SafeJournalists network strongly condemns the attack on property of journalist Blagoj Sersemov, editor of the local television and online media outlet M-Net in North Macedonia.
Last night, Sersemov’s vehicle was set on fire by unknown persons in the yard of his family home in Štip. This serious and deliberate attack not only destroyed property but also was a direct attack on the journalist’s family and neighbors, posing a serious potential risk to their wellbeing.
Commenting on this deliberate destruction of his personal property, Blagoj Sersemov stated: “I consider this a direct attack on all media, not just on me personally. The safety of my family members has also been significantly compromised.”
Sersemov has also faced legal pressures this year, as he is dealing with baseless defamation lawsuits, for which the Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM) legal team is representing him in the Basic Court in Štip.
Attacks and threats of this nature are unacceptable in a democratic society that strives to protect media rights and the safety of all journalists. This is not merely a physical act of property destruction but is aimed at silencing journalists and intimidating the entire media sector in the country.
The SafeJournalists network, which represents media professionals in the Western Balkans, calls upon the Ministry of Interior in North Macedonia to take immediate action for a thorough and swift investigation of the case, to identify and bring the perpetrators to justice. Such attacks must not go unpunished, and their resolution should serve as a deterrent to those who think they can silence journalists in this way.
The SafeJournalists Network will inform relevant national and international actors about this case.
Every attack on journalists is an attack on the public interest, democracy, and the rights of all citizens.
Pristina – Skopje – Sarajevo – Zagreb – Belgrade – Podgorica, 24.10.2024
Association of Journalists of Kosovo
Association of Journalists of Macedonia
BH Journalists Association
Croatian Journalists’ Association
Independent Journalists Association of Serbia
Trade Union of Media of Montenegro
*After the public announcement of the SafeJournalists Network was published, Police and Public Prosecutors took serious actions to shed light on the case. The Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office Shtip acted and issued orders and guidelines for clearing up the case of a burned vehicle of an editor of a local television station. The orders were given to carry out appropriate expert examinations that would determine the causes of the fire and identify a possible perpetrator of a possible crime. The police reported that during the previous night, after reporting the case, police officers and firefighters quickly went to the field, the fire was extinguished, and no one was injured.