Today marks 24 years since the murder of journalist Milan Pantić, and neither the perpetrator nor those who ordered the killing have yet been identified. The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS) once again urges the authorities to conduct a full investigation and bring those responsible to justice.
Milan Pantić was murdered on June 11, 2001, in Jagodina, at the entrance to the building where he lived with his family. He was struck three times in the back of the head with a blunt object.
Prior to his death, he had been reporting extensively on economic crime, particularly the privatization of the Jagodina Brewery and the Cement Factory in Popovac—believed by the public to be the motive behind his murder.
According to media reports, in 2022 the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Jagodina forwarded the case to the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime (POOC) in Belgrade. Two years later, the case was returned to Jagodina with the explanation that the POOC lacked jurisdiction as “there is currently no evidence that an organized criminal group was involved.” The investigation, now against an unknown perpetrator, remains ongoing before the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Jagodina.
In 2021, Veran Matić, President of the Commission for Investigating the Murders of Journalists, stated publicly that “the names of those who committed the murder are known” and that the police had solved the case. However, proving it remains difficult due to the crime scene being poorly processed and contaminated on the day of the murder.
The murder of Milan Pantić is one of three unresolved journalist killings in Serbia, alongside those of Slavko Ćuruvija and Radislava “Dada” Vujasinović.
While the Ćuruvija case reached a court verdict, no one has been held accountable. In the case of Dada Vujasinović, the statute of limitations has expired.
IJAS fears that the same outcome may occur in the case of Milan Pantić, as the course of the investigation so far suggests a lack of political will to resolve the case.
Despite promises by political leaders and pressure from both domestic and international actors, the murders of three journalists in Serbia remain symbols of impunity and the erosion of the rule of law.
Impunity sends a dangerous message—that crimes against journalists can be tolerated and forgotten. This situation not only threatens media freedom but also discourages journalists from investigating corruption, crime, and abuse of power. Without strong political will, an independent judiciary, and institutional accountability, these cases will remain a scar on the conscience of our society.
We therefore call on the competent authorities—above all, the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Jagodina—to conduct a thorough investigation and find the murderers of Milan Pantić, who continue to walk free.
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS)
Belgrade, 11 June 2025
