Regulator, broadcasters speak out against beatings of journalists in Bulgaria
Bulgaria’s broadcast regulator the Council for Electronic Media as well as the Association of Bulgarian Broadcasters and the two public broadcasters have issued statements condeming recent incidents in which investigative reporters were assaulted.
In one incident, a reporter was attacked while trying to interview alleged suspects in a telephone fraud scheme, while in the other, two reporters were seriously assaulted while investigating the illegal drug trade.
In a joint statement, the Association of Bulgarian Broadcasters and public broadcasters Bulgarian National Television and Bulgarian National Radio expressed “infinite indignation” about brutal violations of the right to freedom of information.
“The public and commercial broadcasters in Bulgaria insist on a thorough and effective investigation of all cases of violence against journalists,” the joint statement said.
The statement said that the broadcasters would fight for and affirm the right of journalists to provide information and to fulfil the function of the media to work without any censorship, internal or external.
The Council of Electronic Media, the body established by statute to regulate the broadcast media, said that the incidents were not only crimes against the person but also against all citizens and their constitutional right to information.
The council expressed its belief that Bulgaria’s state institutions would carry out their duties in investigating and punishing the perpetrators and instigators of the crimes and also expressed belief that such crimes would not be tolerated by the public.
There should be further sanctions for attacks on journalists carrying out their duties, the Council for Electronic Media said.
(Photo: Michal Zacharzewski/sxc.hu)
