The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS) strongly condemns the attack on Južne vesti journalist Tamara Radovanović, which occurred while she was reporting on the departure of buses transporting participants of the Serbian Progressive Party rally in Niš.
While reporting in the public interest, the journalist was filming citizens whistling in protest at the buses carrying people after the rally. At that moment, an unidentified man approached her, physically pushed her, and attempted to snatch her phone.
Despite a significant police presence at the scene, instead of protecting the journalist and reacting to the attack, officers moved her to the other side of the street. Individuals present told her to step aside, while the man who attacked her told one of the officers: “Move her, she’ll cause trouble.” Rather than intervening against the attacker, a plainclothes officer escorted the journalist away, telling her there was no need to escalate tensions, that she should report the incident at the police station, and that efforts would be made to identify the perpetrator. While the journalist remained on the scene, the police took no action against the attacker.
IJAS expresses serious concern over the fact that, although present at the scene, the police failed to take any measures against the assailant.
This is yet another in a series of incidents where police officers fail to respond adequately when journalists are attacked, sending a dangerous message of impunity for violence against media professionals.
IJAS calls on the competent authorities to immediately identify and prosecute the perpetrator and to impose appropriate sanctions in accordance with the law. We also demand that the Ministry of Interior urgently end the practice of inaction in cases of attacks on journalists and carry out its duties professionally, lawfully, and in service of the public—ensuring journalists the right to report safely and freely on matters of public interest.
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia
Belgrade, May 18, 2025
