| Country | MK |
| Name and Surname | [:en]Pavle Belovski[:] |
| Gender | Male |
| Date | 20/10/2016 |
| City / Location | [:en]Skopje[:] |
| Type of incident | Actual attacks on journalists |
| By whom | To journalists by citizens |
| Name of the perpetrator | [:en]Kosta Poprizov[:] |
| Type of media | print online |
| Legal closure | Perpatrator is convicted |
| Was journalist`s association informed | Yes |
Journalist Pavle Belovski from TV “Telma” was attacked in front of the Ministry of Interior Affairs in Skopje. The incident happened while he was preparing for live news coverage over the ongoing investigation initiated by the Special Public Prosecutor in the abuse of the police surveillance systems.
Timely reaction by the police
The journalist was not seriously injured, and a major incident was prevented due to the timely reaction of the police officers who were nearby, since the attack occurred in front of the Ministry of Interior Affairs.
The Ministry of Interior Affairs informed that journalist Pavle Belovski was physically attacked by K.P. for no reason. The attacker was immediately taken into police custody.
Journalist’s association actions
Association of Journalists of Macedonia (ZNM) and the Macedonian Association of Journalists (MAN) strongly condemn the physical attack on the journalist. “The attack of the journalist Belovski is an intentional attack on media freedom orchestrated by certain structures of the Ministry of Interior Affairs, seeking to deter journalists from reporting on their obstructions on the investigation of Special Prosecutor Office”, a statement of AJM said.
Union of Journalists and Media Workers (SSNM) strongly condemned the attack. They say that this is the sixth attack on a journalist reporting from the site this year. “We welcome the swift reaction of the police officers who apprehended the attacker, but at the same time we express our extreme dissatisfaction with the slow reaction of the institutions that ultimately do not resolve these cases neither quick nor satisfactory in terms of justice. The public knows, and institutions should be aware that physical or other threats to a journalist, especially when they are given a task is an attack on the freedom of information and ultimately an attack on the democratic organization of the country”, SSNM said.
Macedonian Association of Journalists (MAN) requires competent authorities to urgently resolve the case because, as they stated, this is an act against the freedom and expression and the attack towards journalist profession. “So far, it has happened journalists, to be physically attacked, which is an additional reason to seek clarification”, it is said in the statement.
