ANEM ALARM: Threats have been directed to the editor of Žig info from the account of an official from the municipality of Grocka.
The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) strongly condemns the insults and disturbing threats of physical violence directed at Željko Matorčević, the editor of the Žig Info portal, sent via the Messenger application from the account of the assistant to the president of the Grocka municipality, Bojan Pitka Pitulić. In calling for the immediate sanctioning of the municipal officials behind these threats, ANEM emphasizes that this is the latest in a series of violent threats against journalists and editors of Žig Info. We remind that colleague Matorčević suffered serious bodily injuries in an attack in October 2018, and that his colleague Milan Jovanović had his house set on fire in December of the same year. Due to incitement to the arson of Jovanović’s house, former president of the Grocka municipality Dragoljub Simonović was sentenced to prison, but the attacker who assaulted and beat Matorčević has never been prosecuted.
On the night between September 12 and 13, 2026, the editor of Žig Info received a message from the Facebook account of the assistant to the president of the municipality, Bojan Pitulić, in which he was threatened with physical violence and accused of “hitting a child with a stalker,” along with the comment, “you found out who hit you and you continue to provoke my family and me.”
“During the night between Saturday and Sunday, I received a series of insulting and threatening messages from the assistant to the president of the Grocka Municipal Assembly, Bojan Pitulić. I really do not know why I received these messages, considering that he and his family were not the subject of our recent journalistic investigation. I remind you that Pitulić has previously sent inappropriate messages, despite warnings from ANEM and NUNS that such threats from public officials are dangerous to journalists' safety. It is particularly concerning that the messages come unprovoked from officials in Leštane, the same place where I was brutally attacked eight years ago, and where the perpetrators are still supposedly being sought. While the authorities are ‘searching,’ I again receive insults and threats at midnight,” stated Matorčević in a report to the SOS line dedicated to the safety of journalists. Matorčević adds that he finds it disturbing to even comment on “nonsense” like Pitulić's claim that he “hit a child with a stalker.”
ANEM reminds that Matorčević, as well as the journalists of the Žig Info editorial team, have been threatened multiple times, and that the endangerment of their safety has come from circles of municipal officials or people close to them. The latest threats and disturbing messages also originate from local officials. “Žig Info” has been under constant attack of threats, pressure, and SLAPP lawsuits in recent years due to its investigative work and critical approach towards the local government in the Belgrade municipality of Grocka. The former president of the Grocka municipality, Dragoljub Simonović, has filed over 20 lawsuits and criminal complaints against this media outlet.
“The disturbing and threatening messages directed at Željko Matorčević by the assistant to the president of the Grocka municipality, Bojan Pitulić, are unacceptable and especially dangerous given how much the Žig Info portal has been attacked by the very circles of the leading officials of this municipality. There have been practically two attempted murders: one serious beating of Matorčević and then an attempted murder of Milan Jovanović by setting fire to his family home, from which he miraculously survived. We perceive these unprovoked messages as particularly dangerous, especially when issued during an election campaign and after hundreds of attacks on journalists that have not been prosecuted. We call upon the relevant authorities, both local and national, to protect journalists and the Žig Info editorial team,” stated Veran Matić, president of the ANEM Management Board and member of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists.
ANEM appeals to all journalists and media representatives to regularly report any kind of safety threats while performing their work. A free phone number and direct line are available to all journalists at ANEM: 0800 100 115, where media representatives can obtain explanations regarding the legal treatment of offenses and the procedures that should be initiated to report threats to safety to the relevant institutions, police, and prosecution.
Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM)
The project “Improving the System of Prevention and Response Mechanisms in Cases of Threats to the Safety and Life of Journalists in Serbia” is being implemented by ANEM in partnership with Insider TV and the Center for the Development of Local Media, with the support of the European Union.
The OSCE Mission to Serbia has supported ANEM's project “24/7 SOS Hotline for Assistance to Journalists and Other Threatened Media Workers” within the EU-funded project “Strengthening Freedom of Expression and Media Freedom in Serbia.”
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