SafeJournalists Network condemns threats to journalists in Serbia and Montenegro

"The SafeJournalists Network strongly condemns the online threats directed at journalists in Montenegro and Serbia in the previous days, most of which were triggered by their reporting and commentary related to the funeral of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić, and calls on the competent authorities in both countries to urgently identify those responsible and take appropriate action," it said.

The network recalled that the threats directed at journalists and media professionals in Serbia included against Predrag Popovic, Safeta Bisevac, Marko Novicic and Zoran Kesic, as well as the N1 TV newsroom.

Popović was targeted following a smear campaign launched against him by pro-regime tabloids and the N1 newsroom received an explicit threat of arson.

Danas journalist Safeta Biševac also received threats following her appearance on N1 regarding Ratko Mladić’s funeral. TV Nova presenter and editor Marko Novičić received threats and disturbing messages over a post on his personal Instagram account concerning the broadcast of Ratko Mladić’s funeral.

Zoran Kesić was also threatened on the N1 portal following his appearance to comment the cancellation of his satirical 24 Minutes show on TV Nova.

In Montenegro, Draško Đuranović, Editor-in-Chief of TV E in Montenegro recieved a threat in a comment on TV E’s YouTube channel about Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandic's decision to send condolences to the family of Ratko Mladic.

The SafeJournalists Network called the police and the prosecution in Serbia and Montenegro to identify the perpetrators. "The authorities must send a clear message that journalists will not be left unprotected when they become targets of threats because of their professional work," it said.