ANEM in Vranje - Instead of an apology, the attacked journalist receives a criminal complaint from the assailant
The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) organized a meeting today with representatives of local media in Vranje regarding the attack by the director of the Public Utility Company "Komrad," Zoran Dimitrijević, on journalist Jelena Stojković from Večernje novosti and the case of the illegal structure that blocked OK Radio in this city. The President of the ANEM Board, Veran Matić, spoke with more than 10 journalists from various local editorial offices about the security situation for media representatives in the city.
Matić emphasized that he had written to the Mayor of Vranje regarding these two cases, but that a response had not arrived by the time of this meeting, despite the fact that these are examples of the endangerment of journalists' safety.
“In the last few months, we have recorded a sharp deterioration in the safety of journalists in Serbia. Among the attackers on media employees, we can see that some are members of the police, the very ones who are supposed to protect journalists while they perform their work. I appeal for journalistic solidarity and for us to look out for each other as much as we can, as there are slim chances that the legal system will protect us,” emphasized Matić.
Jelena Stojković, a journalist for Večernje novosti, thanked all journalistic associations and local newsrooms for their support. As she explained, the attack by the director of JKP “Komrad” occurred during a regular workday when she was with colleagues and citizens near the landfill, when suddenly Dimitrijević appeared, twisted her arm, and seized her phone.
According to her, the Mayor of Vranje was standing there and turned his head at that moment.
“The police's reaction was absent. The locals reacted and said - leave the woman alone, give her phone back. He returned my phone and disappeared. And that was the end of our communication. There was no apology, and instead of an apology, I found out that I was part of a criminal complaint filed by the director of that company,” Stojković stated.
Veran Matić, who is also a member of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists, met with representatives of the prosecutor's office during his visit to Vranje, who are the contact points for ensuring the safety of journalists in that city.
The project "System for the Prevention of Violence and Protection of Journalists" is implemented by ANEM in partnership with Insajder TV and the Center for the Development of Local Media, with the support of the European Union and the Balkan Fund for Democracy.
