ANEM ALARM: A journalist, Marko Dragoslavić, was followed by an unknown man who threatened him along the way, saying: "I will kill you."
The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) is seriously concerned about the physical safety of freelance journalist Marko Dragoslavić and calls on the relevant authorities to take immediate action in the recent case of the journalist being followed by an unknown man.
On Saturday, January 17, in the evening, while walking on Zvezdara, Dragoslavić was approached by an unknown man who began to hurl insults and curses at him, such as "Shut up, you whore," while following him. The unknown individual also said, "I’m following you home." Despite multiple warnings to keep his distance and stop following him, the individual did not respond.
At one point, he directed a death threat at Dragoslavić: "You are not aware; I’m going to beat you up!" The journalist managed to record the person who was following him with his mobile phone, and the individual can be identified from that recording. Dragoslavić was able to distance himself and went directly to the Zvezdara Police Station, where he reported the threats, stalking, and intimidation. A record was also made during this occasion.
Veran Matić, the president of the Board of ANEM, a member of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists, and the operator of the Safe Line for journalists at 0800 100 115, reported this case to the prosecutor's office. Just two days earlier, threats and interference in the work of Marko Dragoslavić had been reported at an illegal construction site in the Stepin Lug forest. Following that, Dragoslavić also received threats on social media.
ANEM warns that the latest threats, intimidation, and stalking may be linked to reporting on illegal construction, which is when the most recent threats began.
“We demand an urgent response from the police and the prosecutor's office in identifying and arresting the individual who made the threats, as there is a recording that clearly shows the situation—so that freelance journalist Marko Dragoslavić can be proactively protected, given the number of threats he has faced, the intimidation, the approach, the stalking, and the direct death threat on the street near the journalist's residence, which leads to a real possibility of a physical attack,” stated Veran Matić, calling on the media community to show solidarity in regard to such and similar attacks on media workers.
Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM)
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.
The OSCE Mission to Serbia supported the ANEM project "24/7 SOS Helpline for Assistance to Journalists and Other Threatened Media Workers," within the project funded by the European Union "Strengthening Freedom of Expression and Media Freedom in Serbia."
