The independent trade union of journalists and media workers of Macedonia (SSNM) has responded in writing to the police brutality exerted on Wednesday night over a journalist and a photo reporter during the clashes between protesters and special police units.
"SSNM is appalled by the police conduct during last night's protests in Skopje, in which a journalist and a photo reporter were injured, and our colleagues were dragged, pushed around and excessive force and arrogance was used against them. In a situation when dozens of attacks over reporter teams have not been cleared out, and the perpetrators have not been discovered, last night's events have confirmed once more that journalism in this country suffers a treatment of enemy activities and that journalists, cameramen and photo reporters are an easy target of thugs, regardless if they wear a uniform or not," the SSNM press release reads.
Officials with the trade union say that this time they will not make vain calls but informs that, in relation to the events, they will examine all legal opportunities to launch criminal charges against the special police units for an unknown perpetrator and the Interior Ministry's internal control department.
SSNM adds that they will submit a report to all relevant journalist organizations that note and rank the media condition in Macedonia and across the world.
"With last night's attacks over the journalists, Macedonia has slipped several levels down of the scale of media freedom," the independent trade union stresses.