The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS) strongly condemns the insults and defamation that Siniša Vučinić, a member of the Main Board of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), directed at the media N1, Nova, Danas and Vreme, as well as at editor-in-chief Filip Švarm, via Instagram.
In his posts, Vučinić labelled these outlets as “terrorist and fascist media” that “promote and incite evil,” called Filip Švarm a “proven Ustasha and pedophile,” and urged “resistance to the blockaders and the pro-NATO opposition,” branding them “traitors of the Serbian people, potential killers, Ustaše and terrorists.”
IJAS recalls that any hate speech in the public sphere is unacceptable—especially when it takes the form of labeling by senior public officials of the ruling party. Such rhetoric fosters intolerance, normalizes violence, directly endangers the safety of journalists and newsrooms, and must carry consequences under the law.
Calling out journalists and media “by name and surname” with qualifiers that criminalize them oversteps the bounds of freedom of expression and aims to delegitimize and intimidate them. Journalists must be protected from all forms of threats, pressure, and hate speech, and it is the responsibility of institutions to ensure conditions in which they can work safely in the public interest.
IJAS calls on all political actors to refrain from targeting journalists and to lead by example in fostering a culture of dialogue and respect for media freedom. We insist that public officials be held accountable for their words, as their statements strongly shape the social climate and can incite attacks on journalists.
Media freedom and the safety of journalists must not be subject to political relativization. They are essential preconditions for a democratic society, and any undermining of these values directly threatens citizens’ right to truthful and impartial information.
September 24, 2025
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS)
