The Western Balkan’s Regional Platform for Advocating Media Freedom and Journalists’ Safety, which represents more than 8,200 members, strongly condemns the physical attack on the ‘Blic newspaper’ team in northern Mitrovica.
The team of ‘Blic newspaper”, journalists Nebih Maxhuni, Diamant Bajra, and the cameraman Arsim Rexhepi, have been physically attacked while reporting on the Corona virus situation.
As ‘Blic newspaper’ reports, the team approached a place where flour was being sold and inquired as to whether the supply was sufficient for their needs. Two young citizens approached them and punched Maxhuni in the face and ear and then pushed Bajra and Rexhepi. Immediately after the incident, the journalist Maxhuni received medical treatment at the Mitrovica City hospital.
The Kosovo Police have been notified and the team of ‘Blic newspaper’ has been interviewed.
“Such attacks on journalists are scandalous and do not equate to a free and democratic society. AJK requests that the case receives immediate attention from the competent institutions. We will follow up on the case to request that it is handled efficiently” – said President of the Board of AJK, Gentiana Begolli Pustina.
The Western Balkan’s Regional Platform for Advocating Media Freedom and Journalists’ Safety considers this attack to be a serious attack on the safety of journalists, and supports AJK’s calls on all relevant institutions to immediately investigate and take appropriate measures against the attackers.
Regarding the attack to the ‘Blic newspaper’, the Regional Platform will inform domestic and international organizations for the protecting the safety of journalists.
Skopje – Belgrade – Podgorica – Pristina – Sarajevo – Zagreb, 24.03.2020
BH Journalists Association
Trade Union of Media of Montenegro
Croatian Journalists’ Association
Association of Journalists of Kosovo
Association of Journalists of Macedonia
Independent Journalists Association of Serbia
