Convicting verdict for threats against Ljiljana Stojanović and the editorial team of Jugpress from Leskovac.

The victim, Ljiljana Stojanović, emphasized after the verdict was pronounced that she is, on one hand, satisfied with the ruling, but on the other hand, she has a complaint regarding the lengthy court process. She stated that the accused "could have carried out the threat a hundred times by now if he had wanted to."

The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) reminds that in December 2024, Vladimir Stojanović from Bratmilovac near Leskovac sent a comment to the editorial office of Jugpress from his Facebook profile "Vlada Dekorativa," which read: “@Jugpress I think this Vlada Stojanović will come knocking at your door tomorrow to tell you what problem he has from the lower grades and I think he will .ebati everything, don’t quote me on that, but whatever. You’re to blame, Papa.”

After the editor-in-chief responded that he would be reported, Stojanović sent a new comment: “@JUGpress say hello, say hello, remember tomorrow morning.” Additionally, from another account, he sent a comment to Jugpress’s Facebook page saying, “The fascist news agency deletes comments because they don't fit Kurti's mold. I think it wasn’t necessary to mess with me, but that’s your choice, press that works for Đilas and all other traitors, but that can’t be in LE.”

These threats have caused distress and fear for Ljiljana Stojanović, who, in addition to being the editor-in-chief of Jugpress agency and portal, is also a member of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists (SRG). Due to the threats directed at them, other members of the Jugpress editorial team, an independent local media outlet, have also felt fear and distress.

The Special Department for the Fight Against High-Tech Crime has filed an indictment following the identification of Vladimir Stojanović, proposing that after the evidentiary proceedings, he be sentenced to one year in prison, conditionally for three years.

After the accused admitted guilt and the victim stated that she had seen him near the editorial office after the disputed publication, the prosecutor requested that a restraining order be issued, prohibiting the accused from approaching the victim within 200 meters of her residence and workplace, as well as any other communication. "The Jugpress editorial team and Ljiljana Stojanović are continuously under threat and other forms of security risk. Despite numerous reports to the police and the prosecutor's office, this is the first case that has been resolved judicially, and that with the punishment of the perpetrator who admitted the criminal act. However, this is only the tenth case resolved by verdict out of nearly 250 cases reported to prosecutors in Serbia in the past year and a half. The number of threats and attacks on journalists has increased by 18 percent this year compared to the record last year," warned Veran Matić, a member of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists and president of ANEM.

Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM)

The project “Improving the System of Mechanisms for Prevention and Response in Cases of Threats to the Safety and Life of Female and Male Journalists in Serbia” is implemented by ANEM in partnership with Insider TV and the Center for the Development of Local Media, with support from the European Union.