SEEMO Condemns the Detention of two Journalists in Northern Greece
Vienna, 22 August 2011-The Vienna-based South East Europe Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press
Institute (IPI), condemns the detention of two journalists in northwestern Greece.
On 16 August 2011, the Skopje-based journalists, Goran Momirovski of Kanal 5 television and Milena Gjorgjievska, a
journalist with the daily Vest, accompanied a group of senior citizens from the Republic of Macedonia/Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, who were trying to obtain their birth certificates in Florina, northwestern Greece. These
citizens, born in Greece, live in the Republic of Macedonia/Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Momirovski told SEEMO that he was filming the people who tried to get their documents and did not film any public
buildings. Gjorgjievska did not film anything. They were detained in the street and held for two hours while police
reviewed the filmed material in order to make sure no public buildings were filmed.
“It is not acceptable that police detain journalists in the street in a democratic country. I urge the Greek authorities
to respect international standards for media freedom and guarantee foreign journalists the right to work freely in
Greece,” said Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General.
ENDS