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The targeting of the independent media

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photo: canva

N1 TV has been under pressure from the Serbian authorities since it started broadcasting in 2014, primarily by President Aleksandar Vucic and his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).

The pressure culminated with the targeting of journalists from N1 and other media outlets owned by United Media. The targeting changed with time from calling N1 a CIA TV station to the common name Tycoon Media to the latest incarnation of (Kosovo Prime Minister Albin) Kurti’s Media.

Foreign capital is usually welcome in Serbia with the government prepared to give away lots of money but not if it’s about a TV station providing objective reporting to the public. “CIA, American TV based in Luxembourg,” former Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic used to say, adding American TV with American capital. He also mentioned retired US General Petreus as one of the owners.

N1 asked President Vucic if he was prepared to accept responsibility if something happens to anyone from the targeted media and he replied: “Something happen to someone because they work for the Luxembourg TV with American capital?”

When the fund that Petreus worked for left, the way United Media journalists were targeted changed. SNS MP Biljana Pantic Pilja said that the “independent media, N1 and Nova S – the anti-Serb media can be described in a single sentence: Domestic traitor, foreign mercenary (a phrase dating back to the 1990s which was used to denote anyone opposed to the authorities’ nationalist policies).

The loudest targeting has come from Prime Minister Ana Brnabic: “The problem is that you have certain opposition tycoon, Solak (Dragan, founder and co-owner of United Group) media to be precise.”

The latest evolution of the targeting came with the latest crisis in Kosovo. The media that did not hide information were declared to be Kurti’s. Said Vucic: “Look at what Kurti’s media and Kurti are doing, exactly the same as N1, Nova S, Danas”. He even told those media where they should go: “Let them go to Pristina… it would be nice for them with Kurti.”

Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS) President Zeljko Bodrozic warned of the danger. “When the president targets journalists the regime sees as unsuitable, that is highly dangerous”.

Both Serbian national journalists associations have warned repreatedly that labeling some media is impermissible and called public officials to stop.

MFRR partners to carry out media freedom mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina

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photo: canva

Partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) will travel to Banja Luka and Sarajevo from 22 to 25 October 2023 to assess the current state of play for media freedom in the country and start a dialogue with the authorities, less than a year after the European Union decided to grant Bosnia and Herzegovina candidate status.

The delegation will consist of representatives of the MFRR partners, including ARTICLE 19 Europe, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), Free Press Unlimited (FPU), the International Press Institute (IPI) and the Osservatorio Balcani Caucaso Transeuropa (OBCT). A representative of the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) will also join the mission, as well as our local partner, the journalists’ association BH Novinari.

During the visit, the delegation will meet media professionals, officials, international organisations, civil society organisations and lawyers. The mission will focus on the worrying legislations discussed or adopted recently: in Republika Srpska, one of the two entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, regarding the recriminalisation of defamation; the draft law on Public Order and Peace in the Sarajevo Canton; and the law on Freedom of Access to Information in the Federation. The safety of journalists, the verbal attacks from public officials and the lack of investigation into some cases will also be addressed with the authorities.

On 25 October, the delegation will hold a press conference in Sarajevo to present preliminary findings and recommendations. A detailed mission report will be published later in autumn.

This mission is coordinated by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), a Europe-wide mechanism which tracks, monitors and responds to violations of press and media freedom in EU Member States and candidate countries.

Coalition for Media Freedom: Draft Media Laws Do Not Represent Compromise, We Call on Government to Provide Essential Media Reform

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The Coalition for Media Freedom once again calls on the Government of Serbia to harmonize the proposals of the draft Law on Public Information and Media and the Law on Electronic Media with the solutions from the Media Strategy.

At yesterday’s meeting with Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, the members of the working groups for amending two laws, members of the Coalition, did not get to see the reports from the public hearings, nor the text of the draft of two key media laws on which the Government should decide.

Today’s announcement by the Government of Serbia adds additional confusion into how the final draft of the Law on Electronic Media resolved the issue of authorized proponents of REM (Regulatory Authority of Electronic Media) Council members, i.e. which of the numerous proposals finally found its place in the draft law. We remind that the Coalition publicly expressed its disagreement with the proposal that the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality and the Protector of Citizens should be separate proponents, and that there can be no question of a compromise in this article of the Law if the Government remained with such a solution.

