Mavrovo

Threats, insults and gender-based violence draw little response

Threats to journalist safety remain one of the greatest challenges to media freedom in the Balkans.

In the online environment, this issue is only exacerbated, as demonstrated by the cases BIRN has documented in the reporting period.

Several hundred protesters in western Macedonia - outraged by an 11-day power outage in the depths of winter - blocked electricians from the power company from leaving the region until they fixed the problem.

Media reports said they threatened to destroy local facilities of the power company, EVN, after which police were dispatched to the scene.