Greek Journalist Union ESHEA condemned death threats against Lefteris Charalambopoulos, reporter of monthly magazine UNFOLLOW , who recently published a report about oil smuggling. In a statement ESHEA condemned the threats against Charalambopoulos, stressing “an increase of dangerous pressure and threats against journalists”. At the same time, ESHEA calls on all relevant bodies in charge to take the necessary measures and protect journalists in their exercise of their profession. “The state must immediately move drastically and take effective measures to protect journalists, before it’s too late,” the ESHEA statement concluded.
According to UNFOLLOW reporters, short after publishing a story about shipping oil smuggling in Greece, the author received a phone call by somebody who introduced himself using the name of the owner of one of the companies allegedly involved in the scandal.
During the phone call that lasted 20 minutes, the caller repeatedly and openly threatened the reporter and his family saying among others that ‘not even a prosecutor could save him.” The phone number was identified to have been made from the phone number of the company allegedly involved. The threats were heard also by two collegues of the reporter.
The report was published on January 31st 2013, the threat phone call was received one day later.
