The Coalition for Media Freedom strongly condemns the attack on the premises of the Independent Journalists’ Association of Vojvodina (Nezavisno društvo novinara Vojvodine -NDNV) in Novi Sad and calls on the competent institutions to conduct a thorough investigation, determine the motive for the attack, and sanction the perpetrators.
According to the first, unofficial information, unknown persons broke into the premises of NDNV, which are located in the Sports and Business Center of Vojvodina, known as Spens, last night around 11 pm.
According to this association, the police were on the scene and conducted an investigation, and the burglary was reported by Spens security, who heard the alarm. It was established that the burglary was carried out through the storage area, and traces were also found.
The president of NDNV, Ana Lalić, did not rule out the possibility that this is a continuation of the regime’s persecution of members of that association.
“NDNV does not want to prejudge the motive for this break-in. However, given that we have been targeted for months and that our members have been exposed to brutal hate campaigns, we cannot rule out the possibility that it has something to do with it,” said Ana Lalić.
She added that NDNV continues to work as it has done so far.
The Coalition for Media Freedom and Association of Independent Electronic Media (AIEM) strongly condemns the attack on the premises of the Independent Journalists’ Association of Vojvodina.
The journalists of this association are under constant pressure from the ruling regime, whose supporters threaten them every day, and there is a possibility that this is another in a series of intimidation.
The cases of threats are not resolved by punishing the perpetrators, which sends the message that attacking independent journalists is permissible and even desirable.
The Coalition for Media Freedom and AIEM calls on the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia to conduct a detailed investigation, and the competent judicial authorities to determine the motives and adequately punish the perpetrators.
We also appeal to the authorities to resolve all cases of threats and stop the persecution of NDNV journalists.
We warn that their security is extremely vulnerable.
The Coalition for Media Freedom and Association of Independent Electronic Media (AIEM)
Belgrade, February 22, 2025
The Coalition for Media Freedom: the Association of Media, the Association of Online Media (AOM), the Independent Journalists’ Association of Vojvodina (NDNV), the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS), the Business Association of Local and Independent Media “Local Press”, the Slavko Curuvija Foundation and Branch Trade Union of Culture, Arts and Media ‘Nezavisnost’
