Media Freedom Coalition: The Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade has launched a campaign against the media and journalists.
The Coalition for Media Freedom strongly condemns the widespread and clearly premeditated campaign targeting the media and journalists, initiated by the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade with its controversial statement announcing investigative actions related to the student-civic protest that took place on March 15 of last year in Belgrade.
This prosecution office, which has long been considered by a significant portion of the public as an instrument in the hands of the executive power, has announced an investigation into the "sound cannon" case, specifically regarding whether the incident at the Belgrade rally, where thousands of people fled the street due to an "unusual sound" that disturbed them and caused health issues for some, was premeditated and rehearsed with the aim of inciting unrest and leading to a violent change of the constitutional order and endangering the security of the state.
We do not wish to delve into the merits of the case or to assess the extent to which the statement of the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office aligns with the law, logic, and common sense, to what degree it makes claims that should only be proven in court, or how much it seeks to divert attention from other important political and social issues. Rather, we want to point out the fact that it contains a warning of serious threats to freedom of expression and media freedoms, as well as the establishment of potential criminal liability for spoken words and opinions.
Immediately following the announcement, a wide campaign targeting independent media and journalists who reported on this incident or expressed opinions about it was launched in media close to the authorities and on social networks, wherein calls for their accountability for "simulating an incident" and arrest for "participating in a coup" are made.
They are accused of being part of an "organized media group" working in the interest of the enemies of the state and society.
The Coalition for Media Freedom believes that this case is part of an open, systematic, extensive, and intense intimidation and suppression of media freedom and freedom of expression, as well as a warning that it may enter an even more sinister phase.
We remind that all domestic and international research indicates an additional erosion of media freedoms and a deterioration of the state of democracy in our country.
Coalition for Media Freedom
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