Yesterday’s meeting with the Prime Minister unequivocally confirmed that the Government does not want to ensure discontinuity in the work of the existing REM Council, even though it was one of the basic requirements of the Coalition and one of the most important measures from the Media Strategy.

When it comes to the position of the Press Council, we received a verbal notification that the decision was adopted, which was declared by the Working Group for amending the Law on Public Information and Media, but until this moment we have not received a draft of the proposed law in order to be sure of this the claim.

Claims from the Government that the articles of both laws, which enabled the return of state ownership of the media, were changed so that they refer only to Telekom Srbija, remain completely unacceptable, considering that they deviate dramatically from the strategic determination of the Republic of Serbia defined back in 2011. and confirmed by the adoption of the 2020 Media Strategy.

Although these three points represent the most significant problems in the drafts of the two laws, there are still a number of provisions whose changes or more precise definition we proposed during the public debate, in order to ensure a fundamental reform of the media sector in Serbia.

Therefore, we believe that it is of crucial importance that the Government of Serbia, before the announced initiation of the emergency procedure for the adoption of these two laws, once again reconsiders its decision to deviate from the Media Strategy, which was agreed upon and confirmed by all interested parties – the media community, as and the Government itself. We remind that the Strategy was welcomed by international actors because it is harmonized with European and other international standards, which is important because Serbia is on the way to the EU.

In the attachment, we submit comments on the Law on Electronic Media and the Law on Public Information and Media submitted by members of the Coalition, CRTA and ANEM.

 

Amendments to the Law on Electronic Media (in Serbian)

Amendments to the Law on Public Information and Media (in Serbian)

 

The Coalition for Media Freedom consists of the Association of Media, the Association of Online Media (AOM), the Independent Association of Journalists of Vojvodina (NDNV), the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS), the Business Association of Local and Independent Media “Local Press” and the Slavko Curuvija Foundation.

11.10.2023

BFMI concerned over Serbian government draft media laws

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Photo: Pixabay.com

The Balkan Free Media Initiative (BFMI) expressed profound concern on Tuesday over 2 media laws drawn up by the Serbian government, warning that they could limit media independence and allow the state to expand its ownership in media outlets.

A statement said that draft laws on Public Information and the Media and on Electronic Media are critical for the national media environment could “further curtail media independence and pluralism in the country by allowing state-owned entities such as Telekom Serbia to further expand into media ownership, distort competition and harm the few remaining independent media in the country”. “The draft laws represent a step back in media reform and showcase President Vucic’s disregard for EU values,” it said and called the European Parliament and European Commission to urge Serbia to align with EU media freedom standards, as part of the accession negotiations.

BFMI warned that the draft laws contradict the “Strategy for Development of the Public Information System in the Republic of Serbia” which was agreed by the government and representatives of media organizations and civil society, and endorsed by the EU in 2020.

“Alarmingly, the new drafts also conflict with the recently approved European Media Freedom Act (MFA) in areas relating to media pluralism and regulatory independence,” it added.

“BFMI is particularly concerned about three primary aspects of the draft laws, which seem to strengthen existing structural challenges that stifle media freedom in Serbia: State ownership of media: independence of the media regulator and ethical standards for outlets receiving state funding.

BFMI recalled that “Serbian media under state influence regularly promote pro-government propaganda, amplify pro-Kremlin disinformation and fuel ethnic tension, particularly in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo”.

BFMI joins other free media organizations in urging the Serbian government to reconsider the controversial changes in these draft laws and resume dialogue with organizations committed to refining Serbia’s media environment consistent with European principles, the statement said.

“Journalists matter”: Council of Europe launches campaign for the safety of journalists

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photo: canva

The Council of Europe has launched a continent-wide Campaign for the Safety of Journalists to be run under the slogan “Journalists matter”, aimed at improving the safety of journalists and protecting media freedom across the continent, as well as raising awareness about the role journalists play in safeguarding a democratic and pluralistic society.

The campaign, expected to last until the end of 2027, addresses the continued degradation of press freedom across Europe, reflected in increasing cases of violence and intimidation against journalists and impunity of the offenders. The Council of Europe’s Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists has been reporting this trend over the years: it has registered more than 1,600 alerts concerning serious threats to the safety of journalists and media freedom in Europe since 2015.

Council of Europe Secretary General, Marija Pejčinović Burić, said: “It is almost impossible to think of a true democracy without diverse and independent media acting as “public watchdogs” and generating public debate. With the campaign, we aim to help governments to protect journalists so they can do their work without undue interference, free from intimidation and violence, and perform their essential role in society.”

