AJM: MP Apasiev’s aggressive communication stimulates hatred

The Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM) condemns the aggressive public communication of the current MP and leader of the political party “Left”, Dimitar Apasiev, towards the journalist Ljupco Zlatev.

On his Facebook page, MP Apasiev, with a public announcement, tends to label and belittle his colleague Zlatev through vulgar insults towards him and with harsh political qualifications for the media “Leader.mk”. Apart from this, the author of the post allows insults and insults from other users to continue as separate comments by third parties, apparently sympathizers of this political party.

Through such inappropriate communication, apart from the attempt to publicly discriminate against the journalist Zlatev and the media in which he works, MP Apasiev publicly provokes other people to share insulting words and threats directed at his colleagues and this media. The fact that these threats, as well as the speech with elements of hatred, remain as a response to an announcement by MP Apasiev, they can incite additional hatred and violence toward journalists.

MP Apasiev has a reputation for publicly reckoning with journalists and media that he does not like the way they report, and also on several occasions lawsuits have been filed against journalists for processes that he has subsequently lost or withdrawn.

We remind you that according to the Criminal Law, whoever promotes or incites hatred, discrimination or violence in public against any person or group is a criminal offense and will be punished with imprisonment from one to ten years. About the behavior of MP Apasiev, AJM will inform the European Federation of Journalists.