SafeJournalists calls Serbian authorities to deal with attacks on journalists

A press release recalled that a number of Serbian journalists had received threats recently by phone or in social media posts and added that some of them were being intimidated by the police.

“The SafeJournalists network and the Coalition for Free Media are concerned because experience has shown that failure to react by institutions results in intensified pressure and even physical assaults on journalists which is why we demand that these cases should be solved as soon as possible,” the press release said.

It recalled threats against the head of the Independent Society of Vojvodina Journalists’ (NDNV) Ana Lalic, N1’s Novi Sad correspondent Ksenija Pavkov, the 021 portal, several Sport Klub reporters, investigative journalist Milivoj Pantovic, local reporter Verica Marincic and several others.

“We are demanding that the authorities create a secure environment for journalists to work in, starting with sanctions against those who threatened them. The greatest problem is impunity for threats and attacks on journalists,” it said.