Teams of Kallxo.com and RTV Dukagjini were attacked while covering the events in the north of Mitrovica on December 9th and 10th.
Journalist Shkodrane Dakaj and producer Valdet Salihu of Kallxo.com were attacked by a group of masked locals on December 9th while driving. The next evening, while journalist Doruntina Bylykabashi of RTV Dukagjini was reporting live, an explosive device was thrown next to her.
According to AJK, the second attack, which happened close to RTV Dukagjini’s crew, also endangered other media workers, those of T7, ATV, RTK, Klan Kosova and KTV, who were reporting on the same spot.
Chairman of the AJK Board, Xhemajl Rexha, expressed his concern, taking into consideration the intensification of attacks on journalists in the north. “Since the start of the latest episode of tensions in the northern part of Kosovo, we have witnessed 3 attacks against TV crews from Pristina. This is a very troublesome trend, and we fear for the safety of tens of our colleagues who are reporting relentlessly from this part of the country”, Rexha said. “We are again calling on those protesting to respect the work of the media, and also urging the Kosovo Police to be vigilant in offering journalists a safe environment to do their job. We also call on EULEX and KFOR to help in ensuring safety for all.”
SafeJournalists Network, representing more than 8,200 media professionals in the Western Balkans, joins its member AJK in condemning these cases, and calls upon competent bodies to ensure safety of journalists, especially in delicate times. Moreover, we call on responsible institutions to shed light on all cases of attacks on journalists that have been taking place in Kosovo, because each case that goes unpunished leads to more crimes towards journalists.
SafeJournalists network will inform all relevant national and international stakeholders about the latest cases.
Each attack on journalists is an attack on public interest, democracy and rights of all citizens.
Belgrade – Podgorica – Pristina – Sarajevo – Skopje – Zagreb, 13.12.2022
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