The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS/IJAS), together with the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), strongly condemns the conduct of law enforcement officers of Serbia’s Ministry of Interior (MUP), who, during last night’s student protest in Novi Sad, used excessive force against students and citizens and obstructed journalists in the performance of their work. Several journalists were attacked, prevented from reporting, or subjected to ID checks and searches without legal grounds.
Among the documented cases by NUNS, Emir Kahrimanović (021.rs) was reporting from the riverside quay as police charged the crowd. In footage he recorded, he can be heard repeatedly stating he is a journalist before falling. Kahrimanović says he tripped while trying to avoid officers running toward the protesters. After he fell, an officer kicked him while he was lying on the grass. “They repeatedly moved toward me even though I kept saying I was a journalist. I was wearing a vest and on several occasions showed my press card and shouted that I’m a journalist,” Kahrimanović said.
Katarina Stevanović (Vreme) was at the same location. Despite wearing a yellow vest clearly marked “PRESS,” police forced her to lie on the ground for about 15 minutes. “I was following people in front of the Faculty of Philosophy. Suddenly, the group started moving. Two police cordons advanced—from the Faculty side and from the quay—pushing us back. We reached the lawn and a fence and could go no further. Some managed to climb over. I had a visible press vest and said I was a journalist. They told me they didn’t care. There were also several EMS workers with us. They asked us, ‘Are you going to start pumping now?’ They made us lie down, hands behind our backs. I asked if I could call my editors; they said no, and that I must not record anything,” she said. After around 15 minutes, they separated her, saying “come on, journalist.” They asked for her press card and ID, took her details, before calling their superiors.
At the University of Novi Sad Rectorate, where students and citizens sought shelter from tear gas, police pushed their way in. People were confined to an amphitheatre, ID-checked and searched; some were detained. Almost the entire team of the student outlet blokada.info was held inside the building. They were isolated from other students and citizens because they were filming; their equipment was seized, and several of them were taken to a police station. They were released after giving a statement to the police.
N1 journalist Ksenija Pavkov was prevented from approaching and filming events despite having credentials and standing in a public space. The N1 cameraman with her had earlier been struck in the head during the protest; injury was avoided thanks to a protective helmet.
A member of the Gendarmerie, during a live broadcast, pushed Nemanja Šarović, leader of the movement “Love Faith Hope,” who was reporting for Zrenjanin-based KTV, grabbed his microphone, threw it, and broke it, as clearly visible in videos shared on social media. During the protest, police repeatedly claimed that journalists and citizens were not allowed to film police actions.
Around 21:00, the MUP informed the public that it had “learned that participants at the Novi Sad gathering intended to attack the police” in front of the Faculty of Philosophy and the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, a statement that was subsequently used as a pretext for applying force against students, citizens, and media representatives.
NUNS recalls that police repression and attacks on journalists have continued unabated. According to our records, August saw the highest number of attacks on journalists this year, and it is particularly alarming that 14 incidents were linked to MUP officers.
Therefore, NUNS and EFJ urge the Ministry of Interior to immediately launch internal control proceedings and to:
- identify and sanction all those responsible for the excessive use of force and for obstructing journalists’ work;
- ensure the prompt return of seized journalistic equipment and stop all forms of intimidation and unlawful ID checks of journalists;
- issue a clear and public instruction to all units that filming police conduct in public places must not be prevented;
- ensure that future police operations comply with the standards of necessity and proportionality in the use of force.
“The EFJ is deeply alarmed by these newly documented cases of violence. The day before, we had urged law enforcement officers not to attack journalists and to ensure their safety during the protest. Each incident will be reported to the Council of Europe Safety of Journalists platform, along with a request for a thorough and swift investigation, and for justice to be upheld. As we assessed during and after our solidarity mission with our partners from the Media Freedom Rapid Response, the situation in Serbia is an emergency. The EU must take decisive action, including sanctions. Silence is no longer permissible, nor is impunity. Violence must stop in the name of fundamental human rights,” declared EFJ General Secretary Ricardo Gutiérrez.
We remind all that journalists, media workers, and all citizens have the right to record police conduct in public spaces. This right can be limited only in strictly defined, exceptional circumstances provided by law. The work of journalists enjoys special protection in a democratic society; it is a precondition for freedom of expression and the public’s right to be informed.
NUNS and EFJ appeal for respect of media freedom, freedom of assembly, and freedom of expression. We call on the MUP leadership, field commanders, and all other competent institutions to immediately ensure conditions for the safe and unhindered work of journalists, and to promptly inform the public about the measures taken and the accountability of those responsible.
European Federation of Journalists
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia
