The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS) condemns the new threats directed at Biljana Stepanović, journalist and director of Nova ekonomija magazine and news portal, as well as at Marko Vidojković and Nenad Kulačin, hosts of the show “Dobar, loš, zao” and columnists for the daily newspaper Danas. We call on the competent institutions to identify without delay those behind these messages, assess the level of threat to the journalists’ safety, and take all measures prescribed by law.
Biljana Stepanović received several disturbing and threatening messages via Facebook from an account under the name “Deana Smith”. Among other things, the messages read: “Madam, we will meet… Because of your call to lynch Serbian police officers and their families, we will meet. And now run to that same police and ask for protection. You can write that you were drunk, madam. Because of this, madam. Belgrade, Circle 2, is small. Sooner or later. Madam. You don’t have lieutenants like Staša Zajović. Believe me, madam, we will meet.” The messages came after Biljana Stepanović posted a comment on the social network X concerning the wives of police officers from Valjevo, a screenshot of which was also sent to her in the message. The journalist reported the case to the police and the prosecutor’s office, while the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) filed a report with the Special Department for High-Tech Crime of the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade.
At the same time, a new death threat was directed at Marko Vidojković and Nenad Kulačin. Under an Instagram post on ANEM’s profile concerning previous threats against the two journalists, the account @aleksandar.novitovic67 posted the comment: “Kill them as soon as possible so they stop talking sh**.”
It is particularly concerning that threats against Vidojković and Kulačin continue to recur and are even posted in response to public warnings about the risks to their safety. Such conduct demonstrates that the absence of an effective institutional response and timely security assessments for journalists creates room for further intimidation and an escalation of violent rhetoric against journalists.
IJAS warns that threats against journalists must not be treated as isolated incidents, particularly when they repeatedly target the same individuals or contain indications that violence could be carried out beyond the digital space.
We expect the police and the prosecutor’s office to conduct effective investigations, keep the public informed in a timely manner about their outcomes, and carry out periodic security assessments for journalists who are most at risk. Those who threaten journalists must be held accountable, as prolonged impunity further jeopardises the safety of media workers and contributes to an atmosphere in which threats and violence become an acceptable means of targeting critical voices.
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS)
Belgrade, 17 August 2026
