Announcements

In the first six months of 2025, public prosecutors in Serbia initiated 44 cases based on submitted criminal complaints and/or reports, which represents a significant increase compared to the same period in 2024. These cases pertain to incidents affecting 46 journalists and media workers, consisting of 55% male and 45% female individuals. Nearly half of the attacks (21) occurred in a digital environment, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Special Prosecutor's Office for High-Tech Crime. Regarding online attacks, 70% of the victims are female journalists, while 30% are male journalists.

Instead of condemning hate speech and the promotion of violence in tabloids, particularly those of the Informer group, the state leadership is doing everything in its power to protect them.

A member of the Gendarmerie unit, which was dispersing protesters from the Miloš Veliki highway last night, aggressively shoved N1 journalist Nenad Nešić with both hands, as well as the cameraman. During this incident, he also attempted to seize the camera.

Physical attacks on female journalists, such as the attack on Jelena Stojković, a journalist for Večernje Novosti, who was assaulted by pushing and twisting her arms while carrying out her journalistic duties, resulting in injuries, by Zoran Dimitrijević, the director of the Public Utility Company Komrad from Vranje, are becoming increasingly common. In the previous year, 2024, for the first time, a higher number of attacks and threats against female journalists was recorded compared to those against male journalists.

Civil society warns of increasingly dangerous smear campaigns against media workers, the consequences of which can seriously jeopardize their safety. These attacks come from the highest public offices in Serbia. The statement by President Vučić, in which he calls for Veran Matić to apologize to those accused of the murder of journalist Slavko Ćuruvija and "bring them a bottle of wine," represents an unequivocal and dangerous political message: that in Serbia, targeting and calling for revenge against those who fight for truth and justice is once again permissible.

Journalistic and media associations, members of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists (SRG), condemn the statement made by the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, which endangers the safety of Veran Matić, a member of the SRG and the president of the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM).

The editorial office of KRIK, the Network for Investigating Crime and Corruption, with 17 court proceedings, holds the record for the number of lawsuits with the characteristics of SLAPP, which aim to intimidate journalists, obstruct editorial work, and financially exhaust them. Such lawsuits, as is evident in the case of KRIK, are initiated by political powerful figures, companies, and individuals close to the top of the government, favorites of the authorities from the criminal milieu, judges, and lawyers.

The editorial team of IN Media from Inđija has been under attack since its inception. The editor-in-chief, Verica Marinčić, has been physically assaulted multiple times. She has been targeted by motorcyclists, attacked during protests, and physically removed from the city hall of Inđija. Threats and insults are a daily occurrence. There has even been an act of desecration of her mother's grave.

The editorial office of IN Media from Inđija has been under attack since its establishment. The editor-in-chief, Verica Marinčić, has been physically assaulted multiple times. She has been targeted by motorcyclists, attacked at protests, and physically ejected from the city hall of Inđija. Threats and insults are a daily occurrence, including the desecration of her mother's grave.