OSCE: Macedonia Opposition Press "Practically Eliminated"

OSCE representative Dunja Mijatovic | Photo by: OSCE/Jonathan Perfect

The OSCE suspects that media which has been critical of the government has been specifically targeted by the authorities, and urged them to ensure media pluralism and transparent investigations.

The dailies Vreme, Spic and Koha e Re, owned by the local Plus Production, were last published on Saturday.

“This is a very disturbing development that has practically eliminated pluralism and opposition views in the country’s press overnight,” the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatovic, told the press in Vienna on Monday.

“While media should follow rules set for all businesses, these outlets seem to have been targeted by the authorities in this case,” Mijatovic said.

In addition, Mijatovic expressed concern that the two remaining media outlets which are seen as conveying opposition views are also facing grave difficulties.

A1 TV, which also faces alleged tax evasion problems, “may also have to cease its work in the coming weeks”, said Mijatovic. “Also of concern are the developments at the last remaining newspaper carrying opposition views, Utrinski Vesnik,” she added.

The management of the daily, one of three owned by Germany’s WAZ media group, last week announced staff cuts that triggered protests among journalists.

The situation has further detoriorated after two journalists got sacked last weekend for allegedly taking part in the protest.

Macedonian Journalists held protests on Monday | Photo by: Balkan Insight

As the country’s Journalist’s Union held a protest march on Monday, in part out of solidarity for their sacked colleagues, the daily sacked three more journalists.

The management has not commented on the reasons for the sackings. But the union said it suspected it was part of a growing crackdown on journalists and media seen as critical of Nikola Gruevski's centre-right government.

As for A1, the TV station has this week drastically reduced its news bulletins, stopping reports from its own journalists and conveying only brief agency news.

A1 and the three dailies that closed have been under investigation for alleged tax evasion and money laundering since late 2010. Their bank accounts have been frozen since January leaving them with almost no means to continue production.
 
Together, they have been ordered by the State Revenue Office to pay more than 10 million euros in back taxes. An installment payment plan was rejected by the Public Revenue Office.

Meanwhile, A1 editor in chief Mladen Cadikovski denied media speculations that the station is actively searching for buyers who could pay off the debt to the state and keep the station alive. Allegedly, the station was up for sale for 25 million euros.

Owner Velija Ramkovski has been under detention since December and is currently being trialed for alleged large scale financial crime.

Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and his centre-right VMRO DPMNE party deny any involvement.