PRISTINA, 27.06.2018 – The representatives of the Association of Journalists of Kosovo met on Tuesday the recently appointed coordinator on journalist’s cases in the Basic Court of Pristina, Arben Hoti and the list of criminal and civil cases that involve journalists was delivered.
The parties also discussed the possibility of having future monthly meetings as well as it was agreed to create a database in the Court that would register all accepted cases, the ones that are active and the ones that are pending to be solved.
The AJK representatives asked from the coordinator to threat those cases with priority. Judge Hoti expressed readiness and engagement that all cases of media and journalists receive a quick judicial treatment.
Delivered list to the coordinator is the list received by the State Prosecution and is related to physical assaults and verbal threats that are occurred throughout the years against journalists in Kosovo. Also, there is a list of civil contests related to journalists that are reported to AJK by them. Such lists are going to be updated by the coordinator’s team and handled individually.
The Association of Kosovo Journalists encourages all media and journalists who are in any litigation, whether civil or criminal, who are awaiting the proceedings of the cases, to notify us by sending us the case number because the examination of these cases within the foreseen legal deadlines, would create a safer environment for the work of journalists and increase the professionalism of the media.
We recall that the President of the Basic Court of Pristina, Aferdita Bytyçi, recently appointed the judge Arben Hoti as a coordinator for the cases of journalists. Hot is also vice-president of this court.
AJK appreciates the commitment of justice institutions to finally deal with journalists’ cases with the utmost priority and seriousness, thus helping to create an appropriate and safe environment for journalism in the country.