ANEM ALARM: Journalists from the Voice of Zaječar and Nova S were prevented from reporting at the SNS gathering because they represent a "threat to security."
The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) strongly condemns the actions of the security personnel at the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) gathering in Zaječar, who pushed, detained, and ultimately prevented journalist Katarina Golubović from Nova S and the team from Glas Zaječara, consisting of Miljko Stojanović and Đorđe Đorđević, from reporting on the public event of the ruling party in that city. Journalists from Nova S and Glas Zaječara were told that they "represented a threat to security" after being pushed, stopped, and ultimately prevented from performing their journalistic duties by SNS security. Some members of the security team struck the camera of Glas Zaječara.
ANEM records an established practice whereby independent journalists are prevented from reporting on public gatherings of the SNS and the electoral list "United Serbia – Aleksandar Vučić". Attacks on journalists, pushing, insults, and physical and verbal confrontations with reporters whose job is to convey information of public importance have become an integral part of the SNS campaign for parliamentary elections. ANEM calls on police representatives present at these events to intervene and prevent attacks, physical and verbal confrontations, and to allow all media representatives whose goal is to inform the public about events of public significance to carry out their work.
It is particularly concerning that journalists Katarina Golubović and Miljko Stojanović, along with cameraman Đorđe Đorđević, were today in Zaječar characterized as a "threat to security." ANEM reminds all institutions, political actors, supporters, and attendees at public gatherings that independent journalists are not a threat; rather, they are often the ones whose safety is at risk. We especially call on members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs to protect the constitutionally guaranteed right of citizens to be informed, as well as the right of journalists to inform freely, instead of preventing professional reporting by obstructing journalists while obediently following the orders of SNS security.
During the pre-election campaign alone, ANEM recorded a series of attacks and preventions of independent journalists from reporting on public gatherings of the SNS and the electoral list "United Serbia – Aleksandar Vučić". Journalists were prevented from reporting in Kragujevac, Bečej, Ruma, Zrenjanin, and Niš.
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 Life of Journalists in Serbia" is being implemented by ANEM in partnership with Insider TV and the Center for Development of Local Media, with the support of the European Union.
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