Serbian elections will not be free nor fair
(Human Rights Watch/IFEX) – Elections in Serbia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, on 21 September 1997 will be neither free nor fair, declared Human Rights Watch/Helsinki on 18 September 1997. State control of the media and a lack of accountability for police brutality following last year’s elections seriously undermine the legitimacy of Sunday’s vote. “An […]
Journalist taken in for questioning; camera of another confiscated
(RSF/IFEX) – On 12 September 1997, three police officers entered the office of the Albanian-language daily “Koha Ditore” in Pristina and took journalist Baton Haxhiu to the police station for questioning. Haxhiu was interrogated for two hours regarding his meetings with foreign diplomats, politicians and students. According to the newspaper’s directors, the police wanted information […]
Journalist Slobodan Rackovic detained
On 14 July 1996, freelance journalist Slobodan Rackovic was taken to a police station in Petrovac where he was held for more than three hours. No formal charges were laid against him; rather, the police said that he had been brought in for an “informative talk.” In addition, Rackovic’s house was searched while he was […]
Independent newspaper “Novi Pancevac”
On 7 June 1996, the financial inspector for the city of Pancevo, 20 kilometres northeast of Belgrade, effectively banned the correspondents of the independent newspaper “Novi Pancevac” from working in their respective regions by declaring that their work permits were no longer in force. Djordje Zojkic, owner and editor-in-chief of the newspaper, nevertheless claimed that […]
Authorities assume control of independent Radio Smederevo
On 30 May 1996, the municipality of Smederevo assumed control of the independent Radio Smederevo. Municipal authorities cut off the station’s electricity and elected a new station manager and executive board after having broken into and occupying the station’s premises the previous day. This action follows a decision by the municipality of Smederevo to take […]
Journalist Ramadam Mucolli arrested
Ramadam Mucolli was arrested at his home on the morning of 27 June 1995 by three uniformed policemen. According to members of his family, the journalist’s dictaphone and passport were confiscated. An independent journalist and member of the Kosovo Journalists’ Union, Ramadam Mucolli has been harassed in the past. He was interrogated by police at […]
PEN protests harassment of writers and journalists in Kosovo
The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN wrote to President Milosevic of Serbia on 19 June 1995 expressing concern at the continued pattern of harassment and arrest of writers and journalists in Kosovo. Indicative of this pattern of abuse of the rights to freedom of expression are the reports of the arrest and in […]