The campaign’s main goal is to improve the safety conditions that journalists work in across Europe, notably through the adoption and implementation of national action plans for the protection of journalists and enhanced legal and institutional standards. Other crucial campaign objectives are setting up effective remedies at national level to address violations of media freedom, improving the investigation of crimes against journalists, and ensuring the proper sanctioning of perpetrators.

The campaign is mainly targeted at journalists, press councils, organisations active in promoting and protecting media freedom, media outlets, judges, prosecutors, law enforcement, public officials, politicians, civil society and educational institutions, but it will also reach a wider public.

The campaign was launched on the first day of an international conference organised in Riga, in the framework of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of Europe´s Committee of Ministers, under the theme “The Pen is mightier than the sword? Meeting today´s challenges to freedom of expression and the safety of journalists”.

OSCE Media Freedom Representative launches new guidelines for monitoring online violence against female journalists

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WARSAW 4 October 2023 – Today, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Teresa Ribeiro launched the new Guidelines for monitoring online violence against female journalists at the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference. The Guidelines provide a systematic monitoring and reporting system aiming to better protect women journalists and prevent online violence from escalating.

“Gender-based online attacks against women journalists are to the detriment of us all, to every individual’s right to information, and to the very fabric of our democratic societies,” Teresa Ribeiro stated in her opening remarks. “I am convinced that these Monitoring Guidelines will become a key mechanism in the prevention and protection of such terrible attacks.”

The President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Pia Kauma, stressed the importance of collective action in tackling gender-based online attacks.

“[The guidelines] are an important tool to identify an escalation of online violence targeting women journalists. This is an issue of high interest for OSCE Parliamentarians, as we strive to advance gender equality within our countries and the OSCE region as a whole.But effective solutions require strong co-operation at multiple levels. I am glad that the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media have developed over the years an excellent partnership on this topic. Actively sharing new tools, experiences, and lessons learned, is what can bring us closer to gender equality in the OSCE,” President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Pia Kauma said.

During the event, the lead author, Julie Posetti, Deputy Vice President and Global Director of Research at ICFJ and Professor of Journalism at City University in London, presented the new Guidelines together with the two other authors, Nabeelah Shabbir, freelance journalist and a Senior Research Associate at ICFJ, and Diana Maynard, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Sheffield. The tool includes a set of 15 research-derived indicators for online violence escalation, a gendered online violence typology, and examples of violations mapped to international codes and standards.

“Our research has confirmed a causal relationship between online violence towards female journalists and offline harm, and it is essential that we work to stem the escalation of digital threats before they morph into physical violence. Online violence needs to be understood as both a serious threat to the safety of female journalists and a potential trigger for, and predictor of, broader attacks,” Posetti said.

The award-winning investigative journalist Inga Springe, founder of The Baltic Center for Investigative Journalism Re:Baltica, shared her personal experiences of online harassment, echoing the importance and urgency of countering online violence against women, as an important step to safeguarding democracy.

The event brought together a diverse group of participants, including government, media, and civil society, for a discussion on countering online violence against female journalists.

More information about the event can be found here: https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/553951

Okrugli stol “tajnost istrage” – nevješt pokušaj vladajućih da kastriraju medije

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Ovo je još jedna u nizu zakonskih odredbi kroz koje Vlada forsira nešto što sama ne može riješiti. Mislim da je dobar dio tih zakonskih odredbi promašen i neće ostvariti svoj cilj, ocijenio je sudac Vrhovnog suda Damir Kos na okruglom stolu „Tajnost istrage – narušavanje slobode medija i kazneni progon žrtava, okrivljenika i branitelja“, koji je održan u Novinarskom domu u organizaciji Centra za demokraciju i pravo “Miko Tripalo” i Hrvatskog novinarskog društva.

Kos je govoreći o predloženoj novoj odredbi o kaznenoj odgovornosti za neovlašteno otkrivanje sadržaja izvida ili dokazne radnje kazao kako je ona koncipirana tako da postoji kaznena odgovornost izvršitelja osoba koje su uključene u kazneni postupak: policije, branitelja, vještaka, okrivljenika…

– Međutim na koji način oni mogu to učiniti? Na primjer, kada novinar pita odvjetnika za informaciju o tome što je bilo i ovaj mu odgovori. Novinar tada postaje poticatelj na kazneno djelo i ulazi u sferu kaznene odgovornosti, jasno je objasnio Kos, koji je naglasio kako iznosi svoje osobne stavove, ali da veći dio kolega s kojima je razgovarao dijeli njegovo mišljenje.

