ANEM alarm: Police recorded the anniversary of the disappearance of Perenić and Slavuja, with one of them having the OVK designation on their phone.

“At our last gathering, something interesting happened that could further engage the international community. Both Serbs, Albanians, and foreigners understand that the abduction of Perenić and Slavuja was carried out by the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). We spoke about this, about the conspiracy of silence and impunity, and then later we realized and confirmed that we were being recorded by plainclothes police officers, and that one of the police members, while filming us on his mobile phone, had a clearly visible emblem of the Kosovo Liberation Army. Not understanding what was happening, we invited them to join us for a group photo. Only after the event did we ask them which editorial office they were from, and they had to respond that they were police,” said Živojin Rakočević, president of the Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS).

As he stated, journalists are afraid that such actions could mean that “indictments for hate speech will be drawn up, which has become a practice of the Kosovo authorities.”

ANEM points out that such behavior by the police is inappropriate, poses a threat to the safety of journalists, and is an attack on free information. The Association emphasizes that at such an event, and on such a sensitive topic, the present journalists cannot interpret it in any other way than as intimidation.

ANEM urges international and local institutions to investigate this incident.

Rakočević believes that only the international community can prevent such behavior, as well as investigate the murders of journalists in Kosovo.

“If the international community does not urgently act, if it does not form a commission to investigate the crimes against all 17 murdered, abducted, and missing journalists—Serbs, Albanians, and foreigners—something very strange will happen. The police and courts will prosecute those of us who seek investigations into these crimes and justice. It is encouraging that representatives of the OSCE are fully present with us and that this year, representatives of KFOR appeared at the site of the abduction,” said Rakočević.

“Unfortunately, it is not unexpected that the families of the victims or those insisting on investigations will be marked as new targets and possible victims of violence,” stated Veran Matić, president of the Board of the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) and member of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists.

“Instead of having news about investigations into the kidnappings and murders of journalists, it is horrifying to witness the intimidation of families and colleagues who are commemorating these dreadful fates,” emphasized Matić.

ANEM insists that the international community fully take responsibility for the care and investigations of kidnapped and murdered journalists, as the representatives of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo have been doing alone for years.

Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM)

The project "System for Preventing Violence and Protecting Journalists" is implemented by ANEM in partnership with Insider TV and the Center for the Development of Local Media, with the support of the European Union and the Balkan Democracy Fund.