The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS) strongly condemns the detention of photojournalists, the obstruction of women journalists while reporting from events of public interest, and the denial of accreditation to journalists and photojournalists without a clear explanation.
During a rally of the Serbian Progressive Party held on Saturday in Belgrade, three photojournalists – Gavrilo Andrić, Nađa Gavrilović and Marija Stojnić – were taken to the Savski Venac police station after documenting an action involving the unfurling of a banner reading “Students are fighting for you too”.
The photojournalists had previously been attacked by an unknown individual when they entered the building on which the banner had been displayed in order to document the events, but they managed to prevent a larger incident.
However, after leaving the building, they were detained by police officers, whom they had informed in detail about everything that had happened inside the building. Following the police assessment, and without being clearly informed of the legal grounds, they were taken to the Savski Venac police station, from which they were released after several hours without giving a statement.
IJAS warns that it is unacceptable for the police, instead of taking action against the person who caused the incident, to take to the police station those who were harmed and who were there on assignment. This sends a dangerous message that violence is tolerated.
On the same day, Nova TV journalist Dunja Ranković was subjected to insults, heckling and a physical attack while reporting live. Immediately before going on air, when she placed the recognizable windscreen on her microphone, dozens of comments were shouted at her, and near the end of her live report a man approached her and threw a bottle of water at her. Fortunately, the journalist avoided being hit, while the attacker continued to insult and curse at her even after the live report ended.
An Insajder reporting crew was obstructed by an unknown individual who prevented them from doing their job by blocking the filming area with an open parasol. Only after some time, when the camera operator and journalist Vojin Radovanović gave up trying to do their job and packed up their equipment, did plainclothes police officers approach and remove the person.
In Niš, Nova TV reporter Ivana Marković was prevented from reporting on the departure of buses to the SNS rally in Belgrade. While the crew was filming, a Niš Ekspres driver approached them, asked which television station they worked for, and after receiving an answer, hit the journalist on the arm, pushed the microphone and camera, and insulted them.
Insults, obstruction, intimidation and physical attacks against journalists reporting from events of public interest are absolutely unacceptable. It is particularly concerning that such incidents are recurring precisely in situations in which the public has a heightened interest in receiving accurate and timely information.
IJAS demands that the competent authorities urgently establish all the circumstances of these events, identify and sanction the individuals who obstructed and attacked journalists, and determine the responsibility of the police officers who detained the photojournalists instead of protecting their right to document an event of public importance.
IJAS also expresses serious concern that some journalists and photojournalists have been denied accreditation to cover activities of the Serbian Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence without a clear explanation.
Insajder photo editor Srđan Ilić was denied accreditation, first for an event at the military airport in Batajnica, where equipment and systems that later took part in live-fire exercises at the “Pasuljanske Livade” training ground were presented. According to Insajder, the evening before the event, a Ministry of Defence official informed him by phone that his accreditation had not been approved, without providing any further information about the reasons for such a decision, although the request had been submitted on time.
Accreditation for the event at Pasuljanske Livade was also denied to Davor Lukač, a journalist with the weekly Vreme. He told the media that he was not allowed to enter the bus at the Topčider barracks that was transporting journalists to the military training ground, on the grounds that his name was not on the list, even though he had duly applied for accreditation. Lukač stated that a similar situation had occurred on 20 September last year, when he was also not allowed, as a journalist, to attend an event for which he had been accredited.
IJAS calls on the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces to clearly explain to the public why Srđan Ilić and Davor Lukač were denied accreditation, and to stop the practice of selective and discriminatory treatment of media outlets and journalists who report critically.
Institutions have an obligation to enable journalists and photojournalists to do their job without obstruction, especially when they are reporting on events of public interest. Any obstruction, detention, selective denial of accreditation, or tolerance of attacks against journalists constitutes direct pressure on media freedom and the citizens’ right to be informed.
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia
Belgrade, 30 June 2026
