ANEM alert: Criminal complaint filed due to death threats against Dinko Gruhonjić and his family.

An unknown individual attempted to call Gruhonjić on September 12th, and after he did not answer, a message was sent from the same phone number stating:

“Aleksandar, send us salads; we will slaughter the KRVate Ustaše!!! Death to the Gruhonjić family!!!!!”

The threat has been reported to the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office, and a criminal complaint has been filed against the unknown individual for the act of endangering safety.

It is worth noting that Dinko Gruhonjić has previously been the target of threats, insults, and attacks multiple times, and it should not be overlooked that he is often the subject of targeting and campaigns led against him by pro-government tabloids. The last threat was preceded by several articles in tabloids regarding Gruhonjić's appearance in Croatia, where he was accused of going to “spit on Serbia” and being a “Serb-hater.”

In addition to the media, Dinko Gruhonjić is daily and without any evidence accused and falsely implicated by representatives of the authorities, who seek to associate him with student protests and the status of Vojvodina from their platforms at rallies, in interviews on public services, and through witch hunts in tabloids.

In the past year, the Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office has recorded five cases of threats, attacks, and endangerment of Gruhonjić's safety. Unfortunately, none of these cases have been resolved nor have they reached a judicial conclusion.

ANEM notes that the impunity for attacks on journalists, especially those like Gruhonjić who are the most frequent targets of threats, insults, and attacks, encourages perpetrators to continue their assaults knowing that they will not be prosecuted. Worse still, the attacks are accompanied by the perpetrators' belief that they are doing exactly what the representatives of the authorities are asking of them and want to happen, as they persistently and continuously repeat false accusations.

ANEM calls on the prosecution and police to take these threats very seriously, identify the perpetrators as soon as possible, and file charges, while urging the courts to punish the responsible parties in accordance with the law.

Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM)

The project "System for the Prevention of Violence and Protection of Journalists" is implemented by ANEM in partnership with Insajder TV and the Center for the Development of Local Media, with the support of the European Union and the Balkan Fund for Democracy.