ANEM ALARM: New threats of sexual violence directed at Marko Vidojković

The latest threat of sexual violence against Marko Vidojković was directed at him in a comment on his Facebook profile. The threat was made by a user named Nikola Mladić, who also left an offensive and threatening message on Nenad Kulačin's Facebook profile under the announcement for the show "Good, Bad, Evil."

The President of the Board of ANEM, a member of the Permanent Working Group (SRG) for the Safety of Journalists, and the person on duty at the SOS hotline, Veran Matić, reported today to the Prosecutor's Office for High-Tech Crime (VTK) the latest threats to the safety of Vidojković and Kulačin, demanding swift identification and prosecution of the authors of the threatening comments. The report states that Vidojković frequently receives death and violence threats, which forced him to leave the country. A few days before the parliamentary elections, ANEM reported threats of sexual violence against Kulačin and his wife, as well as threats of violence against Vidojković, in which they were intimidated about what would happen "the day after the elections." 

We remind you that this is not an isolated incident, but a continuation of years of nearly continuous intimidation of Marko Vidojković and Nenad Kulačin. Vidojković was compelled to leave Serbia due to serious threats to his safety. Kulačin continues to live and work in the country despite ongoing threats. 

ANEM has reported death and violence threats against Marko Vidojković and Nenad Kulačin and their families several times. It is indicative that the authors of threats against journalists' safety identify themselves by name and surname, leaving email and IP addresses, which is detailed in all reports to the relevant prosecutor's offices, including the Prosecutor's Office for High-Tech Crime. 

“We often report perpetrators who do not attempt to hide their identity, which indicates a belief that they will not face consequences or be held accountable for the criminal act of endangering safety under Article 138 of the Criminal Code of Serbia. I believe that the relevant prosecutor's offices should follow the example of the Third Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade, which detained suspects for chanting in the Belgrade Arena and endangering the safety of Brankica Stanković, especially as the social context is changing and because perpetrators and authors of many death and violence threats do not hide behind pseudonyms, but issue threats under their real names,” stated Veran Matić, President of the ANEM Board and member of the SRG for the Safety of Journalists. 

Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM)

The project "Enhancing the System of Mechanisms for Prevention and Response in Cases of Threats to the Safety and Lives of Female and Male Journalists in Serbia" is conducted 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 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 Media Freedom in Serbia."