AVMU rejects SDSM allegations of media censorship

The Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services (AVMU) has issued a formal response to accusations made by the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM). The political party alleged that the agency attempted to ban the broadcasting of Venko Filipce’s press conference during an election silence period.

AVMU dismissed these claims as unfounded, stating that the agency was merely performing its legal duty to remind media outlets of the restrictions mandated by the Election Code. According to the agency, Article 76-b, paragraph 3 of the Election Code prohibits the broadcasting of statements from political party representatives during election silence.

The agency clarified that the document in question was an official notification regarding the early mayoral elections in the Brvenica Municipality. AVMU maintained that these reminders are standard institutional practices intended to protect the integrity of the electoral process and do not constitute censorship or an attempt to restrict the right to information.