Saša Ilić, a reporter for Radio Borzani, was barred from attending a meeting between local residents and the mayor of Štrpce today. The municipality claims that Ilić is not a legitimate journalist but rather an individual who has been unauthorizedly recording and disseminating personal information, which led them to report him to the Kosovan police.
The meeting, organized by Mayor Dalibor Jevtić, was held with residents of Gornja and Donja Bitina. The municipality did not disclose the specific agenda, but according to the Instagram page of Radio Borzani, the discussion was centered around long-standing issues with water supply.
Ilić, who reported being denied entry despite having registered as a journalist at the reception and received permission to enter the building, was told by the mayor to leave the meeting room.
“I introduced myself as a Radio Borzani journalist. When the mayor said I was not a journalist, I mentioned that I could attend the meeting as a private citizen. However, he immediately insisted that the meeting could not proceed until I left the room,” Ilić told KoSSev.
A video provided by Ilić shows Mayor Jevtić instructing him to exit the room, alleging that Ilić is under investigation by the police for sharing personal data that should not be publicly disclosed. “For these reasons, someone who is not a journalist cannot be here,” Jevtić is heard saying in the video.
Following the incident, the Štrpce municipality issued a statement accusing Ilić of falsely presenting himself as a journalist. They claimed that their doubts were further confirmed by the Independent Media Commission of Kosovo, which reportedly informed them that Radio Borzani lacks a valid operating license in the municipality.
The municipality’s statement also mentioned that Ilić refused to show his credentials when requested and was eventually removed from the premises after using his phone to record participants and the mayor without permission. He was also allegedly denied entry to the meeting even as a private citizen since he is not a resident of Gornja and Donja Bitina.
The municipality has accused Ilić of unauthorized recording and publishing of materials in Štrpce for some time. Attempts to reach the mayor’s office for comment led to a response from spokesperson Dragana Kevkić, who dismissed Ilić’s claims, stating, “Are you sure he is a colleague? I could call myself Queen Elizabeth, but that doesn’t make me one.”
In contrast, Ilić maintains that he did present his credentials and disputes the claims against him. He explained that while Radio Borzani had lost its license as a radio station, the media project was continued under the same name as an online portal supported by the IOM through the European Community Stabilization Program and in partnership with the Ministry for Communities and Returns.
Ilić emphasized that his media outlet focuses exclusively on local issues, which he believes displeases the current municipal leadership. He provided KoSSev with photographs of his journalistic credentials, Radio Borzani’s registration with ABRPK, and his contract with the organization.
Regarding the police report, Ilić denies any unauthorized data sharing and claims that the only information he has reported is related to a state audit report detailing significant expenses by the mayor. He stated that he has not been summoned by the police or subjected to any legal action related to these allegations.
The ongoing dispute highlights tensions between local authorities and the media, raising questions about press freedom and the right to access information in Kosovo.
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