ANEM ALARM: Zoomer journalist hit in the head, received insults instead of protection from the police.

Nikolić recorded the SNS stand set up in front of the National Theatre from the opposite side of the street and stopped filming to cross the street and capture the situation at the student stand. At that moment, one of four or five large young men from the median island threw an oval ceramic-metal object at Nikolić, hitting him in the temple area.

The attacker pulled up his hood to conceal his face, while another person next to him showed the journalist a middle finger, accompanied by homophobic remarks and insults. Nikolić reported the attack to the police and provided a statement to the prosecutor's office. According to Nikolić, the prosecutor ordered further investigative actions and was extremely informed about the attack on him and other journalists, in contrast to the police on the ground, whose response during last night's attack was lacking. When Nikolić approached the uniformed police officers present at the scene, they refused to intervene and directed him to the commander of the police station "Medijana," who instructed him to report the case to the Niš Police Department. After being heard at "Medijana," where a report was prepared, and accompanied by the police, Nikolić underwent a medical examination, which confirmed minor head injuries.

The correspondent of Zoomer reported being subjected to insults and inappropriate comments at one of the police stations, which led Nikolić to warn him that he would report this to the Internal Control Department. Among the comments made by the police officer was the question, "What did you expect?"

Such behavior by the police officer is unacceptable, as it is their duty to protect journalists, act professionally, and without discrimination, rather than exposing journalists to further violence with their comments. ANEM reminds that Nikolić has been subjected to attacks in the field multiple times in recent weeks, as well as homophobic targeting in regime media.

We demand that the police and the relevant prosecutor's office urgently identify and prosecute the attacker, including any possible hate motive based on the actual or presumed sexual orientation of the journalist. Furthermore, we demand that the Internal Control Sector of the Ministry of the Interior examine the conduct of the police officers, both those who did not react to the report of the attack on the spot and the officer who, according to the journalist, made insulting comments during the statement-taking.

ANEM warns that homophobic targeting and public stigmatization of Nikolić further jeopardize his safety. It is particularly concerning when discriminatory behavior comes from representatives of institutions that are obligated to provide protection. Journalists must have the ability to report freely and safely, without fear of physical attacks or discrimination, regardless of their actual or presumed sexual orientation and the media for which they work.

We remind you that Nikolić has been subjected to attacks and insults, including homophobic ones, multiple times while reporting from SNS supporters' gatherings. In recent weeks, he has also been a target of targeting in regime media, which have used edited footage from his journalistic work in attempts to discredit him based on actual or presumed sexual orientation. A video featuring Nikolić on the social media platform X was posted by the editor-in-chief of the tabloid Informer, Dragan J. Vučićević. The portal NišTV.rs published content in which Nikolić and the editorial team of ZOOMER were presented in an offensive and homophobic context, alongside attempts to discredit them both professionally and personally.