ANEM ALARM: Incitement of national hatred and disturbing messages on local portals Bečejski mozaik and Vranje News.

Messages were received from the account of Milan Rakić: “You will hang like you and the quasi-student... Nazi offspring,” Mirko Zec: “This journalist from Bečej is as much a Serb as Picula. Maybe he is more of a Serb,” Miroslav Smoljic: “I’ll shove it to… You too, journalist, and students… all under the sword.”

The following messages were sent: “Scum,” “...Supporters of the Hungarians are paid...,” “I find this journalist's accent suspicious,” “Where is this ‘journalist’ from? She talks to me like Eva Ras; it doesn’t seem to me that she is from Serbia?,” “Suck... called from N1 MRS,” Dragica Simić: “...I will screw your student mother, 80 percent Vučić will win, if not. At which stand, look at the kobill, the rest of the stands won’t work. Kobilo, succeed, separate Vojvodina, do you understand?” from the account obetshanjeludom: “Cow, and to him...?” from the account petar.peric: “SHUT UP, USTAŠA WHORE, PROVOCATEUR, AND NO ONE TO BEAT HER,” from the account goran39528: “...YOU USTA JORNALIST USTAŠA WHORE, ROTTEN.”

During the past year, Kristina Demeter Filipčev has repeatedly received similar threats and disturbing messages, and out of three reported cases to the prosecutor's office and police, none has been resolved with a conviction. As in numerous other cases, institutions have not protected journalists for two years. Due to the lack of accountability, this string of very different and highly aggressive threats has been directed at a journalist who performs her job very professionally and for a media outlet that recently received recognition “for professional work, respect for the journalist code, and perseverance and courage in the fight for freedom of speech in challenging circumstances, under attacks, pressures, and threats.”

The Vranje News portal from Vranje also received a disturbing message from the account cveticaninzeljko06@gmail.com. In the past period, threats and disturbing messages were also received by Magločistač from Subotica, IN Media from Inđija, the editorial office of Južne vesti, and others. In none of these cases did the competent institutions reveal the identity and prosecute the perpetrator.

“Journalists, professional and independent media are operating under the most difficult conditions in Europe today, according to numerous international organizations. Journalist Kristina Demeter Filipčev, just a few hours after publishing a professionally done report, received an explosive mixture that threatens her, the editorial office, and her family’s safety. Vulgarities combined with hate speech and racist messages that incite national intolerance and misogyny represent a true picture of the rhetoric and behavior of the authorities in Serbia, from the very top – the president, the speaker of the assembly, ministers, and members of parliament. This narrative that incites aggression and physical violence by the authorities’ thugs, especially directed against female journalists and journalists, can lead to tragic consequences. ANEM once again calls on institutions to protect journalists, prosecute perpetrators, and urges representatives of the authorities to cease the toxic rhetoric that incites the lowest passions and leads to violence,” stated Veran Matić, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM), member of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists and operator of the Safe Line for journalists 0800 100 115.

Threats will be reported to the competent institutions, and colleagues will receive legal and other protection and support.

Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM)

The project “Improvement of the system mechanism for prevention and response in cases of threats to the safety and life of female and male journalists in Serbia” is conducted by ANEM with partners Insider 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.”