Smear Campaign Targets BIRN Journalists in Macedonia

BIRN journalists have been targeted on social networks in Macedonia in connection to Tuesday's attacks on journalist and cameraman in Skopje who were beaten up while covering a pro-VMRO DPMNE rally.

After BIRN Macedonia journalists published news and tweeted about the attack some Twitter users with generic nicknames accused BIRN journalists of being traitors and mercenaries.

Twitter users with hidden identity took to social networks to defend the VMRO-DPMNE supporters rally claiming that reports of the apparently unprovoked attack were media spin and to blame the victims of the attack for having provoked the crowd.

One user without a name went further, however, and - in what looked like an incitement to violence - published the home address of one of the BIRN journalists with a map.

The case has been reported to Twitter and to the country's Helsinki Committee for Human Rights who are filing a report with the Ministry of Interior's department for computer crime.  The Association of Macedonian Journalists, ZNM, has also been notified.

"We are closely following and documenting all attacks and smear campaign and will accordingly alert relevant institutions and journalists' associations," Ana Petruseva, director of BIRN Macedonia, said.

"Regardless of attacks and threats, BIRN will continue with its investigative reporting and work in the public interest. This campaign further proves the significance of BIRN's work," she added.

Civil society groups in Macedonia have faced increasing pressure, from smear campaigns to raids by tax inspectors, ever since the ruling VMRO-DPMNE party in December vowed to rid Macedonia of the influence of NGOs linked to billionaire George Soros, a process it has called "De-Soros-ization".