Reporters Without Borders (RSF) called the Serbian authorities to put an end to violence against journalists reporting on the protests and punish the people responsible for assaults on journalists. Pročitaj više

„Regularly subjected to physical attacks, journalists have been on the front line of the violence inflicted by police and supporters of President Vucic during the anti-corruption protests that have been shaking Serbia since November. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) demands that the authorities end this violence and punish those responsible,” a press release said.

It said that security forces and members of the president’s party are trying their hardest to obstruct coverage of the protests by all means, including physical violence, insults, and other tactics to hamper the work of reporters, who are sometimes forced to flee for their safety.

“Twelve weeks of protests, at least twelve journalists assaulted. This violence, whether inflicted by police or supporters of the ruling party, is an unacceptable violation of journalists’ rights that must be punished by criminal and disciplinary measures. All authorities that answer to the government — no matter which government — must guarantee journalists’ safety at future protests,” the press release quoted RSF EU-Balkans Desk chief Pavol Szalai as saying.

The RSF said that police officers attacked journalists from N1, Nova S TV, Radio 021 and Danas daily during protests in Novi Sad and added that prosecutors have launched investigations into at least 4 assaults on journalists.

Serbia is currently at its lowest-ever ranking in the 22-year history of the RSF World Press Freedom Index, coming in 98th out of 180 countries and territories in 2024.