The SafeJournalists Network condemns a series of threats directed at journalists in Serbia over the past several days, as well as an apparently organized smear campaign on the social network X against N1 television journalist Ana Novaković.
After Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić insulted N1 television journalist Mladen Savatović at a press conference three days ago, a wave of threats targeting him followed via social media and comments on news portals. The journalist was first threatened by an individual who said they would wait for him in front of the newsroom, and the following day additional threats appeared on social networks.
“…even the camera won’t save you, you Ustasha…” “You’ll end up without ears, you traitorous stinker,” “…You really should be taught a lesson…,” are some of the messages the journalist received over the past three days.
Threats were also made against the N1 newsroom on the social network X. A user under the pseudonym “Patak” shared a video of a Russian police raid on the newsroom of the portal “Ura.ru” in Yekaterinburg, accompanied by the message: “I wish I could break into N1 like this.”
In subsequent messages, alongside new illustrations, it is said: “Everything should be burned. First RTS…,” which is followed by another account stating: “Don’t go alone, there are those of us who would gladly keep you company.”
The authors of the show “Dobar, loš, zao”, Marko Vidojković and Nenad Kulačin, have also received a series of threats in recent days. The latest appeared in a comment on the Instagram account of the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM), as a reaction to ANEM’s statement regarding previous threats against Vidojković and Kulačin.
This time, a comment under the post read, “Enough with the threats, let’s move on to actions,” as well as another threatening comment stating, “Come on, get rid of them. Provocateurs, annoying.”
Journalist Brankica Stanković of Insajder Television has once again come under attack from fan groups. Specifically, on Wednesday at the Partizan–Virtus EuroLeague game, threatening chants against the journalist were heard again. We remind that, based on security assessments, the Serbian Ministry of the Interior (MUP) had previously assigned Brankica Stanković 24-hour protection, which she had for years. Her safety was endangered due to the series “(In)Power of the State,” which dealt with hooligans. In recent times, chanting against Brankica Stanković at Partizan games has become frequent.
In addition to the threats, the SafeJournalists Network draws particular attention to an organized smear campaign on the social network X directed against N1 journalist Ana Novaković. Following her reporting on the proceedings initiated by the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime against Minister of Culture Nikola Selaković, a large number of insulting, sexist, and misogynistic comments appeared, clearly indicating coordinated targeting of the journalist because of her professional work.
Members of the SafeJournalists Network are deeply concerned about the situation in Serbia, which has been escalating over the past several days. The atmosphere of intolerance, insults, and threats toward independent journalists is further fueled by the conduct of high-ranking officials toward media workers, sending a dangerous message and creating an environment in which violence is normalized.
The SafeJournalists Network calls on the competent institutions to urgently respond to this wave of threats, identify and prosecute those responsible, and demonstrate that they are actively working to protect the safety of journalists in Serbia.
The Network also demands that public officials and officeholders stop targeting, insulting, and inciting campaigns against journalists, and that they perform their duties responsibly and in accordance with the laws of Serbia, rather than abusing their positions to settle scores with media outlets that report in the public interest.
The SafeJournalists Network will inform relevant national and international actors about this case.
Every attack on journalists is an attack on democracy, the public interest, and fundamental human rights.
Pristina – Skopje – Sarajevo – Zagreb – Belgrade – Podgorica – Tirana, December 19, 2025
Croatian Journalists’ Association
Association of Journalists of Kosovo
Association of Journalists of Macedonia
BH Journalists’ Association
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia
Trade Union of Media of Montenegro
