PRISTINA, 22.01.2020 – Association of Journalists of Kosovo welcomes relatively quick judicial treatment of the threat against Koha Ditore journalist Agim Ademi and Kohavision journalist Dorentina Thaqi, but expresses concern over the minimum punishment imposed on the perpetrator.
The Basic Court in Pristina has fined the teacher from Ferizaj with 500 Euros, who on 12.02.2019 harassed, chantaged and threatened journalists of the Koha Group. If the punishment imposed in cash cannot be executed, the court will substitute a fine under Article 46 par 3 of the CCRK for imprisonment, where one day imprisonment will count same as fine of 20 euros.
The AJK considers that minimal symbolic punishments reflect negatively on the environment of journalism and encourage attacks and threats against journalists.
On the verdict of the Basic Court in Pristina, inter alia, is written that the accused (R.M.) is guilty and has committed the penal act of Harassment under Article 186 par. 1 regarding par. 4 of the KPRK, Koha Ditore reports.
“The accused RM, through conduct of continuous and undesirable attention, with intent to harass and intimidate, on 12.02.2019, at about 1:00 pm, and twice more before that date, went to the Koha Group’s editorial office in Pristina, asking journalists Agim Ademi and Dorentina Thaqi, to meet with him due to a story published in ‘Koha Ditore’ and KTV, regarding an assault case, where the suspect RM had assaulted a colleague at school. The journalists have felt intimidated and emotionally disturbed” it’s written on the verdict of the Basic Court in Pristina.
The AJK urges the justice authorities to take seriously cases of attacks and threats against journalists in order to enable them to fulfill their vital role in guaranteeing and developing democracy in the country. Deserved punishments should be unavoidable in all cases of attacks or threats against journalists, which are constantly reported.