N1 TV’s Director Igor Bozic sent an open letter to the Serbian executive authorities demanding an immediate reaction to stop the serious, systematic campaign of targeting, threats and intimidation which escalated recently after being waged against station staff for months with the participation of top state officials, including the president all with the support of pro-regime tabloids and media outlets financed with public funds.
The letter drew no response from the authorities.
It was sent to Prime Minister Djuro Macut, the Information and Telecommunications Minister and the Minister of Culture.
This is Igor Bozic’s letter:
We address you as representatives of the executive branch of the Republic of Serbia, who, by virtue of the Constitution and laws of the Republic, bear direct responsibility for safeguarding media freedom, protecting journalists, and defending fundamental democratic values.
We urge you to act urgently and halt the serious and systemic campaign of targeting, threats, and intimidation that has been ongoing for months against N1 television and its employees, which has escalated in recent days to an extremely dangerous level. This campaign involves the highest authorities of the state, including the President of the Republic, with the support of pro-government tabloids and media outlets financed by public funds. The result is daily monstrous messages of hatred and death threats received by the N1 newsroom.
Your neglect and passivity have led to an escalation of violence. In a country with tragic unresolved cases of attacks on journalists — you remain silent. You were silent when independent media were labeled as “terrorist,” when tabloids, without legal basis, called for criminal prosecution of journalists, and even when representatives of the prosecution participated in public harassment. You continue to remain silent as journalists are threatened with hanging on Terazije and as references are made to the victims of Charlie Hebdo.
Your duty is both political, legal, and moral. You are obliged to ensure an environment in which citizens have:
the right to information,
the right to hear different opinions,
freedom of media choice.
As top state officials, you are responsible for protecting a free, pluralistic, and competitive media space. Freedom of expression and media freedom are the foundations of every democratic and rule-of-law state.
This is no longer just a matter of media freedoms — it is a matter of public security. The campaign against N1 is an institutionalized strategy of intimidation, tolerated or even encouraged.
We interpret your silence and inaction as approval. By doing so, you send a clear message: in today’s Serbia, media workers who are not favored by the authorities are legitimate targets.
Therefore, we demand:
A public condemnation of all threats and attacks against N1 and its journalists,
Urgent and effective action by competent authorities in all reported cases,
An end to the public targeting of journalists through state institutions.
N1 will not abandon its journalistic work. We will not stay silent. We ask you to be aware that if any of our colleagues are attacked or harmed, your responsibility will be clear, concrete, and unequivocal.
Source: N1
