Civil initiatives: Attacks, threats, targeting, SLAPP lawsuits marked the year 2024.
Physical and verbal attacks and threats via social media have intensified following the collapse of the awning in Novi Sad and the start of the protests. Journalists from independent media outlets reported on the protests, which did not sit well with government representatives who accused the media of conducting a "colored revolution" in collaboration with civil society organizations, according to a report published today by Civic Initiatives titled "Citizen Associations – Shrinking Space for Action 2024."
In the report, it is also added that representatives of the ruling coalition, through their violent behavior, encourage their supporters to attack journalistic teams from "undesirable" media at public gatherings, as well as that insults directed at the media by government officials in Serbia are a regular occurrence.
"This rhetoric is then spread through pro-government media, which publish video clips that directly target independent journalists and media. This subsequently leads to an increase in death threats, as well as an increase in physical attacks on all 23 targeted individuals. Activists and human rights defenders are also subjected to the same intimidation mechanisms," the report by Civic Initiatives states.
According to their claims, in addition to organized targeting campaigns and verbal and physical attacks, journalists are also facing other pressures and obstacles in their work, which hinder professional and impartial reporting.
The most commonly used method to prevent independent journalists from reporting, it is added, is the denial of accreditations and the obstruction of attending events of public interest, such as sessions of local assemblies.
The report also assesses that strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP) are another form of pressure directed at journalists, organizations, and activists. In SLAPP proceedings, economically or politically powerful individuals act as plaintiffs, and the aim of these lawsuits is not to achieve justice, but to intimidate, punish, harass, and mistreat the defendant due to publicly expressed criticism and for pointing out illegal actions by the plaintiffs that threaten the public interest.
"SLAPP suffocates public interest, freedom of expression, as well as civic activism and citizen participation in socio-political life. The lawsuit exhausts the material and time resources of the defendant, which has negative consequences for the mental and physical health of the targeted individuals and for their work and activism. SLAPP lawsuits have been a widely used mechanism of intimidation in 2024. The CASE coalition, which keeps records of SLAPP lawsuits across Europe, published its report on SLAPP lawsuits on December 9. The report highlighted that Serbia is one of the countries with the highest number of recorded SLAPP lawsuits," the report emphasizes, adding that, for example, the investigative portal KRIK is currently facing as many as 19 proceedings.
You can read the entire report at this link.
