AJM: Strong Condemnation of the Attack on the “Infomax” Newsroom

The Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM) strongly condemns the brutal attack that took place yesterday in the newsroom of “Infomax” during a live broadcast, carried out by an unidentified individual, which endangered the safety of journalists Aleksandar Mitovski and Milosh Miloshevski, as well as the employees of the newsroom.

According to information from our colleagues at Infomax, an unknown person arrived by taxi in front of the newsroom during the broadcast. The attacker began aggressively hitting and banging on the front door, which was locked and secured with a code. Shortly thereafter, he forcibly broke the door and entered the courtyard of the newsroom. At the moment when the team paused the broadcast, journalist Milosh Miloshevski stepped outside to see what was happening. The attacker continued moving toward another part of the building, where he violently broke another door while attempting to reach the studio.

According to eyewitness accounts from the colleagues, the individual hurled insults and death threats, and the violent intrusion into the newsroom resulted in the forced interruption of the live programme, directly preventing the journalists from carrying out their professional duties and freely informing the public.

Such behaviour may fall under Article 382 of the Criminal Code on Preventing an Official Person from Performing an Official Action, which foresees penalties of up to three years in prison, given that the attacker forcibly entered the studio, damaged property, and violently interrupted the journalists’ work and their obligation to report freely.

This incident represents a serious breach of the safety of media workers and a direct attack on freedom of expression. It once again reminds the public and the institutions of the urgent need to ensure a safe and protected working environment for the media.

We demand the strictest sanction for the perpetrator, in order to prevent future attacks and ensure zero tolerance for violence against journalists.

We expect all competent institutions, including the police and the public prosecutor’s office, to act professionally, efficiently, and without delay, so that the case is fully resolved in the shortest possible time.

AJM will continue to closely monitor the case and will react whenever the safety of journalists and media workers is endangered.