Napad na novinarsku profesiju

– Ovo vidim kao napad na novinarsku profesiju jer nema transparentnosti pravosudnih postupaka bez medija. Naš je interes da javnost zna i da bude informirana, kazao je Kos te dodao kako je komunikacija bez medija manjkava i prema medijima se mora biti otvoren. Također je dodao da ovaj postupak vidi kao nevješt pokušaj kastriranja medija i da ne bi htio živjeti u državi koja ima tajne kaznene postupke.

Profesorica Pravnog fakulteta u Zagrebu i članica Centra “Miko Tripalo”, a ujedno i moderatorica okruglog stola, Zlata Đurđević u uvodu je kazala kako smo nekad u zakonu imali tajnost, ali je Ustavni sud 2012. godine rekao da istraga ne može biti tajna.

Đurđević je podsjetila da je svojedobno premijer Andrej Plenković kazao kako se nešto ne može učiniti po pitanju curenja podataka jer živimo u demokraciji, ali se to promijenilo početkom godine, kada su se u jednom spisu pojavili inicijali “AP” i krenulo se u navedene izmjene.

HND žestoko protiv

Predsjednik Hrvatskog novinarskog društva Hrvoje Zovko istaknuo je kako se HND žestoko suprotstavlja ovakvom zakonskom prijedlogu.

– Dobro svi znamo kako je do njega došlo i koja mu je svrha. Koliko god da se vladajući trudili govoriti kako ovo nije protiv novinara, itekako je protiv naše profesije, a krajnji cilj je spriječiti objavljivanje informacija od javnog interesa koje mogu štetiti politici, odnosno vladajućima, posebice u svjetlu činjenice da je iduća godina superizborna, kazao je Zovko istaknuvši dva velika problema od kojih je jedan taj da se nigdje izrijekom ne navodi isključenje protupravnosti u slučaju novinara.

– Dakle, premda je predlagatelj više puta naglasio kako se za ovo kazneno djelo neće moći progoniti novinare, “zaštitne klauzule” koje onemogućavaju progon novinara u samom prijedlogu zakona zapravo nigdje ne postoje. Predlagatelj, doduše, taksativno navodi koje sve osobe mogu odgovarati za novo kazneno djelo te je riječ o osobama koje su do nejavnih podataka došle u okviru obavljanja svojega rada, poput pravosudnih dužnosnika ili državnih službenika u pravosudnom tijelu, policijskih službenika ili dužnosnika, okrivljenika, odvjetnika, odvjetničkih vježbenika, svjedoka, vještaka, prevoditelja ili tumača, čime se čini da za njega ne može odgovarati novinar, međutim to definicijom nije tako zbog zakonske kategorije oblika kaznenoga djela, koja propisuje da za neko kazneno djelo može odgovarati i osoba na koju se zakon taksativno ne odnosi. U ovom je slučaju riječ o poticanju na kazneno djelo koje je zapravo isto to kazneno djelo s istim zaprijećenim sankcijama. Dakle, onaj koji potiče nekoga na neko kazneno djelo, čini to isto kazneno djelo. Ergo, prema ovome obliku predloženoga zakona, novinar može kazneno odgovarati ako od nekog izvora zatraži da mu otkrije nejavni podatak. Također, teoretski, ako novinar od nekog izvor zatraži da mu oda nešto nejavno, može biti osumnjičen zbog poticanja na odavanje tajnoga podatka, a da do odavanja uopće nije došlo, kazao je Zovko te dodao kako je dugi problem potencijalno puno veći.

– Čak i kada ne bi bilo mogućnosti da novinar kazneno odgovara, a vidjeli smo da to nigdje nije taksativno navedeno, ostaje opasnost da se novinarima, kako bi došli do „počinitelja“, odnosno njihovoga izvora, pretražuju mobiteli ili se po potrebi provode druge dokazne radnje, a što bi bilo definirano Zakonom o kaznenome postupku (ZKP). Naime, zakon tumači kako se pretraga osim kod osumnjičenika može obaviti i kod trećih osoba koje same nisu osumnjičenici. Ovakvo nedefinirano tumačenje ostavlja veliki prostor da se (čak i ako ne budu osumnjičeni) novinarima u svrhu pretrage, na primjer, oduzme mobitel kako bi se vidjela njihova komunikacija s izvorima te bi se tako pribavili dokazi protiv “izvora”, rekao je Zovko.

