(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has condemned the violent assault by Korca Mayor Robert Damo on television journalist Juliana Dhimitri, who filmed his debate with an election rival for the television station Top Channel TV on 26 June 2005. Damo, mayor of Korca, southeastern Albania, and Democratic Party candidate for the 3 July election, reacted violently when […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has condemned the violent assault by Korca Mayor Robert Damo on television journalist Juliana Dhimitri, who filmed his debate with an election rival for the television station Top Channel TV on 26 June 2005.
Damo, mayor of Korca, southeastern Albania, and Democratic Party candidate for the 3 July election, reacted violently when Dhimitri continued filming at the end of the formal debate with Socialist candidate and Local Authority Minister Ben Blushi, as their exchanges turned acrimonious.
Damo threw the journalist against a wall, beat her on the face and body and threw her camera at her. He also took away her mobile phone to prevent her from calling for help.
Damo then dragged Dhimitri into another room of the hotel where the debate was staged and continued to mistreat her. He was accompanied by two bodyguards who showered her with insults throughout the attack.
“RSF condemns this brutal assault, which constitutes an abuse of press freedom that is even more serious for the fact that it was directly carried out by an elected official,” the organisation said.
“Robert Damo has a very good chance of getting his name on the blacklist of press freedom enemies. We urge the Interior Minister, Igli Toska, to take appropriate sanctions against the mayor of Korca so that this type of behaviour is not repeated.”
Dhimitri was treated in hospital for shock and extensive bruising. After returning home, she was placed under police surveillance to ensure there were no further confrontations with the mayor.
The following day, Damo denied having struck the journalist and claimed he had been the victim himself.
Top Channel TV publicly condemned the attack and filed a complaint at the Korca District Court. The station said it would produce evidence that Damo had mistreated the journalist while she was doing her job and filming in a public place. Dhimitri has a complete recording of the attack.
