During the local elections in Serbia on 29 March, multiple obstructions and physical attacks on journalists by unknown individuals were documented in 10 cities and municipalities, despite them being identified as press. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) and the SafeJournalists Network (SJN) strongly condemn the violence inflicted on journalists and urgently call on law enforcement and prosecutors to promptly identify and arrest those responsible for these attacks.
Among the journalists violently assaulted in Bajina Bašta was Darko Gligorijevic, a journalist for Zoomer. Unknown individuals first tried to take his mobile phone, after which he was hit in the head with fists and sprayed with pepper spray. Reporters from Mašina, Blokada Info and the Serbian Political Globe were as well reportedly subjected to violent behaviours. The vehicle of the Insajder was also targeted, with its tyres punctured, while Ivana Marseni, a freelance journalist, had her camera stolen. Several journalists had their equipment violently stolen or broken, including that of Miroslav Pantovic from Mačva News, Bogatin.
The level of violence escalated in Šarbanovac, near Bor, when Revolt Magazine Ivan Bjelić and Lazar Dinić, who were both recently threatened with death, were severely beaten. As reported by Journalists and media organisations that are part of the Standing Working Group for the Safety of Journalists, Bjelić was attacked by a group of unidentified individuals, who struck him on the body and head, which was filmed by Dinić, after which they attacked him as well. In an attempt to escape, Lazar Dinić fell into the Timok River, where they continued to beat him and forced him to shout ‘Aca President’, in reference to Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. Journalist Zorica Popović, who was reporting with both journalists, was also assaulted, hit twice in the stomach.
Ivan Bjelić and Lazar Dinić were seriously injured and transferred by ambulance to a hospital, where they remained. Bjelić had been arrested earlier that day on the alleged pretext that a warrant had been issued against him.
Other cases of obstruction were documented in Kula. Mina Delić of the Free Press Foundation was attacked twice. She was first insulted by a man, near the ‘Tvrđava’ café, who forcefully grabbed her hand as she was holding her mobile phone. She was also pushed in front of the ‘Nuss’ café and prevented from entering the premises. Also, the journalistic team of the Finnish public service and a Storyteller journalist were likewise obstructed. In a majority of cities and municipalities, filming at polling places was also reportedly denied.
Those documented attacks followed a two-day mission to Serbia that the EFJ joined with its partners from the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) and the Council of Europe’s Platform to Promote the Protection of Journalism. The mission was prompted by an unprecedented level of violence in a hostile environment, mainly perpetrated by state officials through smear campaigns and violent behaviour by law enforcement officers.
Returning to Brussels, the EFJ is deeply shocked by the numerous videos circulating on social media which show law enforcement officers proteting buildings and vehicles where the attackers, carrying baseball bats and metal rods, were located.
“As we stated at the press point that concluded the mission, state officials have a duty to de-escalate the violence and bring impunity to an end before another tragedy occurs. We renew our call on state officials, including Ms Speaker of the National Assembly Ana Brnabić, with whom we met, to condemn all attacks on journalists and ensure law enforcement protects them on the ground, and investigate the attacks to the highest possible legal standard to hold perpetrators accountable,” stated EFJ Press Freedom Monitoring and Communications Officer Camille Magnissalis.
Journalists must be able to do their jobs without hindrance, including covering elections. The events we witnessed yesterday are unacceptable and incompatible with a democratic society.
In light of the violence, we remind journalists that the following hotlines are available to the media reporting from the field: ANEM Safe Line 0800 100 115, Emergency Telephone of the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS) 060 688 22 31, while journalists can contact the Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS) at 062 530 337 and 064 941 04 89.
European Federation of Journalists
SafeJournalists Network
Association of BH journalists
Association of Journalists of Kosovo
Association of Macedonian Journalists
Croatian Journalists’ Association
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia
Trade Union of Media of Montenegro
