MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 22nd January, 2019) The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's (OSCE) Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Desir, condemned on Monday attacks on journalists staged by Greek extremists during the protests against the agreement on the name of Macedonia.
On Sunday, a group of far-right extremists attacked several journalists in Athens while they were covering rallies. One of the targeted journalists is Sputnik stringer Kostis Dadamis, who was hurt and had his camera taken away. The radicals also attacked Thomas Iacobi, a correspondent of various international media outlets, who was a co-author of a documentary about the Greek far-right political party Golden Dawn.
"I strongly condemn these terrible attacks, and urge the Greek authorities to swiftly investigate them ... Journalists must be able to work freely and to cover protests and events of public interest without fear," Desir said.
He pointed out that the OSCE Ministerial Council Decision on Safety of Journalists, which was adopted last December, calls on the organization's member states to publicly and unequivocally condemn any cases of violence against journalists.
"I call on the Greek authorities to do their utmost to swiftly bring the perpetrators to justice as to dissuade future violence, and to ensure that journalists can work safely," Desir noted.
He also vowed to continue to monitor the situation.
Over 60,000 people rallied on Sunday in downtown Athens against the parliament's plan to ratify a deal that will see Greece's neighbor renamed to the Republic of North Macedonia.
Police blamed masked right-wing radicals from the Golden Dawn party for provoking unrest by throwing stones and bottles with flammable liquid at law enforcement officers. Seven protesters were detained following the classes.
