The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS) recorded a total of 37 incidents in December in which journalists and media workers were targeted. Of these, 29 involved threats and endangerment of journalists’ physical safety, two were threats against media outlets, three were attacks on journalists, one was an attack on a media outlet, as well as a serious tabloid campaign against a journalist and one case of pressure to reveal a journalistic source. During December, an exceptionally high number of very dangerous threats against journalists and media workers were registered – some of which were preceded by direct public targeting by senior officials. Particularly alarming are cases of threats accompanied by sexist insults directed at women journalists. Instances of police obstruction of journalists while reporting, as well as attacks on media outlets, were also recorded. Targets of threats and pressure were also local reporters.
New wave of threats against “Dobar, loš, zao” podcast journalists Nenad Kulačin and Marko Vidojković
In December, a new wave of threats was directed at journalists Nenad Kulačin and Marko Vidojković. First, Nenad Kulačin received a threat on the social network X, in a comment under a post on the “Dobar, Loš, Zao” account: “Are you a fat thug? When is someone going to knock your teeth out and fix your hair and face a bit?”
After that, on the same network, on 8 December, serious threats were sent to Kulačin and Vidojković via a video message posted in a comment under the same page. An unknown person told them they were “lucky” they were not “in the West,” because there they would be “in the crosshairs” and “hunted,” adding that they were in “Vučić’s democratic Serbia,” where “the people are tolerant,” and the threat ends with: “until we snap.”
Threats continued on 12 December. On Marko Vidojković’s profile, from three different accounts, the following threats were posted: “Antifa terrorists like you two should be fried,” then: “F*** you, you won’t last long,” as well as: “Just take your heads off, scum.” On 16 December, new threats were posted on Facebook in a comment: “For these idiots – bullets and little bombs.” In addition, threats were posted about Kulačin and Vidojković on the Instagram account of the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM), in a comment under a post stating: “Enough threats – let’s move to action,” as well as another threatening comment: “Go on, get rid of them. Provocateurs, annoying.”
Weekly “Radar” newsroom targeted by threats
On 11 December, brutal threats were sent to the Radar newsroom’s email address as well as posted on the Radar portal, targeting the entire editorial team and especially cartoonist Dušan Petričić. From an address already known to the newsroom, the following message was received: “You Ustasha traitorous sick scum… when 300,000 Serbian nationalist hordes set off… we will start with you scum, and especially with that filthy piece of sh*t Dušan Petričić, who goes around Serbia killing Serbian patriots… we will wipe you out forever.” On the same day, several threatening and disturbing messages were posted in the comments on the portal, including threats to execute Dušan Petričić by firing squad and to burn all members of the editorial team and those who support them: “And this bastard won’t be shot? Some people are being tried and banned from working because they call one Ustasha bastard a ‘blockader,’ and he says it about himself too, but this criminal – nothing. He’s a ‘free journalist.’ He should be shot, and those who support him should be burned. That would be democracy. F*** your Ustasha mother.”
In addition to the above, the Radar newsroom received another highly disturbing and threatening message in the portal comments the same day, invoking a scenario similar to the attack on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo: “Let me remind you that Charlie Hebdo also made such cartoons – don’t cry later when they meet their fate.” One of the comments also contained a direct threat to Dušan Petričić: “We’ll run into each other in Zemun. I’ll show you how I make a caricature out of a man.”
Only a few days later, on 17 December, journalist Vuk Cvijić received a phone call from an unknown foreign number, during which he was issued direct threats regarding an article that was published the following day in the weekly Radar. The unknown caller warned Cvijić to “watch” what would be published in the next issue, adding that they would “meet” if the text came out. Cvijić told the caller that the content had already been finalized and prepared for publication, to which he received the reply: “Then you’ll meet me,” after which the call was disconnected.
Continued campaign against N1 television and threats against the newsroom and journalists
At a press conference held on 16 December 2025, President Aleksandar Vučić, instead of answering a question from N1 journalist Mladen Savatović about the responsibility of Culture Minister Nikola Selaković, publicly targeted the journalist and made a series of accusations and insults. Among them were claims that the journalist “calls the president Hitler,” as well as repeated labeling of him as a “liar,” with messages aimed at humiliating and intimidating him. Serious threats against the journalist, and the entire N1 newsroom, followed.
