AJM: Violation of SEC recommendations in the context of obstructing the work of journalists

The Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM) will submit a petition for obstructing the work of journalist Antonija Janevska from the Meta.mk news agency to the State Election Commission (SEC).

The petition refers to the unprofessional behavior of the president of the election board of polling station No. 2648 in the Prolet kindergarten, Vlae neighborhood in Skopje, where colleague Janevska was prevented from performing her professional journalistic work.

According to the report by colleague Janevska to AJM, even though she properly introduced herself, showed her accreditation, and mentioned that she does not take photos of voting materials or voters, the president of the election board in polling station no. 2648 did not allow her to take photos in the room where the voting took place.

This case today is a violation of the recommendation of the SEC that journalists, videographers, and photojournalists within the framework of performing their professional work can freely go to the polling stations and record and take photos with the only indication to pay attention to the secrecy of the citizens’ data.

Despite the SEC’s indication that it should be possible for journalists who have properly identified themselves in front of the election board to carry out their professional work unhindered, ZNM will demand responsibility for the president of the election board who obstructed the journalist Janevska in performing her professional work and will be asked for sanction.