Kosovo: Protestors Vandalize Car of Arbresha Berisha and RTK Team
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is increasingly alarmed by the continued attacks on journalists covering tensions in Northern Kosovo. Perpetrators must not be allowed to assault the press with impunity.
Location: Kosovo, Zvecan
Date: June 15, 2023
Protestors smash the window of Arbresha Berisha and her RTK colleagues’ car while covering demonstrations in Northern Kosovo. The Coalition For Women In Journalism demands an end to attacks on journalists covering escalating tensions in Serb-majority towns. We strongly urge local and international security forces present to take assaults against journalists seriously and ensure those responsible are held accountable.
On June 15, during a live broadcast for public broadcaster RTK, the car of Arbresha Berisha and her colleagues was vandalized in the north Kosovo municipality of Zvecan.
Unknown individuals threw a brick at the RTK vehicle, smashing its window and bursting its tires. The journalists were not in the car when the attack happened. No one was injured.
Berisha was reporting from Zvecan following the taking of three Kosovo border police by Serbian security forces the previous day.
Kosovo’s government claims its police officers were abducted from Kosovo by Serbian forces. The Serbian government contests this, claiming the border police had entered the territory of Serbia when they were arrested.
This is the latest in a series of incidents that continue to escalate tensions between governments in Pristina and Belgrade.
Escalating assaults on journalists in Kosovo
CFWIJ documented attacks against at least six women journalists in the past three weeks. Their vehicles were vandalized while covering protests.
The Association of Journalists Kosovo says 24 media teams have been “attacked, harassed, assaulted and prevented while performing their duties” in the same time period.
At the end of May, Kosovo Serb protestors in Serb-majority towns attacked numerous journalists and injured 30 NATO peacekeepers.
Following the arrest of Milun 'Lune' Milenkovic, accused of orchestrating attacks against NATO peacekeepers during violent protests, journalists Zorica Krstic Vorgucic and Tatjana Lazarevi were harassed and intimidated in Mitrovica.
Kosovo government suspends TV Klan’s license
On June 14, in a surprise decision, the Kosovo government suspended the business license of a popular privately owned TV channel, Klan TV. According to the government, the reason was “the suspicion of misuse of official duties, as well as misuse of economic authorizations.”
The incident occurred a day after online news outlet Kosovo News published an investigation into the ownership of Klan TV.
The European Federation of Journalists states it does “not believe the justification to suspend the certificate has sufficient legal grounds” and that it “represents a worrying attempt to apply political pressure on Klan Kosova and its owners.”
The channel has appealed the decision and remains operational. If a court orders the license be revoked, the station will have to cease broadcasting.
Despite improving press freedom in the country during their rule, the Kosovo government’s action against KlanTV appears arbitrary and threatens its progress.
As political and social unrest continues, journalists covering demonstrations are thrust into the frontline of simmering tensions. They are repeatedly intimidated, threatened, and attacked for reporting vital news. Violent groups have continuously assaulted press workers regardless of ethnicity, and both Kosovo Albanian and Kosovo Serb journalists have come under attack.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is alarmed at the continuous assault on journalists in Kosovo. Their reporting is important. They must not be intimidated into silence. We call on Kosovo police and international forces KFOR and EULEX to ensure press safety when covering demonstrations and prosecute those responsible for attacks.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.
