The Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM) and the Independent Trade Union of Journalists and Media Workers (SSNM) condemn today’s inappropriate and disparaging attitude of the mayor of Karpos Stevcho Jakimovski towards journalists during his statement before the Criminal Court.

The journalists ‘questions addressed to Mayor Jakimovski today before the court, instead of answering the journalists’ questions related to the court proceedings in which he and several others are accused of abusing their official position and authority as former mayor of Karposh municipality, he said that he had excellent managerial skills and that the questions asked by journalists were “ridiculous”. He also accused the journalists that today’s presence of the media and journalists at the first hearing was arranged by “one centre”.

AJM and SSNM remind that the mayors are elected officials who are paid by the citizens, and they have an obligation to cultivate a professional attitude towards journalists and media workers in order to be accountable for their work and in no case can an inappropriate personal behaviour at public events can be justified. 

AJM and SSNM instruct the affected politicians to have a greater culture in public communication and relations with media workers because journalists serve to inform the public and not to meet some party expectations.

AJM and SSNM appeal to public figures, elected officials to refrain from statements that in any way can be understood as labelling journalists, as it is not in the spirit of European and democratic values.