Skopje, 24 August 2023 –With regard to the insults and threats addressed at the news crew of Koha TV, as well as the attempts at hindering the TV crews of several media outlets and correspondents from the Polog region in their efforts to obtain footages from the fire in the municipality of Brvenitsa, the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services wishes to point out that it is abusolutely unacceptable to obstruct media workers in the performance of their work.
Media play a crucial role in the reporting on issues of public interest and in ensuring transparency and accountability, which is why it is necessary to provide journalists and other media workers with free, unhindered and safe access to all events. Any obstruction to the performance of their tasks constitutes direct threat to the freedom of and the right to information.