ANEM ALARM: Excessive use of force against journalists, professors, and students at the Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad.
The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) strongly condemns the excessive use of force at the Faculty of Philosophy in Novi Sad against journalists, professors, and students who gathered in protest against the dismissal of media department professor Jelena Kleut.
The police entered the premises of this faculty in large numbers this evening, which represents an unacceptable and gross violation of the autonomy of the faculty. During the dispersal of the gathered citizens, they excessively used force against those present, by striking with shields and kicking at their legs.
Among those physically pushed out of the faculty and injured in the process was Professor Jelena Kleut, for whom the gathering was protesting, as well as several media crews monitoring the events in Novi Sad. Journalists from Blokada Info, Mašina, Danas, and other media outlets were also physically pushed aside and obstructed in their work, despite some visibly wearing vests marked "Press" and displaying their credentials.
ANEM reminds the Ministry of Internal Affairs that the job of journalists and media workers is to report from events of public interest, while it is the police's duty to protect media representatives and ensure their uninterrupted performance of journalistic work in public spaces. Interference with the media by the police is unacceptable, and we demand that the relevant authorities immediately cease such practices and sanction all police members who excessively use force against journalists and citizens, as well as those who issue such orders.
We have witnessed a record number of attacks and obstruction of journalistic teams in the field during 2025, often even by the police themselves, and this trend clearly continues at the very beginning of this year. We appeal to all relevant authorities and state officials to respond in such cases to halt the negative trend regarding the jeopardization of the work and safety of media workers in Serbia.
ANEM also urges all journalists and media representatives to regularly report any form of safety threats while performing their work through the Safe Line 0800 100 115.
Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM)
The project “System for the Prevention of Violence and Protection of Journalists” is being 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 in Serbia has supported ANEM's project “24/7 SOS Hotline for Assistance to Journalists and Other At-Risk Media Workers,” within the project financed by the European Union “Strengthening Freedom of Expression and Media Freedom in Serbia.”
