The SafeJournalists Network strongly condemns the threats, insults, and misogynistic harassment directed at journalist and editor of the Pravo u centar portal from Lazarevac, Maria Popović, following her reporting from a Serbian Progressive Party gathering this week in that Belgrade municipality.
During her reporting from the event, one person filmed the journalist with a mobile phone while falsely presenting herself as an employee of a local television station, while a man standing next to her made inappropriate comments mentioning Croatia, HRT, and similar topics. After the video was published on the media outlet’s Instagram page, a wave of disturbing, offensive, and misogynistic comments followed, targeting the journalist, her sons, and her family.
Of particular concern is the fact that among these messages, a direct threat was published, posing a serious risk to the safety of journalist Maria Popović. A threatening message was posted three days ago from the Instagram account “goran39528”, which contains a series of insults and misogynistic speech, such as: “you should be f***d in your a**… you Piculić s**t.” Such messages do not only constitute hate speech and gender-based online violence, but also an attempt to intimidate the journalist because of her professional work and the public’s right to be informed.
The threats have been reported to the Prosecutor’s Office for High-Tech Crime, and we expect a swift and effective response from the competent institutions, including the identification and prosecution of those responsible. The authorities must clearly demonstrate that threats, gender-based harassment, and digital violence against women journalists will not be tolerated.
The SafeJournalists Network reminds that women journalists in the region are increasingly subjected to coordinated digital attacks, misogynistic insults, and threats of violence, especially when reporting on politically sensitive topics and events of public interest. Such attacks aim to intimidate, discredit, and deter them from carrying out their professional duties.
We call on institutions in Serbia to take all necessary measures to protect Maria Popović and to ensure conditions in which journalists can work without fear of violence, threats, and targeting campaigns.
The SafeJournalists Network will inform relevant national and international stakeholders 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, April 23, 2026
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
