The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS) and the Association of Independent Electronic Media (AIEM) strongly condemn the text published on the Srpski Glas portal, which announces a series of posts with the aim of publicly labeling the media and journalists as “traitors” and “collaborators of the separatists”, because of the way they report on the political and institutional reality in Kosovo.
What is particularly concerning is the fact that Radio Goraždevac, a local and independent media outlet that has been professionally and responsibly informing the community for over two decades in an extremely complex and sensitive environment, has been singled out as the first target of this campaign. The aforementioned portal accuses this media of “betrayal of the country and the people”, calls for its boycott and prosecution of the editor, with the insinuation that they should bear criminal responsibility when Serbia becomes a “state of law”. This is an unequivocal call for lynching, which directly threatens the safety of journalists and seriously violates the fundamental rights to freedom of expression and media freedom.
It is important to emphasize that the Srpski Glas portal is not registered as a media in the register of the Serbian Business Registers Agency (SBRA). Available data show that the site was recently created, and that the domain was leased through the company Superhosting d.o.o. on January 7, 2025. Most of the texts on this portal are unsigned, and the content and tone seem like another in a series of projects designed to intimidate and smear professional journalists and media, such as we have, unfortunately, already seen in the past, such as the Prismotra and Istraga websites.
IJAS and AIEM remind that the use of terms such as “Kosovo president” or “Kosovo government” is part of everyday journalistic and institutional expression, including in the reporting of international organizations, and that journalists have the right, but also a professional obligation, to clearly and precisely name the institutions and actors they report on – without political pressure and fear of consequences.
We call on state authorities to provide protection for journalists who are the target of politically motivated attacks, as well as to investigate the background of the operation of such portals. We also urge citizens not to fall for campaigns aimed at spreading hatred and targeting media that report in the public interest.
IJAS and AIEM express full solidarity with the editorial staff of Radio Goraždevac and remind that without free and safe journalists there is no free society.
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS) and Association of Independent Electronic Media (AIEM)
Belgrade, March 28, 2025
