Newsroom
Kosovo newspaper sanctioned for breaking electoral rules
PRISTINA 16 November 2001
PRISTINA, 16 November 2001 (OSCE) - Kosovo's Election Complaints and Appeals sub-Commission has sanctioned the Albanian-language newspaper Bota Sot, for a second time during the current election campaign, two days ahead of the province's general assembly election on 17 November.
It follows the publication, on 15 November, of a photograph of the political candidate Flora Brovina. The picture was captioned "Do You Know the People in the Photo?" and the text of the article identified those with her as members of the Serbian secret service. The implication, according to the Election Complaints and Appeals sub-Commission, is that Brovina was complicit with the former Serbian regime.
"These are very severe allegations," said the Chief of the Election Complaints and Appeals sub-Commission, Chief Commissioner Adriaan Stoop. "They were made without proof, substantiation or the right to reply."
Bota Sot is being ordered to publish a retraction and to publish an apology to Ms. Brovina. Each day that goes by without the retraction and the apology being published will mean a further 1,000 DM fine, to a maximum of 10,000 DM.
The newspaper, which is published in Switzerland, paid an earlier 2,750 DM fine for breaking the election rule, which demands equitable coverage of all political entities.
It follows the publication, on 15 November, of a photograph of the political candidate Flora Brovina. The picture was captioned "Do You Know the People in the Photo?" and the text of the article identified those with her as members of the Serbian secret service. The implication, according to the Election Complaints and Appeals sub-Commission, is that Brovina was complicit with the former Serbian regime.
"These are very severe allegations," said the Chief of the Election Complaints and Appeals sub-Commission, Chief Commissioner Adriaan Stoop. "They were made without proof, substantiation or the right to reply."
Bota Sot is being ordered to publish a retraction and to publish an apology to Ms. Brovina. Each day that goes by without the retraction and the apology being published will mean a further 1,000 DM fine, to a maximum of 10,000 DM.
The newspaper, which is published in Switzerland, paid an earlier 2,750 DM fine for breaking the election rule, which demands equitable coverage of all political entities.