ANEM ALARM: Unacceptable discrimination against the FAR portal from Dimitrovgrad by the local SNS.

As stated by the FAR team, the president of the Municipal Committee of the SNS, Vladica Dimitrov, who is also the president of the Municipality of Dimitrovgrad, prohibited filming, saying that FAR is not welcome and is undesirable at their party gathering. After a verbal dispute, the FAR team was removed from the event location by security intervention.

A support gathering for Aleksandar Vučić ahead of the upcoming elections was held at the small sports field of the Sports Center Park.

ANEM evaluates that denying media the opportunity to report on events of public interest and physically removing them from such events is an unacceptable form of discrimination and pressure on media freedom. We remind that all journalists and media must be allowed to work freely and equally, especially when reporting on public events, in accordance with the principles of freedom of information and the public's right to be timely and objectively informed.

We call on all state institutions and officials, as well as political parties, to cease discrimination and labeling of journalists and media and to enable everyone to report fairly and safely from all public gatherings. We also demand that the relevant Ministry of Information and Telecommunications react urgently in such situations, as this type of pressure on the media is unacceptable in a democratic society.

ANEM reminds that the FAR portal from Dimitrovgrad has been operating under significant pressure for some time, considering that the journalist of this media, Slaviša Milanov, was detained and illegally wiretapped, and that this case has not been resolved for over two years.

“The Association of Independent Electronic Media will inform representatives of the European Union Delegation in Belgrade, as well as the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria, about the multiple discrimination faced by journalists of this professional minority editorial team, including the installation of spyware on the phone of the editor-in-chief, death threats, jeopardizing physical safety, unfounded accusations, targeting, and ongoing intimidation of employees in this media outlet. ANEM will request that representatives of the European Union and the Embassy of Bulgaria intervene with the relevant authorities of the Republic of Serbia, as well as with the local authorities in Dimitrovgrad, so that this editorial team can continue its important work of professional public information without hindrance, especially for the members of the local multiethnic community,” stated Veran Matić, chairman of the ANEM Board of Directors and member of the Permanent Working Group on Journalists' Safety.

Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM)

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