AJM urges Ministry of Internal Affairs to act after violent calls against Milka Smilevska

The Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM) demanded urgent action from the Ministry of Internal Affairs after a Facebook profile named "Vistinata boli" published a photomontage of journalist Milka Smilevska under which several comments included explicit calls for violence.

AJM filed a report and asked for protection measures

AJM says it has reported the case to the police and asked for an immediate review of the posted material, urging authorities to identify and sanction those who left harassing comments and demeaning messages aimed at Smilevska.

The association highlighted one especially explicit comment that accompanied the post: "'Breaking the bones of the whores paid by Soros the Satan.'" AJM described that wording as a direct call to physical violence and stressed that such content represents a serious threat to the journalist’s personal safety and an attempt to intimidate and silence reporters online.

Alongside the criminal report, AJM requested the police to take concrete measures to protect Smilevska’s personal safety, arguing that institutions must not treat such threats as ordinary social-media remarks—particularly when they explicitly encourage physical harm.

AJM added: "Freedom of expression must not be used to justify threats, incitement to violence, personal discrediting and speech that endangers journalists' safety. No disagreement with a journalistic stance, report or professional engagement can be a justification for calling for violence." The association called on the Ministry to act quickly to prevent escalation and to uphold the safety of journalists in the digital space.

Photo: Arhiva