SEEMO osudjuje napad na novinarku

12.07.2005.

According to information before SEEMO, on 26 June, Robert Damo, Mayor of Korca and a member of the Democratic Party, physically assaulted Juliana Dhimitri, a journalist for Top Channel TV, who was filming an electoral debate in Korca between Democratic Party and Socialist Party candidates. The actual incident took place after the debate in the street, where Damo and
another candidate were involved in a fierce discussion when Dhimitri started filming them. When Damo saw her, he pushed her away and began to insult her.


SEEMO is informed that Damo then took her into a room of the hotel where the debate had been held, escorted by some 20 staff members. He took away her camera and continued harassing her. He also threatened Dhimitri that she would have problems if she called the police. This is the second attack by Damo on the journalist. The first incident happened three months ago.


SEEMO strongly condemns this attack on a journalist by a high-ranking official and calls upon the Albanian authorities to do everything in their power to prevent such incidents from happening in the future. SEEMO would also like to emphasise that freedom of expression and a safe working environment for journalists are basic principles of any democratic society.

Povratak