Obstruction of journalists while reporting, North Mitrovica, 02.10.2024

AJK •︎ 02/10/2024

Obstruction of journalists while reporting, North Mitrovica, 02.10.2024

Translations: Pristina 

  • Case info

  • Personal info

  • Regional center
    Pristina
  • Who was attacked?
    Group
  • Group members' names and surnames
    Florinda Kelmendi and Blinera Mehmeti

  • Media outlet

  • Name of the media outlet
    Kallxo.com and Telegrafi.com
  • Type of media platform
    Online Media
  • Source of information about the incident
    Media statements

  • Incident Data

  • Date of incident
    02.10.2024
  • City
    North Mitrovica
  • Perpetrator(s)
    Known (suspected)
  • Attacked by
    By public official(s) and/or representative(s) of the executive power
  • Means of incidents and attacks
    In person
  • Type of incident
    Actual attacks on journalists
  • Type of attack
    attack_physical_snatch

  • Action by the authorities

  • Action taken by the journalists' association

  • Was journalist's association informed by the journalists directly?
    Yes
  • What was the reaction of the journalists' association?
    The association reacted publicly

The Association of Journalists of Kosovo is concerned by the obstructing act of the chief of staff of the mayor of North Mitrovica towards Florinda Kelmendi, journalist of Kallxo.com and Blinera Mehmeti, journalist of Telegrafi.

Journalists have the right to exercise their duty unhindered, and any attempt that undermines such a right is unacceptable, it worsens the environment of performing journalistic duties and prevents fair informing and the objective coverage of events.

“While I was filming the arrest of Aleksandar Arsenijevic, chief of staff of the North Mitrovica mayor, Visar Syla put his hand on the camera of my phone and told me ‘do not film!’. I told him that this is our duty. He obstructed the work of my colleague from Telegrafi.com in the same manner”, the Kallxo.com journalism has stated regarding the matter.

“He was not allowing us to film, we told him it was our duty yet he was insisting to stop the filming”, said the Telegrafi journalist.

AJK appeals to the state officials to avoid such acts that obstruct the work of the journalists and recalls the serious state of the freedom of the press in the country, which is evident even in reports of credible international indicators such as Reporters Without Borders, where Kosovo has suffered a drop by 19 places.