Skopje, 12 April 2024 – The Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services condemns the repeated labelling and discrediting of Kanal 5 TV in today’s announcement by the Levica (the Left) political party president Dimitar Apasiev on Facebook.
With his announcement, the leader of Levica displayed an inappropriate conduct, threatening the freedom of information and violating media workers’ dignity. The use of vulgar phrases, as well as expressions that may incite hate speech on the part of his followers on the social networks, is totally unacceptable and may jeopardize the safety of media workers.
Politicians and public office holders must be aware of the weight of the words they utter and the responsibility they have before the citizens and must demonstrate the highest level of respect for the journalistic profession and the media.
This is part of the standards laid down in the Code of Conduct in the Online Sphere during Electoral Processes and Referenda, to which the Levica political party has voluntarily committed itself.