Pristina, 12 December 2019 – The Association of Journalists of Kosovo has received with deep concern the complaint of the leaders of the Kosovo Law Institute (KLI) that one of the journalists of their platform “Oath to Justice”, was insulted and pressured during the court proceeding she was monitoring on December 9, 2019, at the Basic Court in Pristina.
Court proceeding reported by the journalist was about the indictment filed by the Special Prosecution of the Republic of Kosovo against M.Z., E.K. and I.K.
“Oath of Justice” reported on December 9, 2019 regarding using the phone by the suspected E.K. who watched a boxing match while the court proceeding was going on.
Based on the information of KLI given to AJK, as a consequence of the news published, one of the suspected people M.Z started to insult and offend all of them who monitored the next court proceeding, including KLI monitor.
Furthermore, one of the lawyers stated that the publication of news related to box match, was a scandalous act done by the monitor and it constituted a breach of privacy.
AJK considers that the news published by the“Oath of the Justice”, didn’t content any private information. Moreover, there was no decision to keep the court proceeding closed for the public.
AJK emphasizes that civil society and the media play an important role in monitoring the increase of transparency and accountability in all areas reported. Therefore, we call on all relevant actors in the justice system and in all other areas to stop pressure, insults and threats against journalists.
AJK encourages all colleagues not to succumb to the pressures and insults they are exposed to, but to continue to perform their duties with professionalism and high ethics.