PRISTINA, 21/06/2017 – The Office of the Chief State Prosecutor presented its statistics on Thursday about all threats and attacks against journalists since the end of war.
At the round table “Presentation of cases of criminal offenses against journalists” held in Pristina participants were from the State Prosecutor’s Office, Association of Kosovo Journalists, Kosovo Police, civil society, journalists and representatives from international organizations.
Prosecutor Besim Kelmendi said that from 1999 until today, there have been 120 cases of attacks and threats against journalists.
Statistics show that in Prishtina there are 90 cases, in Peja 4 cases, in Mitrovica 16 cases, in Gjilan 9 cases, in Ferizaj 1 case, while in Prizren there was no case.
“We will ask from every prosecutor who has a case of journalists and we will ask them to treat them with priority,” said state prosecutor Besim Kelmendi.
Kelmendi is also appointed Coordinator at the Office of the Chief State Prosecutor for cases of journalists since the agreement was signed between AJK and Chief State Prosecutor on 9 March 2017.
22 indictments have been filed in the Basic Prosecution of Prishtina and there are seven verdicts against perpetrators. AJK will continue to work with the Basic Court in Pristina to see what the status of other cases is.
Shkelqim Hysenaj, president of the AJK said that there have been positive changes regarding the prosecution’s work in cases of attacks on journalists and at the same time he praised the decision of the Chief State Prosecutor for appointment of coordinators at each local prosecution offices.