The Association of European Journalists is deeply concerned about recent developments in Macedonia, where the investigative journalist Tomislav Kezarovskiis being held in custody and made to reveal his sources for an article that he wrote in 2008, in which he revealed the identity of a witness in a murder case.
It is unacceptable for a country which seeks recognition of its democratic standards and accession to the European Union to use its judicial system to harass and threaten journalists in this way. Macedonia (FYROM) is currently ranked 116 in the latest Press Freedom Index of Reporters Without Borders, where it dropped from 94th place just a year before.
That decline signals a rapid deterioration of the media environment in the country, and the plight of Mr Kezarovski demonstrates the lack of necessary protections for journalists there.
The AEJ expresses its support to our colleague and his family, and calls on the Macedonian government to drop the case and to release Mr Kezarovski without delay.