The Association of Journalists of Macedonia (ZNM) condemns the aggressive public communication of the current MP and leader of the "Left" political party. Dimitar Apasiev, to the journalist Ljupчоo Zlatev.

On his Facebook page, MP Apasiev, with a public announcement, tends to label and disparage his colleague Zlatev through vulgar insults towards him and with harsh political qualifications for the "Leader.mk" media. Apart from this, the author of the post allows the insults and insults from other users to continue as separate comments by third parties, apparently sympathizers of this political party, according to ZNM.

"Through such inappropriate communication, apart from the attempt to publicly discriminate against the journalist Zlatev and the media in which he works, MP Apasiev publicly provokes other people to share insulting words and threats directed at his colleagues and this media. The fact that these threats, as well as the speech with elements of hatred, remain as a response to MP Apasiev's announcement, they can incite additional hatred and violence towards journalists," the statement reads.

"MP Apasiev has a reputation for publicly reckoning with journalists and media that he doesn't like how they report, and also on several occasions lawsuits have been filed against journalists for processes that he has subsequently lost or withdrawn. We remind you that according to the Criminal Law, whoever promotes or incites hatred, discrimination or violence in public, against any person or group, is a criminal offense and will be punished with imprisonment from one to ten years", says ZNM, from where they announce that the behavior Apasiev will also inform the European Federation of Journalists.