While filming supporters of the Progressive Party boarding a bus in Kragujevac, a journalist from Glasa Šumadije asked them if they could explain why they were going to Belgrade today, when a middle-aged man approached him. Without introducing himself, he placed his hand on the journalist's phone, attempting to prevent him from recording, with remarks like "Why are you recording?" and "There’s no need for your hands to shake."

According to the journalist, the man then attempted to take his phone away, and when he failed, he walked away in the opposite direction.

On the same day, while conducting a survey with supporters of the SNS in front of the Belgrade Arena, where a gathering was held featuring President Aleksandar Vučić, journalist Isidora Kovačević from Nova S was insulted and cursed at, and one of the supporters struck her microphone.

The police removed the team of N1 journalist Maja Nikolić from their vicinity, despite being told that the team required police protection. In the absence of such protection, they had to remove the sponge from the microphone and continue working without police support.

ANEM assesses that the obstruction of media representatives in reporting on public events and the attempted violent confiscation of equipment is unacceptable and appeals to citizens and political parties to refrain from such actions, regardless of the media's editorial policies.

We remind that during 2025, a record number of threats, pressures, and attacks on journalists in Serbia were recorded, and this trend continues in the first three months of this year. Most of these cases remain unresolved due to the inaction of the police, and we once again appeal to members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to protect journalists in public spaces and to cooperate with prosecutors in processing all attacks on journalists.

“The refusal of representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to protect journalists from potential attacks at high-risk gatherings signals a green light for aggressors. Judging by this pre-election event, violence against journalists and media workers can be expected at all locations where elections will be held on March 29. We appeal to the police to protect journalists from potential attacks, and also to effectively engage and apprehend aggressors when they occur. The Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists will have representatives in every municipality and city, aiming to further assist journalists and media workers, as well as institutions to be more effective in protection and rapid response. Unfortunately, in the past few local elections, this has not been the case, as dozens of journalists have been attacked and harassed, threatened, and insulted. The impunity for endangering the safety of journalists only further incites new incidents caused by inflammatory statements from government representatives towards certain media groups and smear campaigns in pro-government tabloids. We demand that the highest levels of government condemn every attack and obstruction of journalists' work, and that the police and relevant authorities adequately resolve each case in order to put a stop to this grim statistic,” stated Veran Matić, President of the ANEM Board of Directors, member of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists, and operator on the Safe Line for journalists 0800 100 115.

Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM)

The project "System for Preventing Violence and Protecting 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.

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