ANEM ALARM: Prosecutors in Zaječar protect violent police officers, but not journalists on assignment.

For this reason, the legal representatives filed a criminal complaint with the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Zaječar for the criminal offense of abuse and torture under Article 137, paragraph 3 in conjunction with paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code. The Basic Public Prosecutor's Office dismissed the criminal complaint, accepting the statements of police officers, while the statements of witnesses and the injured party were not adequately evaluated.

Consequently, an appeal was submitted to the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office.

The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office (HPPO) in Zaječar issued a decision (business number Kto. 21/26) rejecting the appeal filed by attorneys Predrag Stanković and Goran Kalčić on behalf of the injured journalist Miljko Stojanović. This decision affirmed the prior decision of the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office to dismiss the criminal complaint against senior police officials.

The legal representatives of journalist Stojanović argued that the Basic Prosecutor's Office had not accurately established the facts, emphasizing that Stojanović was on a journalistic assignment at the critical moment, with visibly displayed identification, and that the witness statements were contradictory.

Higher Public Prosecutor Ivan Marković stated in the decision that a detailed review of the case files determined that the original decision was correct.

The Prosecutor's Office based its decision on the report from the Internal Control Sector of the Ministry of Interior, which found no irregularities in the actions of police officers, as well as on the forensic medical assessment conducted by Dr. Željko Ilić, which concluded that there was no evidence of conduct that could be classified as abuse, torture, or an affront to human dignity.

The decision of the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office is final. According to the legal remedy notice, no appeal or further complaint against this decision is permitted, thereby concluding the proceedings before the Prosecutor's Office.

“The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Zaječar, through a simple review of the case files, concluded that there are no elements for prosecuting this offense ex officio and did not consider, nor did it mention in the reasoning of its decision, the evidence we submitted along with the appeal, which consists of five notarized witness statements – eyewitnesses to the event. They confirm and detail the specific event, pointing out the perpetrators of the criminal offense, as well as the circumstances of what exactly happened.

The Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Zaječar based its decision to dismiss the criminal complaint solely on the statements of police officers, who were directly interested in the outcome of the proceedings in this case.

Furthermore, the Prosecutor's Office did not call any of the witnesses who were present, as can be seen in the video recordings in the case files.

These citizens later signed statements that we attached to the appeal. However, they were not considered at all; only the decision of the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office was confirmed,” said Predrag Stanković, the legal representative of Miljko Stojanović.

This is yet another proof of how the "system" protects abusers. The refusal of the Prosecutor's Offices to fully clarify the violent behavior of senior police officials in Zaječar towards the journalist on assignment, visibly marked by a press vest, as well as the complete trust placed in the statements of police officers who are interested parties, sends a message that the police can continue to use violence against journalists, and that journalists will not be protected – not even by the judicial system.

Miljko Stojanović has not only been impeded in his work but has also been physically attacked multiple times within just fifteen minutes. In addition to physical injuries, his human and professional dignity has been insulted.

"We appeal to the police and the Prosecutor's Office to stop the violence against journalists and to stand in defense of professional journalistic reporting, to protect freedom of speech and safeguard those who work in the public interest,” said Veran Matić, Chairman of the Board of ANEM and member of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists.

In the cases of threats and attacks on Miljko Stojanović, Anđela Risentijević, and the editorial staff of "Glas Zaječara," there is evident impunity, which clearly encourages abusers, as well as the police, to attack journalists with impunity.

This is not a trend, but rather a policy of the authorities in Serbia, as there are only a few convictions among around 200 cases formed against journalists in the Prosecutor's Offices in Serbia.

We face a very challenging period in which a large number of female and male journalists will be endangered if the police, Prosecutor's Offices, and courts do not begin to act in accordance with the law and in protection of the public interest.

We must not allow violence, serious physical injuries, and potential murders of journalists.

Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM)

The project “Improvement of the system for prevention and response mechanisms in cases of threats to the safety and lives of female and male journalists in Serbia” 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.