NUNS warns of campaign against journalists in July

A press release said that 19 cases of threats and assaults against journalists were recorded including 2 physical assaults, 17 death and other threats. “Particularly concerning is the fact that some journalists continue to be subjected to threats and smear campaigns, while this month female journalists working for local media outlets were particularly targeted,” it added.

“Serious threats against journalists continued throughout July, with journalists from N1 television once again among those targeted,” it added. N1 News Director Branislav Sovljanski receivied threats against himself and his family. The threats were made online and included offensive remarks, calling Sovljanski and the rest of the N1 newsroom staff Ustashe (WW 2 Croatian fascists whose name is used by nationalists to denote Serb enemies). The posts on various social media included death threats and threats of torture.

The press release It said that a series of threats were directed against journalists Marko Vidojkovic and Nenad Kulacin, in much the same tone as the threats against N1. The targeting and threats against journalist and President of the Management Board of the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM), Veran Matic, also continued.

Female journalists working for local media outlets were also targeted by threats in various parts of the country, the press release said. Those threats were made ahead of the Pride Caravan in the southern city of Vranje and over the publication of a video from a Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) gathering in the northern city of Backo Gradiste. NUNS warned that several female journalists were targeted by the regime TV Informer.