After a number of journalistic associations and CSOs condemned the editor-in-chief of the KoSSev portal, Tatjana Lazarevic’s detention while on duty on April 11th, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) also reacted yesterday.
RSF urged the authorities to investigate this, in their words, „arbitrary detention“.
“Journalist Tatjana Lazarevic of KoSSev was detained by police on 11th April without credible reason while covering the COVIDー19 crisis. RSF calls on authorities to investigate this arbitrary detention,” Reporters Without Borders tweeted.
RSF recalled how “the KoSSev portal was criticized by the Kosovska Mitrovica Provisional Authority for streaming a press conference,” noting that the news site was “denied access to information.”
“Coronavirus can be defeated by respecting press freedom, not by denying it,” RSF underlined.
KoSSev editor, Tatjana Lazarevic was detained on April 11th in the early afternoon on the North Mitrovica – Zvecan road over, as she was told, violating the curfew. She was released over an hour later, after being told by the police that the proceedings were pending and that she would be contacted by the duty prosecutor – which had not yet happened. On the other hand, they refused to reveal the name of the prosecutor, claiming that Lazarevic was not entitled to it.
Meanwhile, Lazarevic filed a complaint with the Kosovo Police Inspectorate, expressing suspicion that the police acted illegally by detaining her and taking photographs of her, which were then forwarded to the media (the photos in question were subsequently published by other tabloids), that is, for failing to detain the person who took the photographs during the curfew.
In addition to more than ten CSOs from Kosovo and Belgrade, Lazarevic’s detention was also condemned by the following journalist associations – the Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AGK), the Journalists’ Association of Serbia (UNS), UNS in Kosovo, NUNS, the „Safe journalists“ regional platform, as well as by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Desir.
Read more:
KoSSev editor-in-chief detained while on assignment
UNS calls on journalists and media outlets to show solidarity with Tatjana Lazarevic
AJK concerned about the behavior and actions of the police towards journalist Tatjana Lazarevic
CSOs condemn Tatjana Lazarevic’s detainment
NUNS: New unwarranted attacks on the KoSSev editorial staff
“Safe Journalists” regional platform condemns Lazarevic’s detainment
Heldt: Equal access of media to COVID updates should be undisputed; ECSM also reacted
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
