On the occasion of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, marked today, 2 November, the SafeJournalists Network warns of a troubling regional trend: many reported and unreported incidents, few convictions, and a large number of ongoing proceedings. These findings underscore a key message — combating impunity is a shared responsibility of institutions, the judiciary, and society as a whole.
Montenegro
Until 2 November, The SafeJournalists database records 22 cases. From 1 January to 30 June, the police registered 14 cases. Courts handed down 4 guilty verdicts, setting Montenegro apart by the number of concluded proceedings. At the same time, 7 cases are before prosecutors, 2 are before the courts, and the status of 2 cases is unknown. There were also 4 instances of unfounded judicial or administrative harassment, including SLAPP lawsuits. In addition, in 3 cases journalists were verbally targeted by senior officials, with no proceedings initiated, according to available information.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
In the SafeJournalists database, 30 incidents against journalists and media workers were recorded in 2025. A limited number of cases were reported to the competent institutions: 9 to the police and 6 to the prosecution. Two court outcomes have been registered so far: one conviction (the assailant of journalists) and one acquittal of a female journalist. At least three cases are ongoing before prosecutors and two before the courts, indicating a slow pace of proceedings and a small share of final judgments.
North Macedonia
In 2025, 3 cases were registered in the database, all three reported to the Ministry of Interior. One case — the attack on a TV Alsat crew — ended with a conviction of the perpetrator. The other two are ongoing: one before the Ministry of Interior and one before the prosecution.
Croatia
In 2025, 24 cases were recorded in the SafeJournalists database. Twelve cases were reported to the authorities. According to the Croatian Journalists’ Association, at least 3 cases are pending before prosecutors and 1 before a court, indicating a slow judicial pace and a limited number of court outcomes.
Kosovo
From 1 January to 31 October 2025, 63 cases were registered. Official police/prosecutorial information exists for 12 cases, of which 2 have ended in convictions and 10 remain in progress. The remaining 51 cases were reported exclusively to the Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AJK) and are not officially recorded by the competent authorities, highlighting a deep gap between the real number of incidents and the institutional response.
Albania
A total of 36 cases were recorded. Eighteen direct threats and attacks were reported to the police, while 4 cases are currently before prosecutors. Due to discrepancies between the data from law enforcement, there is no reliable information on dismissed complaints or court outcomes. At present, 4 open cases before prosecutors are known; data on court proceedings are unavailable.
Serbia
The SafeJournalists database recorded 238 cases, of which, according to available data, 136 were reported to the police and prosecutors. Seven criminal complaints were dismissed. Courts issued 1 conviction. There are 126 cases pending before prosecutors, and in 2 cases an indictment has been filed. In addition, 33 unreported cases were recorded, further pointing to the scale of impunity and a lack of trust in institutional protection. Due to the large number of cases and discrepancies between our records and those of the prosecution, data are missing for certain cases.
Journalists in Serbia — especially since 1 November last year and the tragedy in Novi Sad — have been exposed to frequent attacks. Over the past 12 months, a record number of physical incidents has been documented, mostly during various protests and public gatherings. Attacks have come from government supporters, and a significant number have been carried out by police officers — the very institution that should be protecting journalists. An increasing number of media workers report being assaulted by police or that officers remained passive witnesses to violence against journalists. At the same time, many do not report incidents due to distrust in institutions and the slow, ineffective handling of already reported cases.
These data clearly show that impunity remains a systemic problem. We call on all institutions to ensure faster investigations, effective prosecution and consistent sentencing, as well as protective mechanisms that guarantee journalists’ safety and access to justice.
In some Western Balkan countries, statistics on attacks against journalists and the resulting impunity are alarming. We must not wait for the number of attacks to grow further and for attackers to remain unpunished. Decisive and concrete steps are urgently needed to create a safe environment and a fair legal framework for journalists and media freedom in the region.
Impunity for attacks on journalists not only endangers their lives but also undermines the core values of democracy, freedom of expression, and access to information. Without adequate protection, journalists become targets, and citizens are deprived of timely and accurate information.
We call on international organizations and institutions to continue supporting the strengthening of the rule of law and media freedom in the region, and to exert additional pressure on authorities to take concrete steps in the fight against impunity. The SafeJournalists network will continue this effort to ensure a safe environment for journalists and to stand in defense of media freedom, which is the foundation of a democratic society.
The source: IJAS
Photo by: Canva, ilustration
