The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS) strongly condemns the threats made against the editorial staff of the Volim Zrenjanin news portal, its editor Aleksandar Blanuša, and Zoomer journalist Darko Gligorijević. IJAS calls on the competent authorities to urgently take all measures within their remit.
The threats against the Volim Zrenjanin editorial staff and editor Aleksandar Blanuša were initially posted on the portal in a comment beneath the article “Citizens’ Assemblies: Beer Days Boycott Is Yielding Results.” A person using the name “Dejan” posted a threatening comment stating, among other things: “There is no cure for you, only a bullet.”
Shortly afterwards, according to the editorial staff, the portal’s editor received a phone call from a man who identified himself by his full name. During the conversation, he made a series of threats and invited Blanuša to come to an address in Zrenjanin that he dictated to him, threatening to “smash his head.” He also made other vulgar threats and insults against his family.
The editorial staff possesses an audio recording of the telephone conversation, and the portal’s editor immediately notified the competent prosecutor’s office, the duty prosecutor and the police. The recording of the conversation, the threatening comment and other information available to the editorial staff were provided to the police.
The suspect was soon taken into custody, and IJAS calls on the competent authorities to sanction, in accordance with the law, the person who made these threats, which endanger the journalist’s safety.
Zoomer journalist Darko Gligorijević was also threatened following his appearance on N1 television and the publication of part of the interview on Instagram. A person using the account “natasatrifkanovic” wrote in a comment: “People, do you actually believe this idiot? He is digging his own grave with these statements,” followed by: “How are you not ashamed to come to our town of Dubovac and then spread lies? Oh, just come again and see what will happen to you.”
IJAS considers this manner of communication unacceptable. Journalists are there to report on matters of public interest, while messages threatening them because of their work constitute a serious form of intimidation and an attempt to prevent them from performing their work freely and professionally.
Threats and intimidation against journalists constitute a serious form of pressure that jeopardises their safety and their right to work freely. The absence of a swift and effective institutional response further emboldens perpetrators and creates space for new and even more serious attacks. The intimidation of journalists is a direct attack on media freedom, as it jeopardises their safety and creates an atmosphere of fear that can seriously hinder or prevent them from carrying out their work without obstruction and reporting to the public on matters of public interest.
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia
Belgrade, 11 August 2026