Pravo javnosti i medijsko suđenje

Profesorica s Pravnog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu Elizabeta Ivičević Karas iznijela je svoje mišljenje, kako je navela, iz znanstvenog kuta istaknuvši kako postoji neupitno pravo javnosti da zna što se događa u kaznenom postupku. No ono što je, prema njezinu mišljenju, problem je curenje podataka, što dovodi do medijskog suđenja određenoj osobi. Ivičević Karas je naglasila da cure samo dijelovi postupka pa se ne dobiva cjelovita slika te je kazala kako se mora urediti cijeli postupak kako bi se ostvarilo pravo javnosti.

– Novinari moraju dobiti traženu informaciju, ali ne kroz selektivno davanje informacija kroz medije, istaknula je Ivičević Karas.

Novinar i predsjednik Ogranka HND-a u Jutarnjem listu Dušan Miljuš kazao je da s velikom dozom sarkazma sluša od predstavnika pravosuđa i vlasti kako ovim odredbama nisu obuhvaćeni novinari i da se njih nigdje ne spominje.

– Po svim zakonskim odredbama novinar nije dužan da oda izvor i nema potrebe da se uvodi ovo kazneno djelo. Ovo je usmjereno na medije i sudionike postupka, kazao je Miljuš, koji je također ponovio da je sve počelo zapravo kada su se u istražnim spisima pojavili inicijali “AP”.

Igor Martinović, profesor s Pravnog fakultet Sveučilišta u Rijeci, kazao je kako se u nekim stvarima, na primjer u pitanju klevete, nije slagao sa stavovima koje zagovara HND, ali da se ovdje potpuno slaže i smatra ovaj zakon štetočinskim.

– Ovo je udar na kritičku misao i ako dopustimo da prođe, imat ćemo situaciju kao u susjedstvu, gdje vlada jedna apologetska atmosfera u kojoj je svaka kritika već obilježena kao neprijateljska i protudržavan. Mislim da u takvom društvo ne želimo živjeti, kazao je Martinović.

AP

Odvjetnik Ljubo Pavasović Visković oponirao je profesorici Ivičević Karas kazavši kako bi sve bilo divno da živimo u uređenom društvu kao što je, na primjer, Danska.

– No mi živimo u Hrvatskoj i obrana ne dobiva na vrijeme uvid u spis i mi o tome čitamo u novinama, kazao je Pavasović Visković i dodao kako se ovim zakonom ništa neće postići jer će podaci i dalje curiti, ali ćemo onda imati i istrage. On je naglasio kako mu smeta i to da se zakon pokreće u trenutku kada se ugroženim osjetio AP, a deseci i stotine drugih nisu bili problem i oni su osuđeni.

Predsjednica Europske federacije novinara (EFJ) Maja Sever također je oponirala profesorici Ivičević Karas istaknuvši da je curenje informacija u interesu javnosti zbog obrane demokracije i slobode govora.

– Okruženje u kojem novinari rade je loše i ovo je udar na naše pravo da radimo, ovo je udar u prvom redu i na pravo građana da znaju, kazala je Sever.

U raspravi je Vesna Pusić naglasila da ovdje zapravo nije riječ o pravnom, nego političkom pitanju te da je medijsko suđenje jasno nedopustivo, ali da se ovakvim odredbama to ne sprječava.

– On se donosi da bi se selektivno mogao primjenjivati, primjerice kada političar odluči da se reagira prema određenim postupcima sudionika u procesu. Opasnost leži u tome da se stvara situacija pravne nesigurnosti i da se na političkoj razini intervenira, naglasila je Pusić.

Profesorica Đurđević na kraju je zaključila da javnost mora znati sve o postupcima.

– Treba riješiti to kako će se obavijestiti javnost, a ne da se kažnjavaju osobe u postupku, kazala je Đurđević i predložila stegovnu odgovornost, a da se postupci ograniče samo na državne dužnosnike u postupku.

 

Information Minister says draft media laws foundations for free journalism

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photo: IJAS

Serbia’s Information and Telecommunications Minister Mihailo Jovanovic said on Thursday that the draft media laws being presented by the government are the foundations for free and responsible journalism.

