ANEM alarm: Over 30 attacks on Novi Sad journalist Žarko Bogosavljević

Žarko Bogosavljević, the editor-in-chief of the Razglas news portal, is one of the most exposed individuals at all events in Novi Sad, yet he almost never reports attacks and threats because he does not trust the institutions to resolve such cases.

Two days ago, a member of the SNS struck him on the arm and knocked his mobile phone out of his hand while he was recording the event, marked as a journalist, in front of a café where a protest by citizens and students was organized. The day before, a member of private security threatened him and attempted to prevent him from recording the event outside the Fair.

Since November 5 of last year, Bogosavljević has been among the journalists who have been attacked outside the SNS premises, receiving insults and threats when the cameraman Juronjuza was violently and deliberately knocked down. A little later, during a blockade of the court, he was roughly pushed aside by the police along with other journalists. For the next week, the same scenario continued – rough pushing that typically involved punches. When the gendarmerie got involved in the following days, journalists were struck with shields and kicked in the legs.

In one instance, during the pushing, Bogosavljević was knocked down, and only thanks to the quick thinking of a woman who helped him get up did he avoid being trampled. In another case, a security worker knocked his mobile phone out of his hand while he was recording events outside the building, which can be classified as an attack on property. Inside the Vojvodina Assembly, they were also restricted in movement except in certain zones, and journalists were crammed into a small room, practically locked in, while they could only enter the Assembly hall to take photographs at the door in a space of about 2 square meters, surrounded by security personnel.

In several instances, he was sprayed with pepper spray, even though he was visibly marked as a journalist, which the police used against demonstrators. During these occasions, journalists also received blows from shields and batons.

Žarko regularly receives threats on the street from passersby and drivers who recognize him as a journalist, and during the "16 minutes of silence," opponents of the blockades frequently approach him with insults, curses, and threats, shouting or whispering in his ear. Both he and his family are constantly targeted by tabloids, which have even published the address of the Bogosavljević family home.

In the case of this well-known journalist from Novi Sad alone, we have counted over thirty attacks, threats, and insults since the protests began in November of last year.

These types of physical attacks, threats, and insults, pepper spray, and violence from the police, private security, or citizens are experienced by all journalists covering protests and other public gatherings.

ANEM once again demands that the police take care of journalists, protect them at these gatherings, and refrain from using force and chemical agents against them. We call on the Internal Control Service to urgently resolve all cases of abuse of authority and violations of the law by police representatives in all instances, especially in relation to journalists.

Veran Matić, President of the ANEM Board and Member of the Permanent Working Group for Journalist Safety

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 and the Balkan Fund for Democracy.