The Union of Professional Journalists of Romania (UZPR) is protesting assault of fellow journalists who were subjected to some acts of violence.
"UZPR reminds the public opinion that, in the last period, the attacks on the media intensified, which came from several directions, including from some extremist politicians, who brought unqualifiable insults and uttered threats to our colleagues, thus positioning in a direction that is not only antisocial and under the scope of criminal legislation from Romania, but defying, through reprehensible acts, the public's right to be informed. As a supporter of freedom of expression, UZPR is, at the same time, a militant for full freedom of the press and cannot accept violent demonstrations against media representatives who exercises his profession, firmly speaking out against any manifestations of violence, abuse, harassment or threats to which calls people who defy the law against journalists", reads a press release of the organization, sent to AGERPRES on Friday and signed by the president of the Union, Sorin Stanciu.
According to the quoted source, "UZPR is fully in solidarity with colleagues from the press who have been assaulted by public or private persons, supports the actions of the authorities against these manifestations of violence and reiterates its belief that Romanian society cannot function in the most democratic way without a strong press, free and without journalists to work in complete safety, in the interest informing public opinion".
On Friday, Bucharest gendarmes identified two people involved in assaulting some journalists who were transmitting information from the protest organized in front of the Constitutional Court of Romania.
"During the public protest meeting, around 12:00, a group of people went to the area where the live broadcast teams of some television stations were stationed, with the aim of expressing their dissatisfaction with the way they present certain information to public opinion", informed the press office of the General Directorate of Gendarmerie of the Municipality of Bucharest (DGJMB).
The gendarmes noticed these acts of aggression and intimidation, which is why they intervened to stop them and apply the necessary legal measures.