OSCE media freedom representative deeply concerned about safety of journalists covering demonstrations in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica
VIENNA, 23 June 2014 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today condemned the attacks on journalists in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica on 22 June, and urged for ensuring journalists’ safety when covering demonstrations.
According to media reports, journalists Behar Mustafa (BIRN), Faton Ismajli (Online Express) and Kajtaz Gecaj (Zëri) were attacked by demonstrators while covering yesterday’s demonstrations in Mitrovicë/Mitrovica.
“I condemn yesterday’s violent attacks against these journalists, they cannot and should not be tolerated,” Mijatović said. “I welcome the swift condemnation of these attacks by the association of journalists and urge for ensuring and improving journalists’ safety when covering public demonstrations.”
Mijatović has repeatedly stressed the importance of journalists’ safety as it constitutes a basic pre-condition for the effective and full exercise of the right to freedom of information and for a free and democratic media landscape.