OSCE reacts to denial of accreditation for Serbian media at Kosovo Assembly session

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo emphasized the critical role of media access to public institutions, calling it a cornerstone of media freedom and information accessibility. This stance came in response to the Kosovo Assembly's decision to deny accreditation to certain Serbian-language media outlets for its constitutive session, even though they had submitted their documentation on time.

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Media access to public institutions is a key component of media freedom and access to information.

The OSCE stressed the importance of timely and transparent accreditation procedures to enable journalists to perform their duties effectively in the public interest. The Association of Journalists of Serbia, along with its Kosovo branch, voiced strong protest against the Assembly's move. The Deputy Ombudsman of Kosovo, Srđan Sentić, urged relevant authorities to ensure that accreditation processes are based on clear, objective, and non-discriminatory criteria.

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The OSCE Mission in Kosovo emphasizes the importance of timely and transparent accreditation procedures so that journalists can effectively perform their duties in the public interest.

Ivana Vanovac, president of the Society of Journalists of Kosovo and Metohija, deemed the denial of accreditation to "Kosovo Online" and RTS unacceptable. She criticized the institutions for what she described as an "ignoring attitude" towards media outlets reporting in the Serbian language.

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The relevant authorities should ensure that accreditation procedures are based on clear, objective, and non-discriminatory criteria.