The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS) strongly condemns the new threats and sexist insults directed at women journalists of N1 Television through comments on a website, as well as the targeting and pressure against Bečejski mozaik journalist Kristina Demeter Filipčev. IJAS stresses that these cases fit into a worrying pattern of the normalization of violence, insults, and political pressure against journalists, especially women in journalism.
A user under the account name “ALEN” sent threats to an N1 journalist accompanied by sexist insults, while a user under the account name “Vid,” commenting on a report about a citizens’ protest in Bački Petrovac held on the occasion of the President of the Republic’s visit, wrote that he wanted an N1 journalist to approach him and that he would “gladly shove the microphone into her mouth so she wouldn’t know what hit her…”. Such content constitutes threats, an unacceptable spread of hatred, and a direct incitement to violence against women journalists, and at the same time represents an attempt to intimidate and prevent the media from doing their work in the public interest. IJAS has already reported these threats and expects a swift and effective response from the competent authorities.
IJAS reminds the public that threats, especially sexualized and gender-based ones, aim to humiliate, silence, and push women in journalism out of the public sphere. Any relativization of such messages further normalizes violence and endangers the safety of media professionals.
IJAS also condemns the targeting of Bečejski mozaik journalist Kristina Demeter Filipčev by the President of the Municipality of Bečej, Vuk Radojević, during the last two sessions of the Municipal Assembly of Bečej, held on 24 November and 23 December 2025. From the assembly rostrum, Radojević accused and singled out the journalist, suggesting her political bias and calling her professional integrity into question, knowing that, although she reported from the session, she had no opportunity to respond to him.
On that occasion, among other things, he stated: “Kristina, please make sure to note this as well, since it is of essential importance for the citizens of the Municipality of Bečej when it comes to the district heating system. If you find it uninteresting, I completely understand. These affirmative topics do not interest you,” while on another occasion he said: “With the new project, the municipality’s money was spent, large amounts of the Municipality of Bečej’s money. Feel free to write this down, Kristina, because you also supported these options back then.”
The continuous practice of certain officials and public office-holders who verbally attack journalists, insult them, and publicly target them creates an atmosphere in which threats and attacks are perceived as “permissible,” and the media are treated as enemies, directly endangering freedom of expression and citizens’ right to be informed.
It is particularly concerning that the Bečejski mozaik newsroom is frequently exposed to insults and threats through comments on its Facebook page. The latest ones were posted under the YouTube video “Women Journalists Under Attack,” in which Kristina Demeter Filipčev speaks.
We call on the competent authorities, primarily the prosecutor’s office and the police, to urgently identify those behind these threats and to initiate proceedings without delay, in accordance with the law. We also insist that not only these cases, but all previous cases of threats and attacks against journalists be resolved effectively, because the practice of dismissing reports or failing to act sends a dangerous message of impunity and encourages those who threaten journalists and incite violence.
IJAS calls on all public actors, including politicians and state officials, to stop targeting journalists and to refrain from public statements that fuel hostility toward the media.
Free and safe journalism is not a privilege of journalists, it is a prerequisite for a democratic society. Institutions must demonstrate that threats are not “comments,” but criminal offences, and that every attack on journalists will have clear consequences.
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS)
Belgrade, December 24, 2025
- Correction: The sentence “From the assembly rostrum, Radojević accused and singled out the journalist, suggesting her political bias and calling her professional integrity into question, even though the journalist was not present at the session” has been amended as follows: “From the assembly rostrum, Radojević accused and singled out the journalist, suggesting her political bias and calling her professional integrity into question, knowing that, although she reported from the session, she had no opportunity to respond to him.”
