MIA to sanction the security staff of Gruevski

Today, the Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM), submitted a complaint to the Sector of Internal Control and Professional Standards of the Ministry of Interior Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia, asking them to initiate a disciplinary proceeding against two security guards of the former PM Mr. Nikola Gruevski. Two members of the security staff broke into the premises of the TV station “Televizija 21” forcing the journalist Mr. Kristijan Landov to erase recordings from his smartphone. AJM has asked the Ministry of Interior Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia (MIA) to determine the circumstances of the event and punish the members of the security of Mr. Gruevski for their unlawful and unprofessional conduct. The letter notes that deleting images of journalists is an act of censorship, which is prohibited by Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia.

“Nobody has the right, even the police, to confiscate private cell phones from journalists or force them to erase recorded materials without a court order”.

AJM reminds MIA that Mr. Gruevski, as leader of the political party VMRO-DPMNE, is a public figure and journalists have the right to film him in public.

“If Mr. Gruevski believes that the journalist violated his privacy, he could file a proper complaint to the competent court, but in no case members of his security are allowed to enter the premises of the TV station and order the journalist to erase the recording”, was written in their letter.