Jadranka Kostova case: Lustration process should not be tool to supress critical voices, says OSCE Representative

VIENNA, 31 March 2015 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today expressed concern over a decision by the Data Verification Commission in Skopje to declare Jadranka Kostova, editor-in-chief of weekly magazine Fokus, a secret services informant from1993 to 1996.

In a letter to Commission President Tome Adziev, the Representative said she did not question lustration, but added that it should not be used as a tool to supress critical voices.

“Taking into account that Fokus already is under pressure, including a number of civil defamation lawsuits with excessively high damage awards against the magazine and its journalists, the Commission’s decision could be seen as pressuring the magazine, endangering the media outlet and, consequently, having a chilling effect on media freedom in your country,” Mijatović wrote.

The Representative said she would continue to watch the matter closely for further developments which may have a negative effect on free expression and free media.