The Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM) has strongly condemned the latest attacks and threats against journalists that occurred just last week. The association said that these serious incidents show that bullies are not discouraged by the change of Government and they urge the new Government that the real reform of the media must start when they stop attacks on journalists, which will only be achieved by harshly punishing the perpetrators.
“The physical attack on the news team from “Television 24” by the security from a shopping mall in Štip and threats from the former Justice Minister Blerim Bexheti addressed to journalist Elida Zilbeari of “Portalb”, are a direct attack on the freedom of the media. They have a clear goal – to silence journalists to make sure they do not criticize negative phenomena in society. Such brazen attacks and threats show that the bullies who have so far attacked journalists, have not been discouraged by the change of government in Macedonia. We remind the new Government that the real reforms in media will begin when we stop violence against journalists, which will only be achieved by harshly punishing the perpetrators”, reads the statement by AJM.
