The SafeJournalists network condemned the threats against an N1 crew covering the Serbian ruling party’s gathering in the city of Sremska Mitrovica last Saturday.

N1’s Ksenija Pavkov and her cameraman were verbally abused and threatened during their live coverage of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) gathering in the city which was held at the same time as the student protest in the city of Kragujevac. Both were held on Serbian Statehood Day, the anniversary of the adoption of the first constitution of the principality of Serbia in 1835. The central state ceremony was moved from Kragujevac to Orasac with the SNS busing in supporters from Serbia and the Republika Srpska in Bosnia-Herzegovina to hear President Aleksandar Vucic speak.

SafeJournalists added that Novi Sad-based journalist Dinko Gruhonjic also received multiple threats on social networks over the past week. Gruhonjic has been under fire from pro-regime media for months.

SafeJournalists called the Serbian authorities to react to the threats and warned that physical assaults on journalists could come at any time. It called the Serbian President to stop insulting and spreading lies about journalists and media outlets. It also called the Information and Telecommunications Ministry to use its powers to stop the pro-government media smear campaign against independent journalists.