05.09.2023 – Former Director of Belorusyi Rynok in the Republic of Belarus Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Defamatory Articles

In a recent verdict on 29 August 2023, the local Court in Moscow sentenced Michael Nacke (Майкл Наке), a journalist, and Ruslan Leviev (Руслан Леваев), the founder of the investigative project Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT) (https://citeam.org/), to 11 years in prison each for disseminating what Russian authorities label as “false information” connected to reporting about actions of the Russian army in Ukraine,

The court found both journalists guilty of “spreading false information about the military” and “fabricating evidence” with an alleged vested interest. Additionally, the court has imposed a five-year ban on their ability to post content online. Both journalists have been declared foreign agents in Russia and are at this moment outside Russia.

The Sout East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the court decision.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non-profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican, and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation#ngo #journalist #journalistunderattack #russia #ukraine #MichaelNacke #RuslanLeviev#journalistarrested #journalistinjail #journalistattacked #journalistassault#SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia @RuslanLeviev

A distressing incident unfolded on Friday, 25 August, 2023, involving Kostas Vaxevanis (Κώστας Βαξεβάνης), one of the leading investigative journalists in Greece and publisher of Documento (https://www.documentonews.gr/).

Kostas and his family were attacked by a family member of a businessman while sitting at a restaurant during a family vacation in Amarynthos (Αμάρυνθος) on the Greek island of Evia / Euboea (Εύβοια). Vaxevanis was verbally attacked, and a family member, his mother-in-law, was physically assaulted. All happened in front of his eight-year-old daughter. The attacker used aggressive swearing and derogatory language.

The attack is believed to be connected to a report published by Documento.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) reacted in the past years several times connected to attacks and threats against Kostas Vaxevanis. SEEMO expresses its solidarity with Kostas Vaxevanis and his family. Such violent acts not only endanger the lives of journalists and their loved ones but also undermine the vital role of the media in ensuring transparency and accountability in society. SEEMO stands with Kostas Vaxevanis and his family, and calls the authorities in Athens to protect Vaxevanis and other journalists in Greece.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non-profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

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The South East Europe Media Oragnisation (SEEMO) is worried about safety of Russian journalists abroad. According to several sources, Elena Kostyuchenko (Елена Костюченко), a former reporter from Novaya Gazeta (Новаја газета) (https://novayagazeta.eu/) and Irina Babloyan (Ирина Арамовна Баблоян), who worked as radio host for Ekho Moskvy (Эхо Москвы) reported they were poisoned. Both cases of alleged poisonings happened in October 2022.

The Russian investigative news outlet The Insider (https://theins.ru/politika/264260) reported about both cases on 15 August this year.

The case of Elena Kostyuchenko alleged have occurred on 17 October 2022 during a train journey to Munich, as she was applying for a visa to cover the conflict in Ukraine for the independent news outlet Meduza (https://meduza.io/en). In a recent article published on the Meduza webportal on 15 August this year (https://meduza.io/en/feature/2023/08/15/i-want-to-live-and-that-s-why-i-m-writing), Kostyuchenko described how all happened.

Irina Babloyan, born 1986, reported that she was poisoned in Tbilisi, Georgia. As she reported her problems started on 25 October 2022.

SEEMO is asking the German and Georgian authorities to continue to investigate both cases and to protect the journalists.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non-profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #journalistunderattack #russia #germany #NovayaGazeta #ElenaKostyuchenko #journalistattacked #journalistassault #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia @mirrorsbreath

Belgrade Higher Court Judge has delivered a first-instance verdict against the Network for Investigating Crime and Corruption (KRIK) (https://www.krik.rs/), a Serbian investigative journalism online portal, over an article titled “Trial for Jovanjica 2 Begins” (https://www.krik.rs/zakazan-pocetak-sudenja-za-jovanjicu-2/).

The judge claimed the piece violated the presumption of innocence. “The court came to the point of view that the prosecutor was labeled a ‘drug lord’, therefore guilty, before the end of the criminal proceedings, which can equally end in both a conviction and an acquittal,” wrote the judge in the verdict she handed down. The judge obliged the editorial office and editor of KRIK, Stevan Dojčinović, to pay to the other side 89 800 RSD (app 760 EUR) for the mental pain caused and to compensate the costs of the lawyer. The Serbian Association of Judges criticized KRIK’s reporting about this case with the assessment that a number of incorrect claims were made, as well as that pressure was exerted on the court.

KRIK has appealed the ruling and anticipates that the appeal process will either overturn or modify Judge decision.

The person, who is facing charges as the alleged head of a criminal group involved in producing over a ton and a half of marijuana, filed two lawsuits against KRIK last year. He argued that news coverage of his trial caused emotional distress and damaged his reputation.(https://www.krik.rs/koluvija-tuzio-krik-i-urednika-dojcinovica/). During the trial, he testified about the social repercussions of the media’s coverage, including how neighbors began avoiding him, and bank employees declined to communicate with him or open an account.

KRIK’s editor-in-chief, Stevan Dojčinović, defended the use of colloquial language in their reporting, emphasizing that lengthy legal phrases were not suitable for their audience. He highlighted that other media sources and even government officials had made more severe allegations against this individual.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) strongly condemns the pressure on the Network for Investigating Crime and Corruption (KRIK). SEEMO is also surprised by the statement published by the Serbian Association of Judges. SEEMO highlights that media outlets play a pivotal role in holding institutions accountable, and their critical voices are integral to the functioning of a democratic society.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non-profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation#ngo #journalist #journalistunderattack #serbia #KRIK #stevandojcinovic #journalistattacked #journalistassault #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia @KRIKrs

In North Macedonia on 21 August an incident occurred involving TV ALSAT’s (https://alsat.mk/) team, who were assaulted by the proprietor of a barbershop in capital Skopje.

While capturing promotional footage in a public place at Skopje’s Old Bazaar, journalists Era Gjakova and Sara Hoxha, as also a cameraman, were subjected to a threat and attack by a barbershop owner. The attacker allegedly emerged from his shop without warning with a pair of scissors, resorting to verbal insults and threats against their lives. The cameraman suffered head injuries during the assault, which also resulted in damage to their recording equipment.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) strongly condemns the attack against the ALSAT staff. SEEMO underscores the need to establish a secure and protected environment for journalists to carry out their crucial work.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non-profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #ngo #journalist
#southeasteuropemediaorganisation #journalistunderattack #northmacedonia #skopje #TV Alsat #journalistattacked #journalistassault #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia

Mirza Dervišević, the owner and editor of the Times.ba (https://www.times.ba) portal, faced allegedly an assault in the center of Brčko, Brčko District, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Mirza Dervišević was subjected to an attack by an unknown assailant on Saturday 19 August 2023 in the evening, resulting in grave head injuries. Dervišević who lives for several years outside Bosnia and Herzegovina, was private in Brčko on vacation walking to his home with his mother at the time of the assault. He was attacked by a masked man. Dervišević provided a detailed report of the attack to the police. According to him, the attack was because of reports he is publishing on his web portal.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) strongly condemns the attack against Mirza Dervišević. SEEMO underscores the need to establish a secure and protected environment for journalists to carry out their work.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non-profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #ngo #journalist #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #journalistunderattack #bosniaandherzegovina #brcko #Times.ba #journalistattacked #journalistassault #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia #MirzaDervisevic @DervisevicMirza

Istria Media Days 15-18 October 2023, Vrsar, Istria, Croatia – for professors and students (media, communication, political science, public diplomacy, journalism.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech#southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #croatia #istria #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #freemedia