Belgrade, March 29, 2026 – The journalistic section of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists (Stalna radna grupa – SRG) calls on the Ministry of Interior to identify and detain all individuals who, since this morning, on the day of local elections in 10 cities and municipalities across Serbia, have physically attacked journalists and citizens.
During the first few hours after polling stations opened, numerous attacks were recorded against students, observers, journalists, and citizens by masked individuals or groups of men dressed in black. According to eyewitness accounts, police intervened each time to maintain public order and peace, but it is not known whether they have so far identified or detained the attackers.
Among those attacked is Zoomer journalist Darko Gligorijević, who was assaulted in Bajina Bašta while reporting from the field. Unknown individuals first attempted to take his phone, then punched him in the head and sprayed him with pepper spray, despite his stating that he was a journalist. Reporters from Mašina, Blokada Info, and Politički Globus Srbije were also exposed to incidents in Bajina Bašta. Ivana Marsenić, a freelance journalist holding a NUNS press card, had her equipment confiscated while reporting, and the vehicle of the Insajder team had its tires slashed.
On the other hand, members of the police, instead of protecting and enabling journalists to report safely from the local elections and the unhindered implementation of the electoral will of the citizens, took Revolt journalist Ivan Bjelić into custody this morning, claiming that a “warrant had been issued” for him. We demand that the police immediately release Bjelić and publicly disclose the reasons for his detention.
Journalistic and media associations call on the competent authorities to immediately begin performing their duties and ensure that election day in 10 cities and municipalities proceeds peacefully and without incidents until polling stations close, and that all individuals who obstruct media representatives in their work and the implementation of the citizens’ electoral will are prosecuted.
We remind that journalists reporting from the field have access to dedicated hotline numbers: the ANEM Safe Line 0800 100 115, the emergency phone of the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS) 060 688 22 31, while journalists can contact the Journalists’ Association of Serbia (UNS) at 062 530 337 and 064 941 04 89.
We call on all journalists, media workers, and representatives of the media to report any threats, pressure, attacks, or other forms of obstruction and endangerment to their safety to these phone numbers. All information will be communicated and forwarded to the on-duty members of the Permanent Working Group (SRG), who are in contact with contact points in the police and prosecution offices.
The Permanent Working Group (SRG), established in January 2017, consists – alongside representatives of the Supreme Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia – of six journalists’ and media associations: the Journalists’ Association of Serbia (UNS), the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS), the Independent Journalists’ Association of Vojvodina (NDNV), the Media Association (AM), the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM), and the Online Media Association (AOM), as well as the OSCE Mission to Serbia in an observer capacity.
