ANEM ALERT: Unacceptable interference in the work, insults, and threats directed at journalist Dejana Cvetković during the reporting from the protests in Surdulica.

During the protest held in Surdulica on February 14, freelance journalist Dejana Cvetković, a contributor to Vreme, Cenzolovka, Južne vesti, Tampon zona, and other media outlets, was continuously harassed by demonstrators who obstructed her while she was recording the event, shouting that "only she cannot film them." They threatened to take and break her mobile phone, which is her essential work tool, and warned her that they would sue her if she published the recordings and photographs.

Members of the group of demonstrators directed insults at her, calling her "garbage," "liar," and using profanity. Some shouted "raped" and invited her to exchange phone numbers, suggesting that they already had her number. Shockingly misogynistic and sexist messages dominated, with insults and provocative questions such as "are you wearing thongs," as well as statements like "now it will turn out that we raped her." Personal information, social media accounts, and recordings of Dejana Cvetković were shared without authorization in a Viber group that includes participants of the protest. Her articles about minorities were also shared, accompanied by claims that they were funded by Albanians.

This award-winning journalist reported on events and messages expressed during protests following a traffic accident involving a young Albanian man from Prizren, a relative of the local bakery owner, in which local resident Rastko Jović was killed. Protests due to the lack of response from the police and other institutions transformed into demands for the local Albanian family's eviction from the area. While reporting on the protests and communications in the Viber group, she conveyed threats and calls for the persecution of the Albanian bakery owner's family.

“Such behavior represents a situation in which the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office must urgently respond due to incitement of racial, religious, and national hatred. Local officials who have access to the Viber correspondence must react and oppose the lynching,” emphasized Katarina Golubović, President of YUCOM.

“Dejana Cvetković is one of the best journalists, trained to report professionally while respecting the journalistic code, and is also highly sensitized to reporting on difficult and often taboo topics. It is unacceptable for her safety to be compromised, and she should have been protected by the police who were securing this gathering. We call on institutions to prevent the escalation of the campaign and threats against Dejana Cvetković,” stated Veran Matić, President of the Association of Independent Electronic Media and Coordinator of the Safe Line for reporting threats and attacks against journalists (0800 100 115).

The relevant institutions in Surdulica, Vladičin Han, and Vranje have been informed about the threats and security concerns.

The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM)

Dejana Cvetković has received the following awards and recognitions:

– The "Bring the Noize" award from the feminist cultural center BeFem in the category of "Feminist Media Reporting" for the article "Vranje Maternity Hospital: Between Slaps and Calling to Oneself";

– First prize from the Commissioner for Equality Protection and the OSCE in the print category for the article "How to Get a Place in the Safe House," published in the weekly Vreme;

– Second prize for the same article.