Speaking at the 4th and final round table of the public debate on the draft laws on public information and the media and on electronic media, the minister said that the laws will protect civil rights and maintain democratic values. “It’s important to have media laws capable of answering all the challenges we face.

According to Jovanovic, the media scene can’t improve without strong and just media laws.

The Information and Telecommunications Ministry called the public, NGOs and individuals to take part in the public debate which ends on October 6.

The International Press Institute (IPI) warned on Wednesday that the two draft laws are not in line with international freedom of expression standards and would represent a regressive step with wide-ranging implications for media freedom and pluralism if adopted.

Kosovo Bans Serbia Sport TV Channels Over Messages ‘Glorifying’ Banjska Attack

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Photo: pixabay.com

Regulator tells cable networks to stop carrying Serbia-based sport channels after they showed viewers’ messages praising the Serb gunmen who attacked Kosovo Police on September 24 as ‘heroes’.

Kosovo’s Independent Media Commission, IMC, on Tuesday urged a halt to broadcasts of Serbian sport TV channels, days after they carried messages supporting the armed Serbs killed during in shootout with Kosovo Police in Serb-majority northern Kosovo on September 24.

“We urge distribution operators to stop broadcasting Arena [Sport] channels,” the head of the IMC Board, Jeton Mehmeti, said in a meeting in which five members of the board supported the ban.

“We now have evidence that Arena Sport channels … broadcasted video messages which come from Serbia and contained glorifications of the terrorist attack in the north, and represent threatening messages to Kosovo citizens,” Mehmeti said.

The decision affects ten Arena Sport channels which are carried on Kosovo’s main cable TV platforms.

Art Motion, one of the Kosovo cable TV networks which carries Arena Sport channels, did not respond to BIRN’s request for comment on Wednesday over the IMC decision. Arena Sport is owned by Telekom Srbija company.

Another cable provider, IPKO, told BIRN on Friday that it will respect the decision “until the provider of these channels fixes this matter definitively with the IMC”.

The IMC is an independent institution responsible for the regulation, management and oversight of the broadcasting frequency spectrum in Kosovo.

Two days before the decision, Mehmeti said the IMC received complaints from viewers that, during the half-time break and after football matches, Arena Sport channels broadcasted messages in support of the armed gunmen who attacked Kosovo Police on September 24 in the village of Banjska in the northern municipality of Zubin Potok. A Kosovo Police officer and three of the gunmen were killed in the shootout.

The other attackers managed to escape through mountainous terrain.

Graphics shown on the TV screen bore the messages: “We will remember” and “Glory to heroes” with a photo of Banjska Monastery, Serbia’s coat of arms and the date “24.09.2023” together with the inscription “Manastir Banjska” at the bottom left of the screen.

The aftermath of the attack has caused controversies inside Kosovo’s public broadcaster, Radio Television of Kosovo, RTK. On September 30, its board suspended Zeljko Tvrdisic, the director of RTK 2, the channel broadcasting in the Serbian language. According to the announcement, the suspension is valid for 30 days.

“After a detailed discussion … regarding the chronicle broadcast on the news of RTK2 dated September 28, 2023, following the proposal of the general director, the Board of RTK has unanimously decided to suspend from office for a period of 30 days the director of RTK 2, Zeljko Tvrdisic,” media cited the RTK Board as saying.

According to the media, RTK 2 news had described the three Serbian gunmen killed in the police action in Banjska as “victims”.

The management of RTK has said it will conduct a detailed analysis of the situation to identify violations of professional standards. RTK has warned of other disciplinary measures.

But the original RTK2 news article that BIRN has seen in fact used the word “stradali” for the killed Serbs, which in Serbian means “died”, “killed”, or “perished”, not “victims”, which is “zrtve” in Serbian.

Tvrdisic told BIRN that he is waiting for the internal commission of the public broadcaster, formed on October 3, to finish its evaluation and inform him about the decision.

He said that it was “scandalous” that he was informed about his suspension by the media on September 30 and only received the official note from RTK on Monday, October 2.

“I am confident that I have acted in accordance with professional standards, the ethics code and the law. The problem is we reported on an event in [the town of] Gracanica, where the lighting of candles for the murdered was organised. It was also stated as a problem that, in a statement, we had the President of the Serbian Journalists Association, who used the word ‘Metohija’,” Tvrdisic told BIRN.

Serbia officially uses the expression “Kosovo and Metohija” for Kosovo – a term which many Kosovars see as implying a Serbian character to Kosovo.