ZNM asks the Ministry of Internal Affairs to urgently act on threats against Erol Rizaov

The Association of Journalists of Macedonia (ZNM) has asked the Ministry of Internal Affairs to act on what it sees as direct threats and ethnically based insults posted in comments on the official Facebook page of columnist Erol Rizaov.

In an urgent request to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, ZNM emphasizes that some of the comments contain explicit calls for physical violence and death. The association’s reaction includes examples of the content of the comments: ‘will a hero be found to slash this garbage like they slashed the “koso” with a blade to settle it’, as well as: ‘Isn’t there anyone to settle Erol in an expedited way?!’. ZNM adds that in individual messages ethnic insults were also directed at Rizaov.

ZNM expects the Ministry of Internal Affairs to urgently secure and preserve the electronic evidence, to determine the identities of the persons behind the profiles and to assess whether, in the specific case, there are elements of criminal offenses related to threats, incitement or calls for violence and hate speech.

ZNM warns about the seriousness of online threats

“We request that, if such elements are established, the case be without delay forwarded to the competent public prosecutor’s office. Threats against journalists because of their work are a serious blow to freedom of expression and must not be ignored. It is of utmost importance that institutions react in time in such situations and prevent the threats from escalating into violence,” reads ZNM’s reaction.

ZNM recently presented the annual report “Indicators for the Degree of Media Freedom and Index of Journalists’ Safety 2025”. The findings show improved institutional response in some cases of physical attacks, but the association points out that online threats, hate speech, public discrediting, economic insecurity and insufficient efficiency in combating impunity remain serious challenges. ZNM warns that online attacks on journalists often go unpunished, and that female journalists are increasingly targeted with sexist harassment.

Photo: press material from the event