Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS) strongly condemns a series of incidents that have hit the journalistic community in recent days: physical attacks on women journalists in Subotica, targeting in pro-government media, smear campaigns on social networks, as well as the dangerous rhetoric of the Minister of Information and Telecommunications Boris Bratina, which effectively amounts to announcing the shutdown of independent media.
Attacks in Subotica: prosecute the perpetrators without delay
Supporters of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) yesterday attacked a Beta news agency correspondent and a reporter with the portal Subotičke.rs in front of the party’s offices in Subotica.
According to the Beta correspondent, men dressed in black forbade the journalists from photographing a gathering taking place in front of the SNS premises.
One of them crumpled the press badge the Beta reporter wore around her neck, while another tried to seize her colleague’s phone.
The police arrived shortly thereafter and prevented a more serious incident. IJAS urges the police and the prosecutor’s office to act without delay, identify the perpetrators and sanction them appropriately, and to ensure safe conditions for journalists to work at public assemblies.
The increasingly frequent attacks on women journalists are an alarming trend. Although they have long been the target of serious threats and pressure, recent months have seen a rise in physical assaults, especially while reporting from protests. It is particularly troubling that in some cases the attacks have come from the police, while the lack of sanctions continues to deepen the problem of impunity and the insecurity in which women journalists work.
Minister Bratina’s dangerous message
In appearances on the television stations Informer and Pink, the Minister of Information and Telecommunications Boris Bratina accused journalists of N1 and Nova S of being “to blame for a lot,” labeled Radio Free Europe “dangerous because of its anti-Serb programming,” and stated that N1 and Nova “should not be on air in the country,” announcing regulatory changes that would prevent their broadcasting in Serbia. We also recall that in August this year he called journalists of N1 and Nova “morons.”
Such statements constitute a direct attack on media freedom and an attempt to stifle pluralism. A minister in charge of information is expected to defend, not undermine, freedom of expression and information guaranteed by the Constitution.
We call on Minister Bratina to immediately cease rhetoric that signals the strangling of media freedom and for the Ministry, as well as the Government of Serbia, to promptly adopt and implement the recommendations made by the European Commission in its latest report on Serbia.
Targeting and smear campaigns
Informer continues to publish lurid video content targeting journalists. The latest targets include journalist Nusreta Burunčević from Novi Pazar, who is falsely portrayed in a video as a “promoter of the thesis that Serbs committed genocide in Srebrenica,” even though it is clear that her statement refers to the ruling regime which promotes convicted war criminals.
The Ministry of Information and Telecommunications, headed by Minister Boris Bratina, should condemn such malicious media posts that can endanger the safety of journalists.
Journalist Suzana Trninić has also been the target of a days-long smear campaign on social networks after appearing on a podcast where she expressed her views on the current social circumstances in the country. In the same program, a second guest voiced completely different views and, after the show, according to Trninić, insulted and threatened her.
These campaigns against dissenters—often orchestrated by political actors—constitute an attack on freedom of opinion and expression. IJAS appeals to all political parties to refrain from smear campaigns against journalists and to foster a culture of responsible public discourse.
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia
Belgrade, November 12, 2025
