OSCE condemns attack on news portal in northern Kosovo

PRISHTINË/PRIŠTINA / VIENNA, 11 June 2015 – The Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Jean-Claude Schlumberger and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, have expressed concern over the attack early this morning on the offices of the KoSSev news portal in Mitrovica/Mitrovicë North.

“I am concerned by reports that KoSSev portal offices were shot at several times with a firearm,” said Schlumberger. “The attack is an act of intimidation against an independent media outlet and I condemn it in the strongest terms.”

Police have confirmed the incident and are investigating the case. According to them, two bullets were found inside the KoSSev offices and 4-5 others on the façade. Apart from material damage no casualties were reported.

Schlumberger urged relevant authorities to shed light on this case as soon as possible and to provide conditions whereby the media can work freely and safely.

“I condemn this attack, safety is a basic precondition for members of the media to do their work ,” said Mijatović. She welcomed the condemnation of this attack by both the Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AGK) and the Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS) as a much needed message of solidarity among the media community.