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24. 12. 2014

NUNS: 22 attacks on journalists in Serbia this year

24.12.2014. (Tanjug) - BELGRADE - Over the course of 2014, there have been 22 attacks on journalists in Serbia, 12 of which were physical assaults, which indicates a deterioration in media workers' position, shows the annual report by the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS).

At a press conference during which the report was presented, NUNS representatives noted that the authorities are not working enough to ensure conditions for journalists' normal work.

They underscored that journalists are exposed to numerous economic and political pressures, and warned of a rise in self-censorship because those who carry out attacks on media professionals are not punished.

NUNS President Vukasin Obradovic said that, besides the assaults, journalists are also faced with other pressures : lawsuits, removal of certain content from the Internet, certain websites have been downed, shows put off air as it was the case with "Impression of the Week" that previously ran on TV B92.

Noting that six lawsuits have been filed against journalists in 2014, Obradovic said that three lawsuits were lodged by the people "with a large criminal dossier", including Luka Bojovic (sentenced to 18 years in prison in Spain).

Obradovic noted that in the period from 2008 to 2013, a total of 348 attacks on media professionals happened in Serbia, and signaled that the NUNS will continue to caution against possible attacks, inform the public how many of those accountable have been brought to justice, and whose is responsible for a halt in certain cases.

The presentation of the NUNS report brought together Ombudsman Sasa Jankovic, Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection Rodoljub Sabic, former Supreme Court judge Zorana Ivosevic and Assistant Minister of Culture and Information Sasa Mirkovic.