The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) said it condemns in the strongest of terms the verbal attack, insults, and threats received yesterday in Novi Pazar by Fahrudin Kladnicanin, editor of the portal Hava.rs and director of the Academic Initiative Forum 10, which were also recorded in the official memorandum of the Novi Pazar Police Department.
An unknown individual directed politically motivated remarks at Kladnicanin, insulting him and accusing him of being “sent from Belgrade to spread politics,” along with a series of curses, insults, and threatening messages. When Kladnicanin attempted to walk away, the assailant continued the verbal assault, making threats and insults related to his journalistic and public engagement.
“The situation further escalated when Kladnicanin tried to give a statement to Blic TV. According to him, a group of young men gathered around the assailant, after which the insults and threats continued, including messages that he would ‘see what will happen to him’ when he goes out onto the street. Kladnicanin clearly stated in his report at the police station in Novi Pazar that he was present at the scene solely in his capacity as a journalist and not as a private individual,” ANEM said.
The Association said it has reported these threats to the prosecutor’s office and that it calls on the relevant authorities to promptly identify and initiate proceedings against the person who threatened Kladnicanin.
“The police and the prosecutor’s office must also act preventively to prevent physical attacks and to ensure that the threat received by this journalist is not realized. Threats and verbal assaults against media representatives are unacceptable in democratic societies, and the relevant institutions are obligated to protect all media representatives reporting from the field and to prosecute anyone who jeopardizes their safety in any way,” ANEM emphasized.
Source: N1
