Physical attack towards the journalist, Valon Syla, Prishtinë, 22.11.2020

Translations: Pristina 

• Case info

• Personal info

• Regional center

  Pristina
• Gender

  Male
• Victim(s) name

  Valon Syla

• Media outlet

• Name of the media outlet

  Gazeta Metro
• Type of media platform

  Online Media
  
• Source of information about the incident

  Facebook

• Incident Data

• Date of incident

  22.12.2020
• City

  Prishtinë
• Perpetrator(s)

  Not known
• Attacked by

  (ordinary) citizens
  
• Type of incident

  life_threat

• Action by the authorities

• Action taken by the journalists' association

• Was journalist's association informed by the journalists directly?

  No

Journalist Valon Syla was physically assaulted today. In a video that went viral on social media, there is footage of Valon Syla being punched by an unknown person.

Regarding the case, AJK has contacted Kosovo Police who has confirmed to have accepted the information about the attach towards the journalist.

“At around 12:05 PM, we have been informed that the journalist was attacked in Pejton neighborhood. The Police unit arrived at the scene and contacted the journalist via phone, where he claimed that he doesn’t need medical treatment at the moment. We are working towards gathering further information” said Baki Kelani, the KP spokesperson.

The Association of Journalists of Kosovo – AJK, harshly condemns the physical attack towards the journalist Valon Syla. AJK calls upon the competent bodies to investigate the motifes of this attack and to shed light over this case, for which is a threat towards free speech and media.

Each attack on journalists is an attack towards free speech and democracy.

 

Updates: The suspect reported to the police accompanied by a lawyer, was interviewed and put under 48-hour detention.