On Friday 28 July, the Kosovan government suspended the broadcasting licence of the Klan Kosova television channel. The government in Pristina (see EUROPE 13230/19) has criticised the country’s main private television channel for presenting the municipalities of Republika Srpska as Serbian towns in its registration certificate.
“This is a violation of our constitution”, commented the Kosovar Ministry of Trade and Industry.
This announcement provoked strong reactions from a number of the country’s journalists - notably from the ranks of the Kosovo Journalists Association - who believe that the government’s move was politically motivated.
The French, German, British, Italian and American embassies also issued a joint statement regretting the government’s decision.
“We are particularly concerned that the revocation of Klan Kosova’s operating licence is a disproportionate decision, which will have repercussions for the plurality of the media in Kosovo”, said the five states. (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)