ANEM Alarm: 14th incident at Pionirski Park, police to enable work for journalists.
A journalist from the Fonet agency was filming strong winds lifting tents set up on the road in front of the Serbian Parliament yesterday when a person staying in Pioneer Park grabbed her by the shoulder and demanded that she delete the footage. This marks the 14th instance of interference with the work of journalists and media at Pioneer Park, where a specific group supporting the ruling party has been present for over four months.
A journalist from Foneta was threatened during the incident that it would be "better for her to delete the recordings," even though she presented her press credentials. Following that, another man approached her and asked which media she worked for because he "wanted to know which scum was filming them." When she stated that it was a public area and that she had the right to record, they left. Several police officers did not react but instead took statements from those present regarding the tent that had been blown away by the wind.
The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) once again demands that the police protect journalists while they carry out their work and that those who obstruct them or endanger their safety be prevented from doing so and sanctioned.
We insist that the authorities in the police issue an order to everyone securing the area in front of the National Assembly of Serbia and in Pioneer Park to allow the media to perform their work professionally from public spaces and at public gatherings.
The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM)
The project "System for the Prevention of Violence and Protection of Journalists" is being implemented by ANEM in partnership with Insider TV and the Center for the Development of Local Media, with the support of the European Union and the Balkan Democracy Fund.
