBANIA – SEEMO WORRIED BY MEDIA SITUATION IN ALBANIA

Vienna, 11/11/2015

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) was dismayed by recent negative developments in Albania.

On 10 November around noon, a police officer arrested a cameraman who was reporting in Tirana for Albanian TV channel ABC. The ABC TV crew was filming a story near the premises of the police station when the incident occurred.

“SEEMO would like to remind authorities in Albania that critical speech and freedom of expression are not to be censored. We urge authorities to conduct an investigation of this case, and to hold the responsible police officer accountable”, SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic stated.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South East and Central Europe. SEEMO’s 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, 06/11/2015

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is alarmed by the tension and aggression expressed towards media workers and media outlets in Turkey, especially those under the control of the ruling party during the current pre-electoral period.

On 28 October, police raided the offices of two television channels that belong to the Ipek Media Group, Kanalturk and Bugun TV, following a court order that accused the critical outlets of “terror propaganda”. A crowd formed in front of the premises during the raid, but was scattered after special operations officers used water cannons and tear gas to disperse it. Allegedly, several journalists were taken into custody, while others were prohibited from entering their offices.

On 3 November, Editor-in-Chief Cevheri Guven and Managing Editor Murat Capan of Nokta Magazine were arrested and detained after the release of the publication’s latest issue on charges of inciting armed conflict against the government. Turkey’s Parliamentary elections were held on 1 November, and the ruling party was re-elected. The magazine featured a cover showing President Erdogan and a caption saying that November 2 is the beginning of a civil war in Turkey. Police notified the magazine that the publication would be taken off shelves due to a court ruling, which proceeded the detention of the two editors and also banned access to the Nokta website.

On 6 November, Bianet reporter Beyza Kural was detained by police officers while covering protests in Istanbul. Police officers threatened her and attempted to seize her equipment. Kural was released when her colleagues and protesters present during the incident intervened.

“No good news from Turkey. The threats of detention, arrest and intimidation that Turkish journalists must face on a daily basis are incomprehensible. We call on authorities in Turkey to immediately stop their attempts to pressure journalists and the media”, SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic said.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South East and Central Europe. SEEMO’s 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, 01/11/2015

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) calls on authorities in Bulgaria to investigate cases of intimidation and threats against journalists in order to secure free reporting.

Dimitar Stoyanov, investigative journalist of web portal Bivol, filed a complaint with police claiming that he was being followed and intimidated because of his work and research.

He also reported to authorities that unknown perpetrators had broken into his home and searched it.

Stoyanov had been working on an investigation into the disappearance of 26 million EUR in European Union funds meant to be spent on food for the poor.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South East and Central Europe. SEEMO’s 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, 23/10/2015

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the decision of the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prohibit filming for most media outlets during an election night press conference on 25 October.

National television stations will be the only ones allowed to film the conference, while local outlets will be denied that right. After several TV stations, as well as the Ombudsman, filed a complaint against this decision, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement claiming that there are no restrictions for media representatives, but the press centre within the National Palace of Culture (NDK) would only allow cameramen from national televisions to attend.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South East and Central Europe. SEEMO’s 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, 14/10/2015

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns recent behaviour of Bosnian Minister of Security Dragan Mektic toward journalists.

During a press conference on 12 October in Banja Luka, Mektic hurled verbal insults at journalists from public broadcaster RTRS, including sexist comments and derogatory phrases, and made accusations against media outlets regarding their political bias. Allegedly, Mektic called RTRS a “so-called public broadcaster” and talked about journalists working for the outlet, mentioning their children.

SEEMO is also concerned by an attack on the car of a journalist in Mostar. On 6 October the vehicle of BH Radio 1 Mostar correspondent Emil Karamatic was set on fire in an alleged arson attack in front of his home in Visici.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South East and Central Europe. SEEMO’s 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, 19/10/2015

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is alarmed by a rise in oppression and censorship of journalists in Montenegro.

On 17 October, Drazen Zivkovic from the daily Dan, and Gojko Raicevic from the news portal IN4s were arrested and detained while covering public protests in Podgorica. Raicevic, who is also the editor of IN4S, was released shortly after his detention, while Zivkovic was held in police custody for several hours.

On 18 October, an undisclosed perpetrator threw stones at the building of TV Pink M, causing material damage as well as injuries to Editor Ivana Drobnjak. Drobnjak received medical help after the attack, and the police arrested a suspect in the case.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South East and Central Europe. SEEMO’s 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, 09/10/2015

The International Press Institute (IPI) and the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) today urged authorities in Georgia to ensure that a legal process addressing a dispute over ownership of influential independent broadcaster Rustavi 2 TV is fair, impartial and transparent.

