OSCE strongly condemns attack on public broadcaster in Kosovo

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA / VIENNA, 23 August 2016 – The Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Jean-Claude Schlumberger, and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, today condemned last night’s attack on the premises of Radio Television Kosovo (RTK) in Prishtinë/Priština.

An explosive device was thrown into the yard of the RTK premises, close to its transmission antennas. Fortunately, no one was injured in the explosion.

“I am appalled by the attack on RTK, particularly at the time when there were still people working inside the building. This appears to be an act of intimidation and I condemn it in the strongest terms. It’s an attack on an important public institution and on freedom of expression,” said Ambassador Schlumberger.    

“I call on law enforcement bodies to investigate this case as soon as possible and bring the perpetrators to justice,” he added.

Mijatović, expressing relief that no one was injured in the attack, said: “This is a clear attack on free media and on society as a whole, one that I condemn in the strongest sense of the word. I trust that this incident will be swiftly and thoroughly investigated.”