North Macedonia journalist safety

In mid‑July 2026, the Macedonian Journalists' Association condemned direct threats against reporter Rami Mislimi, who was targeted after publishing an article about Tetovo mayor Albi Qamili. The association called on police and prosecutors to pursue criminal liability and pledged legal support for Mislimi.

Two weeks later, the association released its 2025 annual safety report, noting that while institutional responses to physical attacks have improved, journalists still face pervasive online harassment, hate speech, sexist attacks on women, and economic pressures that endanger media pluralism. The report highlighted unfinished reforms needed to align with the EU Media Freedom Act and called for stronger legal guarantees and protection mechanisms.

Together, the incidents illustrate a continuing pattern of intimidation against individual journalists and systemic vulnerabilities within North Macedonia’s media environment.