ANEM alarm: Dinko Gruhonjić received a threatening letter signed "Greetings from Ratko Mladić."

The letter begins with “Gruhonjić FUKARO, USTAŠA BASTARD, After years of USTAŠOID performances, especially in recent months, I decided to reach out to you.”

The threatening letter states, among other things, that “you are a USTAŠA filled with an incurable hatred that I will f*** your mother whom you nursed for the first time” and “sick in the head.”

“And you USTAŠA, stop barking, pack your things and go to your USTAŠA NDH Croatia – your beautiful home, and there spill your wisdom, or I will f*** everything in your house. Do you, USTAŠA, think that the time will soon come when you will answer for all the evil you do to the Serbian people!? And now shut that USTAŠA mouth before it’s too late!” the letter continues, ending with “Greetings from RATKO MLADIĆ.”

The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) calls on the relevant authorities to promptly investigate this new case of unacceptable and serious threats against Dinko Gruhonjić, identify the perpetrators as soon as possible, and file charges.

We reiterate that the impunity for attacks on journalists, especially those like Gruhonjić who are frequent targets of threats, insults, and assaults, encourages attackers to continue their assaults because they know they will not be prosecuted.

Recall that just a day earlier, threats were reported that Gruhonjić received via SMS stating, “Aleksandar, send us salads, there will be meat, we will slaughter the KRVate USTAŠE!!! Death to the Gruhonjić family!!!!!”

We repeat that Dinko Gruhonjić is a frequent target of threats, insults, and attacks, and it should not be overlooked that he is often the subject of targeting and campaigns led against him by pro-government tabloids. The latest threats followed several articles in early September in tabloids regarding Gruhonjić's visit to Croatia, claiming he was going to “spit on Serbia” and that he is a “Serb-hater.”

In addition to media attacks, Dinko Gruhonjić is daily and without any evidence accused and falsely implicated by government representatives, who from the podiums at rallies, in interviews on public services, and through witch hunts in tabloids, attempt to link him to student protests and the question of the status of Vojvodina.

We therefore appeal to government representatives to immediately cease targeting and negative campaigns against Dinko Gruhonjić and other dissenters, as such incendiary statements can have dangerous consequences for the safety of these individuals and their families. Government representatives must be aware of their responsibility for every word spoken in public.

Additionally, we call on the President of the country, as well as other public officials, to publicly condemn the negative campaigns and witch hunts conducted by tabloids against individuals, the disrespect for professional and ethical standards of journalism, and not to grant them legitimacy in the form of exclusive appearances, interviews, and statements.

Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM)

The project "System for Prevention of Violence and Protection of Journalists" is 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.