Cases of violation of rights of journalists and the reactions of the Institutions

July 2015 Skopje

Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM)

1. 20/07/2015 The owner of web portal Dokaz Marjan Stamenkovski was brutally
beaten in front of a coffee bar in Skopje. He received serious injuries in the head and
a broken nose. After he was treated at a local hospital, he reported the case to Centar
police station. Dokaz web portal is very critical against ruling VMRO-DPMNE in its
reporting.
Ministry of Interior (MoI): /
2. 15/07/2015 Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Pesevski physically attacked the editor
of web portal "Maktel", Sase Ivanovski Politiko, while he approached and asked
him questions related to Przino Agreement. The attack is video recorded.
MOI: it was reported
3. 11/07/2015 Security guard of Finance Minister Zoran Stavrevski took the camera
from journalist Sase Ivanovski-Politiko and deleted all the photos and videos of
Stavrevski and ex- Interior Minister Gordana Jankulovska. The incident took place
during the opening of the Ohrid Summer Festival.
MOI: /
4. 23/5/2015 Physical assault with serious injuries to the journalist Sashe Ivanovski
by unknown persons in front of his home
MOI: it was reported
5. 17/05/2015 Verbal life threats to the journalist, Naser Selmani by the Minister of
Economy Bekim Neziri
MOI: it was reported
6. 05/14/2015 Burning the private vehicle of the journalist Branko Trichkovski by
unknown persons outside his home
MOI: Reported
7. 07/05/2015 Physical assault on the Editor of newspaper Vecer, Ivona Taleska by
unknown perpetrators near the square in Skopje
MOI: Reported
8. 05/06/2015 Physical assault on the journalist Bojan Shashevski from the portal mkd.mk, by policemen during a protest in front of Government
MOI: After two days of the incident the reporter has made an effort to report the case to
the police station Beko but he was rejected to do so

9. Causing material damage on the premises of the media outlet Republika and of the
Radio Free Macedonia by unknown persons / participants of protest in front of
Government
MOI /
10. 21/04/2015 Life threats to the journalist Borjan Jovanovski and his family by
unknown person in front of his home
MOI: Reported
11. 04/03/2015 Verbal threats to the editor of Netpress Dejan Nikolovski by the leader
of the political party Dostoinstvo, Stojanco Angelov
MOI /
12. 09/11/2014 Verbal attack on the journalist of the daily newspaper Koha, Arben
Zeqiri by the leader Menduh Thaci of the Democratic Party of Albanians in the
Parliament or RM
MOI /
13. 08/25/2014 Seizure of the phone of the journalist Dehran Muratov of TV Nova by
policemen
MOI: Failing initially reported but after the Reaction of AJM is reviewed by the
Department of internal control and found no evidence of it
14. 11.07/07/2014 Arresting of the journalist from the newspaper Lyme, Besim Ibraimi
MOI: Criminal charge is submitted for the offense of "Participation in a mob which
prevents an officer in the performance of official duties," provided and punishable under
the Article 384 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Macedonia. The journalist was
detained and over him is not used excessive physical force or means of coercion. In
2015 the charges were withdrawn.
15. 07/2014 Attack on the journalist Isac Ramadani, Voice of America by the
participants of protest (the incident was filmed and broadcasted on the national
television)
MOI: the incident is reported, the identity of the attacker is determined but still there is no
information whether the action was taken and what is the status of the case
16. 05/22/2014 Seizure of cameras and deleting videos of the journalists, Saska
Cvetkovska TV NOVA, Meri MoItevska Radio Free Europe and Meri Jordanovska
from weekly Focus by a policemen during the protest in Gorce Petrov
MOI: from the interviews with all 34 police officers who participated in the activities of the
police, cannot be established that anyone was involved in the event as stated in their
complaint to the Sector for Internal Control or revocation and deletion recorded video
material and photos

17. 24/12/2012 Expelling the reporters from the Parliament gallery by the
parliamentary security in the Assembly of RM
MOI: AJM has submitted a complaint to the Sector for Internal Control. The compliant
has been rejected as unfounded
18. 11/05/2012 Attacks on news crews on organized protests in front of the
Government by the participants of the protest
MOI: Regarding the attacks on the journalists' teams during the protests that took place
on the public protest for the case of "Monster", MoI - Skopje immediately took all
necessary measures to detect participants in the incidents. Several days after the
incident in which, according to the report, were attacked journalists from the portal "Bez
pardon" and cameraman of TV "Telma", MIA - Skopje has identified suspects already on
14.05.2012 year, and has submitted criminal charges against 15 people, all from Skopje
to the competent Basic Public Prosecutor's Office for reasonable doubt that they
committed the criminal offense of "participation in a mob and committing a crime" under
Article 385 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Macedonia.
19. 17/02/2012 IRC and television crew from TV ALFA
MOI: In connection with the reaction of AJM from 16.02.2012 year, condemning the
behavior of the Islamic religious community that did not let the journalist from Alsat - M
to follow the meeting of the IVZ leader Sulejman Rexhepi with the Ambassador of the
Republic Albania, Arben Cejku, we have no information that the event was reported to
the police. Although your reaction did not the called Interior Ministry we share your view
that the Constitution guarantees the freedom of speech.
20. 13/02/2012 Attack over news teams from Alfaa TV and Kanal 5 by the owner of a
private firm in Skopje Vizbegovo
MOI: In the case of 10.02.2012, when in the village Vizbegovo were made serious
threats against teams of TV "Channel 5" and TV "Alfa", where was confiscated and
damaged a camera, immediately acted upon and the perpetrator is identified. On
21.02.2012, by the SVR Skopje to the Public Prosecutor's Office - Criminal charges were
brought against a person from Skopje because of reasonable doubt that he has
committed a criminal act "autocracy" provided and punishable under Article 392
paragraph 2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Macedonia.
21. 19/08/2011 unacceptable behavior towards journalists by Struga Mayor Ramiz
Merko,
MOI: In connection with the announcement of 08.19.2012 AJM year in which AJM
condemns the behavior of Mayor Ramiz Merko because of his personal intervention of
ensuring that the session of the Council of the Municipality of Struga removed journalist
of TV Alsat - M we would like to inform you that this case is not reported to police in
Struga. With regard to your request, Mayor Merko apologize for the procedure, and the
municipal council and DUI to opt out of his conduct, MOI has no competence to act.
22. 01/02/2011 Physical attack on the correspondent of the newspaper Koha, Patriot
Lima

MOI: In the case of 01.02.2012, at PS Struga has been received a complaint from
journalist - correspondent of Koha and immediately acted upon it. The person who had
been threatened and attacked the journalist has been identified and called to talk to the
police. The same right is given a written warning, and after fully documenting the case
will pursue appropriate charges based on the facts to be established. Regarding your
allegation in a statement issued from 01.02.2012 year that AJM will file charges, MOI
supports you in your efforts.
23. 02.06.2011 Physical attack of Theodor Kusakatov the A1 TV cameraman
MOI: In connection with the event of 30.05.2012, when over the cameraman of TV A1
threats were made and his tape was confiscated, MOI proceed immediately after
reporting the event. Two men from the village of Chiflik were identified who participated
in the incident, and they are called in the police station in Kocani and the two persons
have been imposed a written warning.