AJM and SSNM: Suspicions of wiretapping of journalists need to be fully clarified
The Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM) and the Independent Union of Journalists and Media Workers (SSNM) are following with serious concern information related to possible cases of illegal surveillance of journalists and media workers in the period 2019–2024, about which the public was recently informed through a briefing for journalists by the National Security Agency (NSA). In addition, on Monday, the Prime Minister and the Director of the NSA publicly called on the Public Prosecutor’s Office to react and clarify the case regarding these allegations.
We believe that any illegal surveillance of communications can pose a serious threat to the freedom of the media and the public’s right to be informed. We also recall that the new regulation of the European Parliament, the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), clearly prohibits any unlawful surveillance of journalists and provides for an obligation on member states and candidate countries to provide effective protection against such practices.
Such cases, if substantiated, leave a feeling of insecurity among journalists and undermine trust in institutions. For these reasons, we call on the competent authorities to act urgently and exclusively on the basis of law in order to ensure full transparency and accountability in the interest of the public.
We expect the prosecution and judiciary to act responsibly and without delay, in order to protect media freedom and ensure legal certainty for all journalists and media workers in the country. At the same time, we ask political parties and holders of high public office to refrain from statements and mutual calculations in which they use journalistic names, as this can deepen polarization in society and incite hate speech directed at journalists.
We remind you that the scandal with the mass illegal wiretapping of 2015, when it was announced that the communications of thousands of citizens, including a large number of journalists, were illegally monitored, has not yet received an appropriate judicial resolution despite the efforts of the journalistic guild associations. Almost ten years later, some of the procedures are dragging on or ending without final judgments, and the journalists who were directly affected are still waiting for justice. This once again confirms the need for institutions to act urgently, independently and without political influence.
AJM and SSNM remain ready to provide legal assistance and support to all journalists who may have been harmed or whose rights have been violated. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), of which both organizations are full members, will also be informed about the development of this case.