On 17 December, threats were posted in a comment on the portal, accompanied by insults and an announcement that the person would wait for him in front of the N1 building: “F*** your mother, I’m waiting for you in front of N1, when you come out, I’ll f*** you up, f****t.” Then, on 18 December, a threat against the N1 newsroom appeared on X: an unknown person shared footage of a Russian police raid on the Ura.ru newsroom in Yekaterinburg, with the message: “I want to break into N1 like this.”
Also on 18 December, Savatović received multiple threats. On the Nova.rs Instagram account, one comment read: “Mladenko, you’ll be sucking c*** – we won’t be stopped, not even by the camera, you Ustasha, Kurti’s balls.” From another account, the following was sent: “You’ll lose your ears, you traitorous stinking scum.” Another unknown person wrote: “This looks like some kind of doctor, and it seems he is everything -just not what he should be… you and people like you should be asked how one should behave… come on, let me ask you how I should f*** your mother, since you probably know that from experience too.”
From another account, the following was posted: “You uneducated [sexual insult]—of course you’re not colleagues! You’re an illiterate ox, all puffed up, thinking you’re the big bull in the herd. You’ve gotten way ahead of yourself, you illiterate [ethnic slur]. You’ll fall flat on your nose from those clouds of yours, you big-eared fool.” From yet another account, it was said: “Pathetic – crooked as a rotten egg. Someone really should teach you a lesson, because you’re a young man but without an ounce of decency. Scum who misleads these idiots who clap for you.”
On the social network X, Savatović received another threat: “They’ll f*** your mother in the c*** – you’re writhing like a mutt in public.” And on Facebook: “You’re not a journalist, you’re an idiot – out of Serbia,” as well as: “What is it, [homophobic slur], you’re done – f*** your mother, give back my money, the €10,000 you took.”
On X, an organized smear campaign was recorded against N1 journalist Ana Novaković following her reporting on proceedings initiated by the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime against Culture Minister Nikola Selaković. A large number of insulting, sexist and misogynistic comments followed, indicating coordinated targeting because of her professional work. In addition, on 23 December, comments directed at N1 women journalists appeared on the N1 website. From one account, threats accompanied by sexist insults were posted, while another user, commenting on a story about a citizens’ protest in Bački Petrovac during the president’s visit, wrote that he wished an N1 woman journalist would approach him and that he would “sweetly shove the microphone in her mouth”.
N1 journalist Danica Vučenić became the target of an organized tabloid smear campaign by outlets close to the ruling regime. The trigger was a question she asked Ivan Ninić, defense counsel for KTV journalist Aleksandar Dikić, who was arrested on allegations of “calling for the violent overthrow of the constitutional order.” In her conversation with attorney Ninić, Vučenić asked: “It’s not clear why he’s being charged with undermining the constitutional order, since we don’t see that in his statement. What is this about?” After that, Večernje novosti published an article titled “Shoot Vučić – Danica Vučenić: What’s controversial (VIDEO),” manipulatively suggesting the journalist had said she “doesn’t see anything controversial” in an alleged call to violence. The smear campaign continued in other tabloids. Such a claim is untrue and represents a gross manipulation of the program’s content, since Danica Vučenić did not justify or relativize any call to violence.
Smear and targeting campaigns continued through public appearances by President Vučić. After other pro-government media repeated the manipulative claims on 25 December, their journalists requested comment from the president, who continued with the same narrative. Speaking about banning television N1 and Nova, the president stated that this “could have been done long ago in accordance with the law because they have countless times called for undermining the constitutional order and very actively participated in it,” while using delegitimizing rhetoric and accusing these television stations of spreading hatred and lying “about seriously injured and dead boys in Valjevo.”
New threats against Insider TV editor Brankica Stanković
Insider TV editor Brankica Stanković was again targeted by football-fan groups. At a Partizan basketball game, threatening chants against the journalist were heard once again. Based on security assessments in the past, Stanković had been assigned 24-hour protection for years. Her safety was endangered because of the series “(In)Power of the State” about hooligan groups. Over the past year, chanting against Brankica Stanković at Partizan games has become frequent and multiple incidents have been reported, but there has still been no outcome.
