The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS) strongly condemns the attack on Fonet journalist Sofija Vukajlović, which occurred yesterday in front of the Serbian National Assembly, in full view of the police — who failed to react.
While she was filming tents being lifted by the wind in front of the Assembly, the journalist was approached by two men who are staying in the camp in Pionirski Park. They threatened her and demanded that she delete the footage. Vukajlović stated that one of the men grabbed her shoulder and said, “Delete the footage, I want to see it — it’s better for you,” while the other asked which media outlet she worked for and said he “wanted to know which scum was filming them.”
She told them that it was a public space and that she had the right to film, after which the men walked away. Several police officers who were present did not intervene but instead took statements about the tents blown down by the wind from the persons present.
Vukajlović told IJAS: “In the moment when the man, holding me by the shoulder, ordered me to delete the footage, I didn’t feel scared. And that is precisely the problem. Most journalists today accept violence, pressure, and open repression as part of the job. That should never be normalized. The area around Pionirski Park and the space in front of the National Assembly have become a sort of ‘forbidden zone’ for journalists. In Pionirski Park, dozens of journalists and media workers have been attacked and intimidated. My question is: Why has Pionirski Park become a no-go zone for the media?”
This is not the first case of an attack on journalists in this area, nor is it the first time that police officers present have failed or refused to respond.
The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS) calls on the competent institutions to urgently and efficiently identify and prosecute the individuals who physically and verbally attacked journalist Sofija Vukajlović. We remind the police and the public prosecutor’s office that it is their duty and responsibility to investigate all individuals who obstruct journalists in the performance of their work, in order to ensure their safety and protect the public’s right to free and truthful information.
What is especially concerning is the frequent inaction of the police in response to reports from journalists and do not provide them with adequate protection, and we are also witnessing numerous cases of attacks on journalists by police officers themselves. This further encourages a culture of impunity and seriously endangers journalists’ safety. For this reason, we once again call on the Ministry of Internal Affairs to end this practice, to begin acting in accordance with the law, and to initiate proceedings against its members who fail to fulfill their legal obligations or abuse their powers.
IJAS expresses full support to our colleague, as well as for all other journalists and media workers who in recent days have faced numerous attacks, pressures, threats, and insults — both on the ground and online.
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia
Belgrade, July 8, 2025
