ANEM ALARM: Pretnje Marku Vidojkoviću ne jenjavaju

On September 10, a person with an Instagram profile under the name Zoran Kosorić threatened to "attack the life and body" of journalist Vidojković by sending a message stating: "Just like that, you'll end up in a sewer," which constitutes the criminal offense of Endangering Safety under Article 138, paragraph 3 of the Criminal Code, according to the assessment of lawyers from NDNV.

The criminal complaint, along with evidence, was submitted today to the Special Prosecutor's Office for High-Tech Crime.

ANEM reminds that the authors of the podcast "Good, Bad, Evil," Marko Vidojković and Nenad Kulačin, are among the most exposed media workers in Serbia regarding death threats received on social media. Since 2019, more than 25 cases have been opened in the prosecution offices concerning threats to these two individuals, of which only three have resulted in convictions.

We once again demand that the relevant authorities, the police and the prosecutor's office, review all cases of threats, pressure, attacks, and other forms of endangering the safety of journalists and media workers, as it is unacceptable for media professionals to live and work in fear for their safety, even when, like Vidojković, they have been forced to leave the country for their own and their family's safety. Without safe journalists, one cannot speak of media freedom and quality information for citizens, and the impunity of such cases sends a negative message that attacks on media workers are permissible rather than that perpetrators should be held accountable for such behavior.

ANEM appeals to all journalists, female journalists, and media representatives to regularly report any form of endangerment to their safety while performing their work. A toll-free number and direct line of ANEM, 0800 100 115, is available to all journalists, where media representatives can obtain explanations about the legal treatment of offenses and the procedures that should be initiated to report endangerment to the relevant institutions, police, and prosecutor's office.

The project "Enhancing the System of Prevention and Response Mechanisms in Cases of Threats to the Safety and Life of Female and Male Journalists in Serbia" 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 in Serbia has supported ANEM's project "24/7 SOS Helpline for Assistance to Journalists and Other Endangered Media Workers," as part of the EU-funded project "Strengthening Freedom of Expression and Media Freedom in Serbia."