In early August, a court presiding over a lawsuit filed by former Rustavi 2 TV owner Kibar Khalvashi issued an order seizing all property owned by the channel. Khalvashi filed the suit seeking to reclaim shares in the company that he claims he was forced to surrender.
The August order was followed by another order on Oct. 1 for the seizure of shares in the television company Sakartvelo, which owns 51 percent of shares in Rustavi 2 TV.
“Given the need for free and independent media coverage in advance of parliamentary elections set for 2016, IPI is concerned that these court decisions could hinder Rustavi 2 TV’s ability to provide the electorate with vital coverage of news and political developments,” IPI Director of Advocacy and Communications Steven M. Ellis said. “We are also concerned by the accusations of government involvement. The ability to freely share and receive information is a fundamental component of fair elections, and we urge the government to take all steps to ensure that this principle is respected.”
According to news reports, the dispute is further complicated by the alleged involvement of the Georgian National Agency of Public Registry (NAPR), which is connected to the country’s Justice Ministry.
Lawyers for Rustavi 2 TV are claiming that NAPR has deliberately delayed approval of an investment contract that would have provided the station with a $6 million lifeline. The delay, the lawyers say, allowed Khalvashi time to request a court order freezing the assets of TV Company Georgia, which was to have provided the investment.
NAPR has rejected the allegations.
“Do not be deceived by what you see now on TV screen,” Nika Gvaramia, general director of Rustavi 2, said at a news conference on Oct. 1, where he was accompanied by a group of the station’s journalists. “The fact that we are now broadcasting does not mean that the government is not doing everything in order to cease our broadcasts.”
He added: “Today we are as close to ceasing broadcasts as never before”
Akaki Minashvili, a member of Georgia’s largest opposition party, United National Movement, slammed the developments surrounding Rustavi 2, calling them “proof of [governing party] Georgian Dream’s and [former Prime Minister Bidzina] Ivanishvili’s choice”. He accused the part of wanting “to suppress freedom of expression, freedom of speech and suck blood from the country”.

A group of Georgian media development and transparency NGOs last week expressed “well-founded” concern that the ownership dispute was part of an effort to silence Rustavi 2 TV due to the channel’s critical reporting.

Since 1994, Rustavi 2 TV has enjoyed a reputation as the country’s most-watched critical broadcaster. It was closed down in 1996 for about a year and was the target of government harassment in 2001 after broadcasting investigations into official corruption.

The first regular hearing in the ownership proceedings is scheduled for Oct. 19. Gvaramia, in the meantime, appealed to viewers to donate money to Rustavi 2 TV, asserting: “I promise to the government that before Rustavi 2 TV is closed down, it will be you [the government] who will be shut down.”

Vienna, 06/10/2015

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is appalled by a law proposal in the Republic of Macedonia/ FYROM, which not only limits the rights of media workers, but prohibits free speech as well.

Parliamentary groups of leading parties DUI and VMRO-DPMNE presented a law for adoption that states media outlets should clear their web pages of all content related to a wiretapping scandal that was revealed earlier this year by opposition leader Zoran Zaev. Materials were published throughout the year (called “bombs” by the media), causing controversy over alleged wiretapping of politicians, public figures and journalists that was secretly conducted for years by the current ruling party.

The new law demands that outlets not only remove transcripts of wiretapped conversations published on their websites, but also prohibits the future publication of any related topic. Audio recordings must not be issued or re-issued in any form, and no new unpublished tapes or transcripts may be revealed by the media. The new law calls for criminal responsibility for individuals, parties and media outlets, with penalties ranging from four to 10 years of imprisonment for owning, processing or revealing material that contains details of the published “bombs”. Publishing or transcribing parts of the wiretapped conversations of a specific individual is punishable by up to four years in prison, while if there are any economic, legal or other consequences for that individual, penalties may be up to five years of imprisonment.

SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South East and Central Europe. SEEMO’s 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, 06/10/2015

Azerbaijan’s government needs to end an ongoing campaign of repression against journalists and others, which has led to the detention and investigation of several journalists in recent weeks, the International Press Institute (IPI) and the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) said today.

The past month has seen a surge in the number of journalists detained for questioning by Azerbaijani authorities – including the detention of journalists with connections to Meydan TV and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) – as independent media channels that provide alternative narratives to state-run news outlets have been increasingly targeted.

On Sept. 26, Baku police ransacked RFE/RL contributor Islam Shikhali’s apartment and he was questioned by prosecutors two days later. The detention followed that of 19-year-old Meydan TV contributor Shirin Abbasov, who on Sept. 17 was sentenced to 30 days in administrative detention for allegedly disobeying police.

Abbasov disappeared on Sept. 16 on his way to university and spent 30 hours in custody before he was sentenced to administrative detention. His family was not informed of his whereabouts until a day after he was taken into custody and he has been held incommunicado and without access to a lawyer since his detention. He reportedly is being held at the Interior Ministry’s Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, although it remains unclear why he is incarcerated at that particular division.

IPI and SEEMO said that the developments were the latest in a sustained crackdown on dissident voices in Azerbaijan that has increasingly worsened in recent years.

“Far too many journalists and human rights defenders have been detained in Azerbaijan on charges that often do not stand up to scrutiny,” IPI Director of Advocacy and Communications Steven M. Ellis said. “We call on the government to release all prisoners behind bars for exercising fundamental human rights and we urge the international community to make clear to Azerbaijan’s government that this situation is unacceptable.”

Within just three days last month, from Sept. 16 to 19, Azerbaijani authorities reportedly detained six journalists. Police detained freelance reporter Aytaj Akhmedova and her intern, both of whom work with Meydan TV, for five hours of questioning on Sept. 16.

Abbasov was sentenced the following day and on Sept. 18 freelance photojournalist Ahmed Mukhtar, whose brother works for Meydan TV, was detained and questioned. The next day three other journalists – Ayten Farhadova, Sevinj Vagifgizi and Izolda Agaeva – with connections to Meydan TV, were detained upon their arrival at the Baku airport and transported to the police station.

Although most of the journalists were released after hours of questioning, the justifications for holding and questioning them were dubious. A warrant used to justify the Sept. 26 search of Shikhali’s apartment cited suspicion of tax evasion, one of the same charges brought against investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova before she was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison on Sept. 1. Supporters of Ismayilova, also a reporter at RFE/RL, maintain that the charges against her came in retaliation for her work in unveiling corruption by government officials.