The KoSSev media news outlet received a warning from the two police officers of the Kosovo Police North Mitrovica station, before the launch of a possible lawsuit against the media outlet, the portal reported.

Police officer Milan Ristovic and the commander of the North Mitrovica station, Djordje Karamarkovic, in four separate requests, complained about the public (Facebook) comments on the news site, made in regard to their work.

They demanded the comments to be deleted, requested a public apology, financial compensation, and denial, without referring to what should be denied. The editorial staff is also requested to „determine the responsibility of the person who published the comments,“ to issue procedures about publishing comments that „contain defamation and insults“. Finally, the editorial team is requested to have full knowledge on the Civil Law on defamation and insults.

Ristovic and Karamarkovic complained about the comments made by citizens Kusljo Guster and Jovica Aleksic left on the portal through the social network Facebook, and these are cited in the letter received by KoSSev.

If KoSSev fails to meet the four requests in the four separate documents, these civilians, i.e. the police officers, will file a complaint.

Editor’s comment

The editor of the KoSSev portal, Tatjana Lazarević, estimates that this is (another) pressure that is being placed on the free and objective work of the KoSSev portal.

„We have been repeatedly explaining to the police and political officials that citizens and the public do not leave comments on our internet site, but they are posted on the Facebook platform. The address for complaints is therefore Mark Zuckerberg, and not the KoSSev portal. It means that we did not publish the comments as the police officers have cited.

Although we are not directly responsible, we do have editorial intervention via appeals, alerts and warnings. Respecting the full freedom of speech for citizens, the right to comment on the work of public figures, and the policy against censorship of free speech, we still ask the public and individuals not to use hateful language or elements of discrimination on any ground.

Finally, I remind the police officials that in the past three years there have been five attacks carried out against the KoSSev portal and its female reporters – an automatic rifle shooting incident, a car been torched, a physical and verbal attack by an official against a journalist and her property while on duty in the presence of the police, two physical assaults against two journalists and their property on duty, also in the presence of the police and security threats against the family of the Editor. Until now, no case has been brought to court, nor have we information on the course of the investigation despite KoSSev showing such an interest. I expect that the police are equally determined to deal with these cases, as they have engaged themselves with the public’s comments on Facebook,“ Lazarevic stated.