ANEM ALARM: Chilling "greeting" – a threat to Marko Vidojković

The explanation of the award states: "This award provides laureates with protection through international attention and solidarity, while also contributing to a better understanding of the power of the written word to preserve and promote the highest ideals of humanity."

On the Facebook page of the IN Medija portal from Inđija, in response to this news, a comment was posted: "Trash, it should be killed, not awarded."

Such "congratulations" have become a common way to deal with dissenters, particularly as an aggressive reaction to information about repression and international condemnations of violence against female and male journalists, activists, political dissenters, and members of minority communities in Serbia.

The lack of an effective response from the police and judicial authorities further encourages perpetrators to continue with threats and intimidation. This is underscored by the fact that in the past year and a half, out of 111 reported cases and established files in the Special Public Prosecutor's Office for High-Tech Crime, only one final judgment has been rendered.

"This is the third threat to Marko Vidojković (the previous two were directed at him and Nenad Kulačin) that we have reported to the competent prosecutor's office in the past week. The threat was issued from a Facebook profile that allows for the identification of the person who made it. We frequently report abusers who do not even attempt to hide their identity, which further indicates their belief that, due to the inaction of the authorities, they will face no consequences.

This practice creates the impression that institutions, by their inaction, provide protection to individuals who attempt to intimidate and threaten female and male journalists, media workers, and all those who think differently. The goal is their dehumanization, as well as intimidation to the point that they abandon free speech and writing, or, out of fear for their own safety and the safety of their families, leave the country.

This represents a serious undermining of democratic values and the rule of law in Serbia. We must all oppose such phenomena with solidarity, consistent responses, and informing both domestic and international public opinion," stated Veran Matić, operator of the SOS line for reporting threats and attacks on journalists, member of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists, and president of the Board of the Association of Independent Electronic Media.

Marko Vidojković has been living in exile with his family for over three years due to frequent threats and attacks, under the protection of PEN International, one of the oldest and most prestigious global organizations that brings together writers and advocates for freedom of literary creation and freedom of expression.

In the past two years, six female and male journalists have been forced to leave Serbia due to threats to their safety and now live in exile. Six students and activists are also living in exile, against whom a politically motivated court procedure is being conducted in Serbia, according to numerous assessments from both domestic and international public opinion.

Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM)

The project “Enhancing the System of Mechanisms for Prevention and Response in Cases of Threats to the Safety and Lives of Female and Male Journalists in Serbia” is being implemented by ANEM in partnership with Insajder TV and the Center for the Development of Local Media, with the support of the European Union.

The OSCE Mission in Serbia has supported ANEM's project “24/7 SOS Hotline for Assistance to Journalists and Other Threatened Media Workers,” as part of the EU-funded project “Strengthening Freedom of Expression and Media Freedom in Serbia.”