News

A meeting was held in the offices of the Nova.rs editorial team with representatives from journalistic and media organizations, including the Coalition for Media Freedom (NUNS and the Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation), UNS, and ANEM, regarding events in recent days that have raised serious concerns among employees about the future and editorial independence of the portal.

The Coalition for Media Freedom condemns the attacks and obstruction faced by ZOOMER correspondent Alekse Nikolić and Pravo u centar associate Tanja Dimitrijević while reporting in front of the National Theatre in Niš.

Journalists and media representatives describe how unfounded legal proceedings, online threats, and physical attacks have increased in recent years.

After the text was published, I received inappropriate messages from Koluvija every day. He wanted to meet, to go for drinks and take walks. He manipulates emotional pain. Someone who is emotionally hurt cannot send me such messages, said the author of the text, Sara Smolović, during the trial in the case of Predrag Koluvija against KRIK.

The Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation (SĆF) recorded at least 108 verbal attacks by state officials, other representatives of the government, and officials of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) against journalists and media in September 2026, which is approximately the same number recorded in July and August. This continues the trend of a reduced number of verbal attacks compared to the first half of the year, during which the Foundation recorded an average of 163 attacks per month.

The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) warns of a serious abuse of personal data and political profiling of citizens in Čačak, including fellow journalists, after a list titled "Blockers Verification - Čačak" surfaced in the public domain. The list, which is being widely circulated among the citizens of Čačak and beyond, contains information about alleged "capillary votes" and citizens who are marked on this list as "blockers." The list includes the names of voters, date of birth, phone number, address, polling place, VDV status, and indicates whether it pertains to a secure vote, a party member, or those who are opposed. ANEM demands urgent action from the relevant authorities due to violations of several laws and the endangerment of journalists' safety.

The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) warns that the police detained the editor of Radio Dir from Ruma, Jovan Kerešić, at the police station for four hours during the visit of a member of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and former president Aleksandar Vučić to that location. Kerešić was held at the police station in Ruma at the request of the municipal public prosecutor's office. The editor of Radio Dir states that the police came to his house while he was having lunch. The officers showed him a warrant to immediately accompany them for questioning as a citizen. The Basic Public Prosecutor's Office from Ruma has not responded to ANEM's request for information regarding the request under which journalist Kerešić was interrogated.

The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) and Civil Initiatives organized a meeting of civil society organizations, professional journalists, and lawyers to discuss the increased pressure and frequent violence against media workers, activists, observers, and citizens ahead of the parliamentary elections on October 25. In addition to ANEM members and representatives from Civil Initiatives, the meeting titled “Protecting the Elections” was attended by the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS), the SHARE Foundation, CRTA, the Trag Foundation, YUCOM, and others.