AJM Calls for Urgent Action Over Threats Against Journalist Erol Rizaov

The Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM) expresses serious concern over direct threats to the life of journalist and columnist Erol Rizaov, calls for violence, and ethnically motivated insults directed against him through comments posted on his official Facebook page.

AJM has urged the Ministry of Interior (MoI) to take urgent action and thoroughly investigate the case. Of particular concern is the fact that some of the comments contain explicit calls for his physical elimination and death. One of the comments states: “Will there be a hero to deal with this piece of trash, like Kjoseto with a dagger?”, while another asks: “Is there no one who can deal with Erol in an express manner?!” In addition, the comments contain ethnically motivated insults targeting Rizaov.

We expect the MoI to urgently secure and preserve the electronic evidence, identify the individuals behind the profiles, and assess whether the case contains elements of criminal offences related to threats, incitement or calls for violence, and hate speech. Should such elements be established, we call for the case to be referred without delay to the competent public prosecutor’s office.

Threats against journalists because of their professional work represent a serious attack on freedom of expression and must not be ignored. It is of utmost importance that institutions respond promptly in such situations and prevent threats from escalating into acts of violence.