The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) condemned and described as dangerous Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic’s statement that, at the November 1 rally in Novi Sad, “no one will provoke violence except for journalists to whom journalistic associations distribute helmets.” This rhetoric has once again been echoed by pro-government tabloids, ANEM said.
In response to a question regarding the upcoming commemorative gathering in Novi Sad, marking the first anniversary of the canopy collapse at Novi Sad Train Station, for which the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS) and the Journalists’ Association of Serbia (UNS) said they will be providing journalists with equipment such as helmets and press vests, Vucic said in Uzbekistan that those journalists “might be going to Sudan.”
“They want to see wars and conflicts. They can provoke one-time violence, after which they’ll all be arrested. They are well aware that no one else will incite violence except for them. We have bigger problems than their boring tricks,” Vucic said.
The Serbian President is thus indirectly inciting violence against journalists, especially at rallies where they are constantly under attack, including from the police who are supposed to protect them.
ANEM said that in recent years, particularly after November 1 of last year, the safety of journalists in Serbia has reached a concerning level, directly influenced by incendiary statements against critical media from, primarily, the President of the state and other high-ranking officials.
“Such statements have provided ‘fuel to the fire’ for pro-regime tabloids and national television stations to continue negative campaigns and target certain journalists, leading to a record number of threats, pressures, and physical assaults on representatives of professional and critical media in the first ten months of 2025,” ANEM said.
According to the records of the Slavko Curuvija Foundation, in September alone, representatives of the authorities verbally attacked journalists 141 times, while Reporters Without Borders recorded 89 physical assaults in the past year.
“We therefore appeal once again to representatives of the authorities to immediately cease targeting and negative campaigns against critical media and journalists, as such statements can have dangerous consequences for the safety of these individuals and their families. We also recall that in just August and September, there were 22 attacks on journalists by the police while they were reporting from public gatherings, making it all the more justified for journalistic and media associations to take care of the journalistic community and provide them with adequate assistance, support, and equipment in such situations,” ANEM said.
It noted that media reporting on protests as events of public interest is one of the fundamental tasks and roles of journalism in democratic societies, adding that “we consider any accusations against the media for inciting violence, obstructing field work, and physical violence to be unacceptable.”
“We once again call on representatives of international organizations and the European Commission to condemn this dangerous rhetoric from the President of the state, which is used almost daily against journalists and those unlike minded. We urge all journalists and media representatives to regularly report any kind of threats to their safety while performing their work. All journalists have access to the free, non-stop Safe Line telephone number (0800 100 115), where media representatives can receive explanations regarding the legal treatment of offenses and the procedures that should be initiated to report threats to safety to the relevant institutions, police, and prosecution,” ANEM said.
Source: N1
