ANEM welcomes the arrest of two more suspects for endangering the safety of Brankica Stanković.

We welcome the swift and efficient response of the police, who located the individuals on the run, as well as the actions of the Third Basic Public Prosecutor's Office, which issued an order for the apprehension and questioning of those suspected of threatening Brankica Stanković. ANEM submitted the report in 2023.

In the same case, R. R. and D. M. were questioned today, and they denied committing the criminal offense. However, the prosecution proposed that detention be ordered due to circumstances indicating that they might influence a witness, as well as special circumstances suggesting that they could reoffend in a short period of time.

ANEM commends the assessment of the Third Basic Public Prosecutor's Office that journalists must be protected from threats and violence, and that it will decisively take all legally prescribed measures to prosecute those responsible and demand their strict punishment.

We would like to remind you of the statement made by Veran Matić, President of the ANEM Board and member of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists (SRG), regarding the information about the order from the Third Basic Public Prosecutor's Office for the arrest of those suspected of endangering the safety of Brankica Stanković:

“Although the apprehension of several suspects for endangering the safety of Brankica Stanković came with a delay, I believe it is very important that the Third Basic Public Prosecutor's Office recognized the danger of attacks on journalists and reacted as soon as a broader social context was established. It is now extremely important that other reports, which have remained unresolved for years, be processed in the same manner, as the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists requested a few days ago. It is crucial for independent state institutions, such as the prosecutor's office and the police, to send a message to all who have threatened and endangered journalists that such behavior is punishable and that all those responsible for attacks and intimidation will be sanctioned.”

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 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.