SKOPJE, 28.05.2019 – President of the Association of Journalists of Macedonia Mladen Chadikovski met today with prosecutors of the Public Prosecutor’s Office for Prosecuting Criminal Offences Related to and Arising from the Content of the Illegally Intercepted Communication (SPO). At the meeting they discussed about the case that the SPO leads against Zoran Bozhinovski.
On the eve of the hearing which is to be held tomorrow at 12:00 in the Criminal Court in Skopje, Chadikovski noted that with the espionage charges, besides Turkey, Macedonia is the only country in Europe in which there are such accusations against journalists. This case can seriously affect the image of the state in the world and the relevant institutions that measure the freedom of the media.
“Such charges create an effect of censorship in the journalistic profession and negatively affect the reputation of the country, therefore it is necessary to withdraw this indictment against Bozhinovski, in a process which already lasts for too long, beyond the reasonable deadlines,” said Chadikovski. We remind that the Association of Journalists of Macedonia will continue to observe this, but also all other processes against journalists in our country. At the meeting, it was also requested that the SPO, should act in accordance with all international conventions, in particular the European Convention on Human Rights and Democracy, requested by the Council of Europe.
By the SPO it was shown understanding for the position and expressed requirements of AJM and they pledged once again to review the whole case.