Civil – Center for Freedom, in coalition with other international organizations for human rights and media freedom, has raised an international campaign for activism through social media, aiming to press forward the case of injustice brought to Macedonian journalist Tomislav Kezharovski, sentenced by Macedonian authorities to 4.5 years prison. Those interested can join the campaign by following the instructions in the text below, or by visiting the webpage http://n-ost.org/news/unser_kollege_kezarovski, which we have published on our website

An international coalition of media organisations and a growing number of concerned European citizens call for the rehabilitation and unconditional release of Macedonian journalist Tomislav Kezarovski.

We ask everybody to support Tomislav Kezarovski and media freedom in Macedonia by expressing your protest on the social media channels of the macedonian authorities in charge. The aim is to make them understand that we monitor the case and that a conviction of Kezarovski will harm Macedonia’s reputation. You will find more background information on the case below.

Please join in…

Please find some ready made posts directed to the people in charge and share them with your networks:

…by posting on the social media accounts of the following people envolved in the case

• on the Facebook account of the macedonian Minister of Justice, Blerim Bexheti

Dear Justice Minister Bexheti, I follow the case of T. Kezarovski and call for his release and rehabilitation. Please respect media freedom. Thank you!

• on the Contact Form of the Court headed by President of the Court, Vladimir Pancevski

Dear President of the Court Pancevski, I follow the case of T. Kezarovski and call for his release and rehabilitation. Please respect media freedom. Thank you!

• on the Linkedin account of the Prosecutor in charge, Marko Zvrlevski

Dear Prosecutor Zvrlevski, I follow the case of T. Kezarovski and call for his release and rehabilitation. Please respect media freedom. Thank you!

… or by using your twitter account: 

• The Macedonian Prime Minister, Nikola Gruevski (who commented on the case)

.@GruevskiNikola, I follow the #Kezarovski case & call for his release and rehabilitation. Pls respect media freedom: http://bit.ly/17P6WHq

• The Vice Prime Minister for EU-Integration, Fatmir Besimi,

.@Fatmir_Besimi, I follow the #Kezarovski case & call for his release and rehabilitation. Pls respect media freedom: http://bit.ly/17P6WHq

Background

The Macedonian journalist Tomislav Kezarovski was arrested in May 2013 and was held in detention under harsh conditions for six months.

He is accused of revealing the identity of a protected witness in an article he wrote in 2008 for the “Reporter 92” magazine. However, with his article Kezarovski simply uncovered misuse of police authority in a murder case: Later the protected witness told a court that his testimony regarding the murder was false and was made under threats from the police. With his report in 2008 Kezarovski thus clearly acted in public interest.

It is also notable that prior to his arrest Kezarovski was investigating the dubious death of Nikola Mladenov, a Macedonian publisher and editor of an independent media outlet.

End of October 2013 Kezarovski was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison. This verdict has to become legally binding by a final court decision within 60 days. On 6 November the court ruled that Kezarovski was transferred to in-house custody while waiting for the final verdict.

His case raises general concerns about the state of media freedom in Macedonia.

this campaign is supported by Civil, n-ost, Reporters without Borders (German Section), Scoop and BIRN.