The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS) strongly condemns the verbal attack and campaign of intimidation directed at journalist Dejana Cvetković during yesterday’s gathering in Surdulica, as well as the targeting of the Bujanovačke portal by a local public official.
During the protest in Surdulica, journalist Dejana Cvetković was subjected to sexist insults, publicly called out, warned that certain individuals possessed her phone number, and her profile was shared in a controversial Viber group where calls for lynching were made. Such behavior constitutes unacceptable pressure and an attempt to intimidate a journalist because of her professional work.
We emphasize that no one has the right to endanger the safety of journalists or to expose them to public lynching because of the content of their reporting.
If individuals or groups believe that certain reporting is inaccurate or unprofessional, legal and ethical mechanisms are available to them – including the right to request a correction or publish a response. Reasoned and lawful means are the only acceptable way to express disagreement, not pressure, threats, or incitement to a new campaign of lynching.
We recall that the journalist was reporting on events and messages voiced at protests organized following a traffic accident involving a young man from Prizren, a relative of a local businessman, in which Surdulica resident Rastko Jović lost his life. In her reporting, in accordance with professional standards, she conveyed the calls for persecution and expressions of national intolerance that could be heard, as well as the views of the arrested young man’s family, including an interview with the aforementioned businessman.
Attacks, especially those involving sexist messages, public targeting, and the sharing of personal data, represent serious pressure on media freedom and the safety of journalists. We call on the competent institutions to take measures in accordance with the law, in order to send a clear message that attacks on media workers are unacceptable.
In addition, the Bujanovačke portal was the target of hate speech, being labeled a “Ustaše” and “Picula’s” portal that is “paid to spit on its own country.” Following the publication of the article “Our Special Units at the Competition in Dubai: It Is Important to Participate,” Saša Arsić, a councilor of the ruling coalition in Bujanovac, shared the article on his Facebook profile and made a series of the aforementioned claims. In another post, again targeting the Bujanovačke portal, Arsić also shared a photograph with the acting director of the Government’s Coordination Body for Southern Serbia and the head of the Serbian Progressive Party in Bujanovac. Among other things, he wrote: “The Ustaše portals did not understand the message, so let me repeat… As I announced, the Ustaše portals will start justifying the money they received; for good money they will publish all kinds of nonsense, and the fact that they sell Serbia and Serbianhood for Ustaše money shows who and what they are.”
Such targeting of media outlets by high-ranking officials constitutes a serious violation of the right to freedom of expression and endangers the safety of journalists, particularly in the case of local media in smaller communities where journalists and their families are less protected.
We remind that violent narratives by public officials, combined with the failure of competent institutions to respond, normalize hate speech against the media and encourage further exposure of journalists to pressure and attacks.
IJAS calls on all public office holders to refrain from publicly targeting and engaging in violence against the media and journalists, and reminds them that they are obliged to tolerate the expression of critical opinions (Law on Public Information and Media, Article 8).
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia
Belgrade, February 15, 2026
