SKOPJE -- An investigative journalist in Macedonia has been imprisoned for revealing the identity of a witness in a murder case in a sentencing that has raised questions of press freedom in the country.
The Skopje First Basic Court on October 21 sentenced Tomislav Kezarovski to 4 1/2 years in jail.
Kezarovski, who worked for the "Nova Makedonija" daily, was arrested in May for an article he wrote in 2008. Investigators say he revealed the identity of a protected witness in a murder case in the article.
Kezarovski insists the witness did not have protected status at the time when he wrote the article.
The OSCE's representative on freedom of the media, Dunja Mijatovic, condemned Kezarovski's sentencing and demanded his immediate release. According to Mijatovic, Kezarovski is the only journalist in detention in Southeastern Europe.
The Skopje First Basic Court on October 21 sentenced Tomislav Kezarovski to 4 1/2 years in jail.
Kezarovski, who worked for the "Nova Makedonija" daily, was arrested in May for an article he wrote in 2008. Investigators say he revealed the identity of a protected witness in a murder case in the article.
Kezarovski insists the witness did not have protected status at the time when he wrote the article.
The OSCE's representative on freedom of the media, Dunja Mijatovic, condemned Kezarovski's sentencing and demanded his immediate release. According to Mijatovic, Kezarovski is the only journalist in detention in Southeastern Europe.
