Dangerous campaign against media, Prishtinë, 22.07.2024

Translations: Pristina 

The Assosciation of Journalists of Kosovo is alarmed with the new campaign by the ruling Vetevendosje Movement against Kosovo media.

MPs, Sali Zyba and Dimal Basha have shared an article from a media called “Slobodna Bosna” (English: Free Bosnia), in which they accuse Kosovo media, that according to them, are “controlled by Serbia and Vucic”.

MP Zyba in his Facebook post says that “two Kosovo media are mentioned in the article, Periskopi and Nacionale”. Both MPs, and other people around Vetevendosje have shared the online article of Kosovo’s national broadcaster, RTK, that translated the article, with no author.

The “Slobodna Bosna” article is based on sources and statements from a controversial individual by the name of Boban Bogdanovic, who claims to be a Serbian political dissident.

AJK condemns in strongest terms this dangerous and unacceptable camping by the ruling party that directly targets those two media.

Campaigns like this one seriously endanger journalists’ safety of the abovementioned media, and Vetevendosje and its MPs should be held responsible for spreading hate and potential attacks against them.

We renew our call on PM Kurti and Vetevendosje to not engage in similar unacceptable campaigns that aim to intimidate Kosovo journalists from doing their job.

AJK also laments that such a “news” that attacks our colleagues, was given space in the main news edition of Kosovo’s Public Broadcaster, RTK.