FAR: The fight for freedom continues against increasingly stronger barriers from the authorities.

In the midst of current student and civic protests and the struggle of young people for genuine changes in society, the rule of law, functioning institutions, and media freedom, the pressures and barriers from the current authorities are intensifying, not only on citizens but also on objective, professional, and independent media. This is particularly evident in smaller communities, and the immense nervousness of the politicians in power in Dimitrovgrad is also directed at FAR, equating it with political opponents and viewing it as an opposition media outlet.

By reporting on the student movement and the changes this rebellion has initiated in society, this small bilingual media company in southeastern Serbia has once again become an enemy of those who consider themselves the rulers of the lives of all citizens, labeling those who oppose the autocratic regime as enemies of the local community and society as a whole.

In recent months, work has become unbearable under such circumstances, say those at this media outlet, emphasizing that the majority of media in the Pirot district remain financially dependent on the SNS and inert to the upcoming changes for the benefit of the community.

“Although we are alone in the fight for media and civil rights, the trust of the local community, the Bulgarian minority, and the entire audience of our small media beacon has grown stronger, giving us strength for the battle we are fighting under unequal conditions. Since they have not succeeded in defeating us in a chivalrous manner, they have resorted to all forms of pressure – from political to economic, and ultimately applied digital repression, spying, and installing spy software on colleague Slaviša Milanov's phone. This has not discouraged us on our path to honest and objective journalism, with the journalistic pen as our main weapon,” says Petar Videnov, the editor-in-chief of FAR.

The prosecution remains silent, pressures continue

The story of the victims of digital repression, including FAR journalist and president of the citizens' association "Emblema" Slaviša Milanov, is still relevant. The Prosecutor's Office for High-Tech Crime simply remains silent.

“Unauthorized access to the data on my mobile device by members of the police and the Security Information Agency (BIA), as well as the illegal installation of the spying software “NoviSpy,” has disrupted my life and work rhythm, the peace in the newsroom, and my family’s tranquility. It has been over a year since this traumatic act, and the complaint I filed with the Prosecutor's Office for High-Tech Crime is still sitting in some drawer with no indication that the case will be resolved anytime soon,” emphasizes Slaviša Milanov.

The case of Milanov prompted the OSCE Mission to Serbia, the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM), and the Internet Portal FAR to organize a  meeting  with representatives of journalistic and media associations that are members of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists at the end of March in Dimitrovgrad.

It was noted at the gathering that the pressure on journalists is not diminishing and that the authorities still do not conduct an investigation into the digital surveillance of journalists and activists. This event was also covered by the crew from Insajder TV, which filmed a series on the safety of journalists in Serbia titled “Press – Don’t Shoot”, in which FAR journalist Slaviša Milanov participated.

The International Network of Journalists Forbidden Stories, based in Paris, has also taken an interest in Milanov, who was targeted by cyber surveillance tools. They jointly investigated this issue with FAR, as well as suspicious contracts for work financed with public funds.

This joint investigative story  by Forbidden Stories and FAR titled “Suspicious Tenders and Spying on Journalists: A Small Serbian Town in the Clutches of Corruption” has been published in English, French, German, Serbian, Bulgarian, and other languages.

Labeling of FAR by the mayor continues

One of the pressures from the current authorities in Dimitrovgrad on FAR occurred in early February when the mayor of Dimitrovgrad, Vladica Dimitrov, accused FAR investigative journalist and civic activist Sergej Ivanov of attempting to bribe local assembly members by offering them money for “recomposing” the government during the “Current” program on TV Caribrod.

In connection with this case, the Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia (NUNS) reacted, and Ivanov filed a lawsuit against Dimitrov due to this public accusation.

Ironically, the police simultaneously initiated a misdemeanor procedure against five young men, participants in the civic protests in Dimitrovgrad, on suspicion of disturbing public order and peace, or, as stated in the description of the offense, throwing fresh eggs at the municipal building. Among the accused is the son of Sergej Ivanov.

Another mention of the FAR Portal came from the mayor in a new episode of “Current” on local television on May 14. Commenting on a statement from a recently held citizens’ assembly regarding the favoritism of media serving the SNS, Vladica Dimitrov stated that all employees at FAR are blockers on the street and that the media are not favored. This case has also been reported to NUNS as another form of pressure on FAR.

Shortly after that, the municipality of Dimitrovgrad announced the results of this year’s media competition. The same picture as in previous years. Of the 13.8 million dinars, televisions close to the SNS received the majority of the funds. Based on the commission's proposal, this year, media owned by businessman Radoica Milosavljević from Kruševac, close to the SNS, were allocated 11.1 million dinars, which is about 80% of the total funds.

FAR banned from broadcasting KUD concert

Completely unexpectedly, FAR received a message that it is no longer welcome at the Dimitrovgrad Cultural Center, which organizes the annual concert of the Cultural and Artistic Society “Caribrod” every year.

Although the FAR team filmed the atmosphere at this folkloric event on May 10, the media was unable to broadcast the video recording since it received a written notification from the director of this institution, Albena Milev, the wife of an SNS activist and deputy mayor Dejan Milev, prohibiting the broadcasting of the concert.

The explanation states, among other things, that KUD “Caribrod,” as an organizational unit of the Cultural Center, has the obligation to create choreographies that are its own, citing the law on copyright and related rights.

This has caused dissatisfaction among FAR's audience and the citizens of Dimitrovgrad, who were deprived of watching a concert in which children of mostly school age participated. KUD is amateur, and this is a kind of precedent in the recent history of culture in Dimitrovgrad.

“The fight for freedom continues amid ever-increasing barriers from the authorities,” say those in the editorial office of this minority media company that publishes information in Bulgarian and Serbian.

Source: UNS