ANEM ALARM: Unacceptable and potentially dangerous behavior of the President towards journalists.
The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) strongly condemns the behavior of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić towards N1 television journalist Mladen Savatović and reminds the President and all other state officials that they should be aware of the words they speak in public and the potential consequences those words may have.
Vučić reacted strongly today to the professionally posed questions from N1 journalists regarding the "General Staff" case and the indictment proposal from the Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime (TOK) against the Minister of Culture, Nikola Selaković. The President accused him of being a "liar," "ill-mannered," referred to him as Hitler, justified armed attacks on Milan Bogdanović in the so-called Ćacilend, and threatened to "re-educate" him "since his parents did not."
“Everything you said was a lie, and I remained silent the entire time, which speaks to your upbringing. You lied about everything! You lied about everything!” Vučić told the N1 journalist, continuing: “You will never receive proper upbringing; that comes from home, as does honesty, since you are a proven liar, and that will always be the case.”
Accusations against Mladen Savatović are simply untrue and are an attempt to defame and discredit this journalist, while the threat to "re-educate" him is completely in line with the violence being perpetrated against journalists, especially over the past year. Savatović is often subjected to threats, insulting comments, and disturbing messages. Four cases of threats and attacks against colleague Savatović have been reported to the prosecutor's office and police just this year, but without any results.
ANEM reminds that in the past year, there has been a dramatic increase in the endangerment of the safety of media workers in Serbia, as evidenced by a record number of documented threats, pressures, and physical attacks on female and male journalists, with over 330 incidents reported.
These alarming figures largely represent the consequences of targeted attacks by the highest state officials, which are then transmitted to pro-government tabloids through campaigns of demonization and dehumanization, trampling all ethical, professional, and civilizational norms. Such attacks quickly escalate into dangerous threats, as well as physical assaults on journalistic teams, which is unacceptable.
Recall that the Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation registered that numerous state officials attacked journalists and media at least 595 times in their public appearances and on social media over a four-month period, prominently including the President of the country.
ANEM once again calls on all public officials and other actors in Serbia's public scene to immediately cease the intimidation, insults, and labeling of journalists and media with whom they disagree and who report professionally.
We also appeal to representatives of the international community, primarily the institutions of the European Commission, to respond to the unacceptable rhetoric of government representatives.
Veran Matić, President of the Management Board of the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) and Member of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists
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 Ministry of Information and Telecommunications of the Republic of Serbia.
