PRISTINA, 02.11.2020 – The Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AJK), seeks to shed light on the cases of killed and missing journalists in Kosovo.
On the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, AJK calls that the perpetrators of crimes against journalists to be brought to justice and receive the punishment they deserve.
Impunity for crimes committed against journalists is a bad signal for the rule of law in Kosovo and a burden that constantly weighs on the families of the victims and the community of journalists who have been seeking justice for years. This climate of impunity affects freedom of reporting and encourages other attacks and threats.
The President of the Association of Journalists of Kosovo, Gentiana Begolli Pustina, invites international organizations to help create a special fund for investigative journalists to investigate and shed light on the cases of our killed and missing colleagues.
“For me, not only as President of AJK, not only as a journalist, but first of all as a person, it is very important that not only the perpetrators, but also the perpetrators of these crimes are brought to justice. I have said before that as a representative of journalists I do not care even for a moment what ethnicity the murderer has, what religion he/she may have, what function the perpetrators of the murders may have, for me it is important to see them there where they have the place, along with other criminals. This is what we all expect, as well as their families, journalists and all those who are working every day, for a state of law where law and order prevail “, said Begolli Pustina.
AJK recalls that 12 journalists were killed during and after the war in Kosovo and 4 journalists are reported missing.
The investigation of these cases has been the responsibility of UNMIK (United Nations Mission in Kosovo) and then EULEX (European Union Rule of Law Mission) and since March 2017, the Chief State Prosecutor , Aleksandër Lumnezi, has appointed a prosecutor-coordinator for cases of threats or other criminal offenses against journalists.
In 2018, the European Federation of Journalists, at its annual meeting in Lisbon, adopted a resolution calling for an investigation into the murders and disappearances of journalists in the period 1998-2005 and compensation for the families of the victims.
The United Nations General Assembly has declared November 2, the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, calling on member states to implement measures to combat the current culture of impunity.
On this day, a global campaign is launched through which state institutions are required to prevent violence against journalists.