OSCE media freedom representative condemns attack against journalist in Mitrovica

WARSAW, 23 April 2013 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, today condemned the recent attack on Gezim Bimbashi, a reporter with public broadcaster RTK TV.

Bimbashi was beaten on 22 April, while filming protests on Shumadia square in Mitrovica.

“Attacks like these not only threaten the individual journalist, but can also be considered as an assault on free expression. It is of vital importance to swiftly investigate this crime and punish the assailants,” Mijatović said

The Representative said that she was also concerned about other recent attacks on media in Kosovo. On 16 April, gun shots were fired at the radio station Kolašin in the town of Zubin Potok, the second attack against this radio station in the last year. Since then, the radio station has stopped broadcasting its news programme and is currently only broadcasting music.

“These cases all require thorough investigations, in order to ensure that media freedom is protected,” said Mijatović.

Mijatović is in Warsaw speaking at a conference on safety of journalists.