Media offices in Kosovo came under attack when a broadcasting station was forced to shut down by government authorities last week and just two days after this incident, another radio station was attacked by gunmen.
“These two nearly simultaneous incidents reveal the highly volatile climate in which media professionals are working in the region,” said Reporters Without Borders condemning the attack.
Local authorities barged into the offices of Radio TV Mitrovica, based in North Kosovo, and forced it to shut down the transmission. Radio TV Mitrovica could have been targeted due to its critical coverage of local issues and its investigative pieces.
Just two days later, gun shots were fired at Radio Kolasin’s office, in the city of Zubin Potok. No one was injured during the firing and the reasons are still unknown.
“We are shocked by the attack on Radio Kolasin,” Reporters Without Borders said in their statement. “Initial investigation indicates that this was a planned assault. We demand that authorities take all measures to guarantee the safety of journalists and their workplaces.”
Kosovo is ranked 87 of 187 on the Reporters Without Borders press freedom index for 2012.
