The South East European Network for Professionalization of Media requests the immediate release of Tmislav Kezarovski. The journalist began a hunger strike on 22 July after having been in custody since 28 May.
The South East European Network for Professionalization of Media (SEENPM) is deeply concerned about the health conditions of Macedonian journalist Tomislav Kezarovski, who began a hunger strike on July 22 after having been in custody since May 28. SEENPM – which unites seventeen media development NGOs from twelve countries, including the Macedonian Institute for Media, the Association of Journalists of Macedonia and the Trade Union of Macedonian Journalists and Media Workers – requests the immediate release of Kezarovki.
The reason for the hunger strike is that Kezarovski’s detention period has already been prolonged twice by 30 days and – despite the material warranty submitted on July 11 that [states] he will not escape if [he is] allowed to defend his rights while released from custody – the court has not yet reached any decision. Several international human rights organizations have already expressed their strong criticisms regarding the case of Kezarovski, demanding that he must be allowed to defend his rights outside of custody.
Kezarovski was arrested in a police action called “Liquidation” and is accused of revealing the identity of a protected witness in two of his articles, published in the journal Reporter 92 in 2008.
