MFFR concerned over safety of Serbian journalists

The MFRR said it observed that the safety of journalists in Serbia is in a state of crisis, requiring urgent action to ensure the public’s free access to reliable information in the country. It said that it documented 64 press freedom violations targeting 128 media-related persons or entities in 2025 including physical and verbal assaults, censorship and legal cases, “a stark increase from 2024, when the total number of incidents registered was 84 for the whole year”.

The report added that there were at least 60 attacks on journalists and media since the Novi Sad Railway Station tragedy on 1 November 2024, for their reporting on the fatal incident and subsequent protests.

“Among the press freedom violations recorded since 1 November, 15 attacks were initiated by government officials, including President Vucic, with dangerous public statements, inciting further online threats, smear campaigns, and physical violence,” it said and warned that state officials do not hesitate to spread falsehoods to silence critical voices, regardless of the risk to journalists' safety.

“These attacks form a part of an escalating pattern of government repression against the media and public watchdogs in Serbia, which is completely irreconcilable with the applicable European treaties and rule of law standard,” the MFRR report said.

It said that the mission members were also alarmed by cases of surveillance reported by students of journalism, through illegal means, as well as the disclosure of their personal information as a form of intimidation.