Threats and targeting of journalists at the local level
In Novi Pazar, on Sunday, 21 December 2025, an incident occurred in which Fahrudin Kladničanin, editor of the Hava.rs portal, was verbally attacked. In Stefan Nemanja Street, at a pedestrian crossing in front of the City Administration, an unknown person approached him from behind, hurled insults and threats, accusing him of being “sent from Belgrade to push politics.” The attack continued as Kladničanin tried to leave, and escalated further while he was giving a statement to Blic TV, with messages that he would “see what happens” when he goes out into the street. The incident ended only after police officers intervened.
Bečejski mozaik journalist Kristina Demeter Filipčev was publicly targeted by the President of the Municipality of Bečej, Vuk Radojević, during two municipal assembly sessions held on 24 November and 23 December. From the assembly lectern, Radojević publicly addressed the journalist, implying political bias and questioning her professional integrity, although she, as a reporter covering the session, had no opportunity to respond. Among other things, he said: “Kristina, please note this as it is essential for citizens of Bečej when it comes to the district heating system. If you’re not interested, I understand completely. These affirmative topics don’t interest you.” On another occasion he stated: “With the new project, the municipality’s money was spent, large sums of the municipality’s money. Feel free to note this, Kristina, because you too supported these options back then.”
The President of the Municipality of Novi Bečej, Saša Maksimović, in a public holiday greeting to citizens, stated that “many things have conspired against the policy of the Republic of Serbia, from the level of the European Union down to the village portals of Novi Bečej.” Only one registered portal operates in Novi Bečej – Webinfo – so this statement represents direct targeting of that media outlet.
Police physically preventing women journalists from doing their job
On 16 December, a Mašina portal journalist attempted to report near a tent settlement in front of the National Assembly, but unknown men first held her inside a fenced area and demanded that she delete footage. After she turned to the police seeking protection, the opposite happened: instead of protecting her, police officers continued obstructing her and demanded to view the recordings and that she delete them.
Also, Storyteller editor Vladimira Dorčova Valtnerova was obstructed by the Gendarmerie on 22 December while reporting from a gathering of citizens in her town who had assembled to express dissatisfaction over President Vučić’s visit. A Gendarmerie cordon surrounded the crowd, and the journalist found herself inside the cordon. Although she had visible press markings and stated she came to report, police did not allow her to leave the cordon. NUNS contacted the liaison point at the Ministry of Interior regarding the case, and after some time the journalist was allowed to move freely.
Attacks on local media outlets
On 26 December, the editorial offices of the OzonPress portal and Čačanske novine were attacked when unknown persons early in the morning pelted the entrance to the newsrooms with eggs. These outlets and their journalists are often targets of various forms of attacks, threats and pressure. However, institutional inefficiency in resolving attacks and a weak response from competent authorities have created a climate in which journalists from these outlets, and others, give up reporting similar incidents.
Unacceptable pressure on journalists to reveal their sources
Danas journalist Uglješa Bokić received a call from Novi Sad police to report on 25 December 2025 to the Novo naselje police station for questioning on the order of the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office. According to Danas, the questioning was scheduled because the outlet published parts of an official police memo, related to the detention of Novi Sad lawyer Nemanja Aleksić in early April this year. The prosecutor ordered police to question the journalist regarding a criminal complaint Aleksić filed against an unknown person for the criminal offense of violating the secrecy of proceedings.
Police were instructed to ask Bokić who provided the official memo, when he received it, whether he still had it, and – if he still had it – to order him to hand it over. After the questioning, Bokić stated he experienced the prosecutor’s action as pressure on the work of independent journalists. He said he refused to answer questions about the source of information, citing the Law on Public Information and Media and the Journalists’ Code of Ethics, under which journalists are not obliged to reveal sources, and that such practice represents a dangerous precedent and a form of pressure on media freedom.
Arrest of Aleksandar Dikić – repression and intimidation of critical journalists in Serbia
KTV journalist and columnist Aleksandar Dikić was arrested in Novi Sad on 14 December 2025 by members of the Ministry of Interior’s High-Tech Crime Unit, then transferred to Belgrade, where he was placed in police custody for 48 hours.
