Lithuanian media outlets have condemned violence against reporters during the anti-vaccination protest on Tuesday that descended into a riot.
The statement, translated by the Baltic News Service and published in full below, was signed by LRT, Delfi.lt, 15min.lt, Lrytas.lt, BNS, ELTA, Diena Media News, TV3, LNK, Laisvės TV, Lithuanian Journalists’ Union (LŽS).
"On Tuesday, August 10, journalists, and producers and disseminators of public information, realising the role of the media in modern society and responsibility for their work, came to the Seimas where people protested against the government's planned restrictions for those who have not developed immunity to the coronavirus or do not get tested.
Realising that trust in the media is based on independence, justice, impartiality and professionalism, journalists kept writing articles and reporting live from the scene throughout the day. During the protest, the Lithuanian media interviewed hundreds of participants, and objectively and impartially provided the public with information that protesters wanted to communicate to the public.
Read more: Police detain 26 people during riots outside Lithuanian parliament, 18 officers injured
In the evening, the peaceful process turned into a riot during which our fellow journalists were pushed, had their cameras covered and their working equipment damaged; they were called "rats" and other rude names.
But even in such conditions, media representatives remained at the scene until the end of the riot and suffered as a result of this, as they had bottles and stones thrown at them.
Yesterday [on Tuesday] after 17:00, an unauthorised rally outside the Seimas turned into a riot. The violence that occurred during the rally is shameful and sordid, and it runs counter to all the principles of democracy, as well as the right to inform society. Such incidents are harmful not only to Lithuania's democracy, but also to Lithuania's image in the world.
[Tuesday's] events show that the work of journalists is not safe, especially when the crowd sees the media as an enemy, when they fail to understand the principles of objective journalism, when they fail to express their position on the topic that is being questioned, then the crowd resorts to violence.
Accusations that journalists provoked the riots are unfounded and false. Journalists had been doing their job since the morning, but were attacked and suffered because of this.
Attacks on media representatives are an attempt to intimidate the public and pose a threat to public security and public order. This must be condemned and stopped, because rioters' activities are not an example of citizenship and freedom of expression.
We condemn the use of both physical and emotional violence against journalists. We ask the police to pay attention to the safety of journalists, as the work of journalists is very important in a democracy.
This is the only way society can see what processes are taking place and receive professional, undistorted news. However, the Lithuanian media will not stop working, because we are working for the state [and, for a society that understands its responsibility to the state."
Newsletter
Every Friday morning.
