ANEM: Veran Matić gave a statement to the prosecutor's office regarding the attack, Alo and Informer are spreading falsehoods.

Matić pointed out the fact that the tabloids Alo and Informer published surveillance camera footage from the National Assembly building showing the attack, but with a completely distorted interpretation of events. In just one sentence, they presented at least three falsehoods: that he was filming people for no reason, that he was harassing them, and that he hit a young man. This has sparked a new wave of insults and targeting of Matić on social media.

In a statement given to the prosecutor's office, Matić reiterated that he has felt threatened since August of last year, when Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, appearing on a nationally televised program, stated that all those who were imprisoned because of Veran Matić should have their convictions erased from their records, so he could buy them a bottle of drink, deliver it to their homes, and apologize to them. Following that statement, Matić requested a security risk assessment.

A month later, the Ministry of Internal Affairs informed him that there were elements threatening his safety and that a decision had been made to increase patrols near his place of residence. He was also informed that the assessment was made, among other things, based on knowledge that an individual who had been in prison in Niš had planned to liquidate Veran Matić. Today, he was informed that the increased patrol measure around his residence is still being implemented.

When Đorđe Prelić intervened during the attack in front of the National Assembly, having been sentenced to ten years in prison for his involvement in the murder of Bris Taton, and addressed him with the words that TV B92 and Insajder had destroyed his life, Matić justifiably assessed that his safety was at risk, especially considering the previous message from the president.

Due to the Insajder series (In)ability of the State and the threats that followed, Brankica Stanković and Veran Matić were under police protection for more than five years. Even today, at matches, threatening and offensive songs about Brankica Stanković are sung again, while individuals convicted of serious crimes control the area in front of the National Assembly, the Presidency of Serbia, and the City Assembly of Belgrade, attacking journalists as well as other citizens.

We also remind that in January, a propaganda film full of lies about Veran Matić was broadcast on several national television channels and dozens of portals, aimed at discrediting, dehumanizing, and marking him as a target. In that film, he was portrayed as the greatest traitor of the Serbian people and responsible for all suffering – from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina to Kosovo. This toxic propaganda pamphlet is almost re-broadcast weekly on Informer TV, each time inciting a new smear campaign and further jeopardizing his safety.

Attacks on Veran Matić are becoming increasingly frequent and dangerous, as are attacks on numerous other female and male journalists in Serbia. ANEM calls on the European Commission and other international institutions to insist on stopping the escalation of attacks and threats directed against journalists and media in Serbia.

A Serbia without independent and professional media is a country without a future.

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 Journalists in Serbia" 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.