In a short time he tried to hamper the work of the journalists of the Argia Police and HALA BEDI in Vitoria-Gasteiz. On May 7, a local police officer in Vitoria-Gasteiz prevented an ARGIA journalist from taking pictures of a family-related police operation on a floor of Olarizu Avenue. On 8 May, the Ertzaintza intercepted a journalist from Hala Bedi who was reporting protests against the eviction of the feminist space TALKA and withdrew his mobile phone.

As was announced at the time, the two media have filed complaints in the Union and in the Ararteko, denouncing the attitude of the police and demanding responsibilities. Complaints are supported by the Basque College of Journalists (KEE) and the Basque Association of Journalists (EKE). In press releases published in May by both organizations, both journalists "strongly" denounced the Police's threats as "actions contrary to the right to report".

Both institutions have been asked to assess the cases and to know whether the Police has opened an internal investigation into what has happened. The Trustee and Ararteko have also been asked to clarify whether any citizen can take pictures of the police working in the public space, as it is important to clarify the legislation to avoid threats such as those received by journalists from ARGIA and HALA BEDI.

Commitment to continue reporting

We will continue to report. It is not the first time that the police have violated the right to information and journalists in Euskal Herria and in the world. It is not the first time that journalists from ARGIA and HALA BEDI have been persecuted. We said this in the face of the attempts to censure the past, and today we are ratifying it: we will continue to report.

Freedom of information and expression are fundamental rights. Critical monitoring of the activity of power and police work should be the day to day of a healthy society. As long as this is not the case, the independent media that testifies to abuses are particularly necessary.