The SafeJournalists Network strongly condemns the threats, intimidation, assaults, and detentions of journalists and other media workers reporting from protests across Serbia. We call on the relevant authorities to respond immediately and ensure their safety so they can perform their work—of significant public interest—freely and securely, especially at a time when demonstrations against the current regime are taking place daily throughout the country.

Following the June 28 call for civil disobedience by the Students in Blockade, citizens across nearly all Serbian cities began daily street blockades. At the same time, independent journalists and photojournalists covering these events and documenting the brutal and unlawful actions of the police have become targets—physically attacked, intimidated, and detained.

The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS) has recorded dozens of cases of pressure, threats, and assaults over the past three days, although some journalists and media workers have chosen not to speak out publicly.

Last night, Radar weekly journalist Vuk Cvijić was repeatedly hit with a police shield and elbowed, pushed, and physically mistreated during a police intervention in front of the Faculty of Law in Belgrade—despite presenting his press credentials. Officers also attempted to seize his phone. The night before, photojournalist Aleksa Stanković was detained while peacefully photographing the dismantling of a blockade. In the police vehicle, two officers beat him, forced him to deactivate his Instagram account, and eventually destroyed the memory card from his camera, while others looked on without intervening. The violence appears to have been triggered by a recording in which a police officer can be heard making inappropriate comments about women passing by during his shift. NUNS has already reacted to this case.

In an already tense atmosphere, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić further incited hostility toward journalists by publicly labeling employees of N1 and Nova S television as “terrorists” and calling on the public prosecutor to act against their reporting. This narrative was echoed by pro-government media. Subsequently, N1’s newsroom received numerous death threats. Journalist Žaklina Tatalović received a message via social network X from the account @Srbijanac: “Kill Žaklina! Draw a target on her!”

Photojournalist Gavrilo Andrić, known for regularly documenting protests, also received death threats via Instagram, including: “I will kill you, b**ch. With a knife. Recently, Andrić has been a frequent target of attacks, and just a few days before these threats, he received a direct threat: “I will stab you in the heart”.

Local media and journalists are also under pressure. Epicentar press from Čačak was labeled an “anti-Serbian media outlet,” while journalist Verica Marinčić of In Media from Indjija was stopped and ID’d by the police and threatened with a misdemeanor charge, despite clearly displaying her press credentials. Glas Zaječara journalist Miljko Stojanović reported that a drone followed him to his home, causing distress to his family. He filed a report and gave a police statement about the incident.

According to NUNS, over 160 cases of pressure and attacks on journalists have been recorded since the beginning of this year alone—nearly reaching the total for all of last year (166). This figure clearly indicates a rapidly deteriorating environment for journalistic work in Serbia.

The SafeJournalists Network urges all relevant institutions, especially the police and public prosecutor’s office, to immediately and thoroughly investigate all cases of threats and violence against journalists, identify the perpetrators, and bring them to justice. We specifically call on the Ministry of Interior to investigate the responsibility of its officers and take appropriate disciplinary action. The lack of institutional response only fosters a climate of impunity and threatens the public’s right to information.

The SafeJournalists Network expresses full support to our colleagues in Serbia and calls on the authorities to stop targeting the media and to ensure institutional protection for journalists. Particular responsibility lies with the highest state officials—especially the President of the Republic—who, through their statements, further fuel hostility toward professional and independent media. In a democratic society, journalists must never be seen as enemies of the state—their role is to bear witness to the facts in the public interest.

The SafeJournalists Network will inform national and international stakeholders about these alarming developments and continue to monitor the situation closely.

Any attack on journalists is an attack on democracy, public interest, and fundamental human rights.

Pristina – Skopje – Sarajevo – Zagreb – Belgrade – Podgorica, July 3rd, 2025

Association of Journalists of Kosovo

Association of Journalists of Macedonia

BH Journalists Association

Croatian Journalists’ Association

Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia

Trade Union of Media of Montenegro

The source: IJAS

Photo: Canva, ilustration