N1 and Forbes Serbia staff released a statement supporting fellow staff member Branislav Sovljanski after pro-regime tabloids targeted him over a traffic stop.
Sovljanski was stopped by traffic police and tested for drugs and alcohol. His lawyer said in a written statement that the key document was altered.
“We co-workers at N1 and Forbes are appaled at the dehumanizing campaign by tabloids and some political players against our colleague Branislav Sovljanski. We are very much concerned over the fact that the police stop, test and questioning of our colleague was discussed in tabloid media in violation of all journalistic standards while the competent authorities failed to publish any information or evidence,” the statement said.
It recalled that Sovljanski’s lawyer noted a number of irregularities in the procedures by the competent authorities, including the circumstances of the stop, the way the test was administered and the failure to allow the exercise of his guaranteed rights. “That is why we feel the synchronized action by the police and tabloids which passed sentence immediately on live TV is suspect. We fear that the police was misused as a tool to slur a professional journalist. Bane, we aren’t keeping quiet and you’re not alone,” it said.
Source: N1
