Media nongovernmental organizations signed a statement by which they express their concern about the use of violence against a filming crew of Jurnal TV channel. The signatories said the crew on March 5 was attacked at the gate of a businessman’s house by a guard who hit the operator with a snow shovel.

“We condemn the violent acts against journalists who are in the line of duty. The law on the freedom of expression stipulates that the media have the task of informing the public about problems of public interest and of conducting journalistic investigations in accordance with their responsibilities,” said the NGOs.

The nongovernmental organizations warn that the deeds or words that affect a person’s dignity are liable to fines, while the intentional hampering of the activity of the mass media or journalists is penalized criminally.

The NGOs request the authorities to take prompt measures to punish those to blame in this case and call on society not to hamper the journalistic investigations of public interest.

The statement was signed by the Independent Journalism Center, the Association of Independent Press, the Electronic Press Association, the Journalistic Investigations Center, the Committee for the Freedom of the Press, the Association of Independent Tele-Journalists and “Acces-Info” Center.