Before the arrest, pro-government tabloids launched a coordinated campaign against Dikić, spreading manipulative interpretations of a statement he made on the Srbin info YouTube channel. Dikić is suspected of “calling for the violent overthrow of the constitutional order,” while his lawyer Ivan Ninić emphasizes it was a clumsily phrased statement that was misinterpreted.
An investigating judge, at the request of the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade, also ordered a search of the journalist’s home, including access to computers, mobile phones and other devices, as well as copying their contents. Such measures represent a serious intrusion into privacy, compromise of confidential data and journalistic sources, and create a dangerous precedent for intimidating journalists, restricting media freedom and silencing critical voices in Serbia.
A day later, Dikić was released to defend himself from liberty, and his lawyer Ivan Ninić stated that at questioning Dikić denied allegations that he called for the violent overthrow of the constitutional order. Ninić said Dikić explained the broader context of his statement, emphasizing he did not call for the killing or shooting of President Vučić, but spoke about the nature of the student movement and the broader social front that a student list should bring together.
Dangerous practice of banning editors from performing their profession
The First Basic Court in Belgrade found Novosti editor Andrijana Nešić guilty of the criminal offense of insult and fined her 450,000 dinars, also imposing a security measure banning her from performing the job of editor for one year.
Even though Novosti participates in smear campaigns, thereby violating laws and the Journalists’ Code of Ethics, and given that insults and defamation are contrary to the profession and public responsibility of journalism, banning someone from editorial or journalistic work represents a dangerous practice. Such measures have serious long-term consequences for freedom of expression and media freedom, journalists’ independence and the public’s right to timely and accurate information. Solutions must be sought through strengthening professional standards, which can be achieved through systemic measures, primarily stricter and more transparent control over the allocation of public funds. These funds should support ethically responsible journalism, not reward media that violate professional norms.
It is especially concerning that such measures are increasingly being sought against investigative journalists and their newsrooms, meaning this practice could turn into new mechanisms of pressure and the suppression of independent and critical journalism.
Continued unlawful conduct in the REM Council selection process and resignations of independent candidates
After the National Assembly’s Committee on Culture and Information, at its session held on 5 December, requested additional documentation from one of the national minority proposers for one of the proposed candidates, Sreten Jovanović, the documentation was submitted. At the session held on 13 December, the Committee accepted the additional documentation and established a list of two candidates for REM Council member proposed by national minority councils: Sreten Jovanović and István Bodžoni. A public interview with these two candidates was held in the National Assembly on 23 December.
Four elected REM Council members- Rodoljub Šabić, Ira Prodanov Krajišnik, Mileva Malešić and Dubravka Valić Nedeljković who had previously announced their resignations and called for repeating the vote between the two legally established candidates from the national minority councils, formally submitted resignations on 19 December. They stressed that by initiating a repeat procedure for the selection of members from national minority councils, the authorities showed they did not want REM to be an independent body.
After the resignations, on 29 December the Committee decided to initiate a procedure for proposing candidates to elect four new REM Council members. The procedure is initiated for members to be proposed by authorized proposers: journalists’ associations in Serbia, associations of film, stage and dramatic artists, associations of composers, associations whose goals include the realization of freedom of expression, and associations whose goals include child protection. However, some journalists’ and media associations stated they would not participate in the new procedure because they do not trust that procedures will be respected.
Call for applications for the new Director-General of Radio Television of Serbia (RTS)
In November, the RTS Managing Board accepted applications from three candidates for Director-General: Dejan Stanković, Stanislav Veljković and the current President of the RTS Managing Board, Branislav Klanšček, while four applications were rejected as incomplete. At its session held on 15 December, the body decided to re-launch the public call for the appointment of a Director-General, since none of the candidates received the required two-thirds majority of votes.
The current Director-General Dragan Bujošević’s term expires on 2 February 2026. Under the current Law on Public Media Services and the Rulebook on the procedure and conditions for appointing officials, the same person cannot be elected again as Director-General or acting Director-General more than twice, which means the current director cannot be re-elected to those positions.
