KRIK's Database of Politicians' Assets: An Example of Journalistic Professionalism and Political Unprofessionalism
The research portal KRIK has published a new "Database of Politicians' Assets," which contains information about real estate (the specific addresses are not provided; only the street or area of the city is indicated, allowing readers to gain insight into their value), vehicles, and companies owned by current and former ministers and other officials, as well as data on how they acquired their movable and immovable property.
As stated in the project description, the information presented in the profiles of active and inactive holders of authority is based on official documents, and a relevant real estate agency was engaged to assess the value of the properties. All mentioned politicians were given the opportunity to respond to the information that journalists uncovered. Their responses are included in their profiles.
Following the publication of the Database, reactions from several state officials ensued. Minister of Defense Bratislav Gašić denied the claims made in the Database, asserting that it is an attempt at "criminalizing and dehumanizing" officials of the Serbian Progressive Party.
Minister for Public Investments Darko Glišić, who blocked the phone numbers of KRIK journalists to avoid contact with them, made serious accusations against the editorial team. He particularly singled out and made misogynistic comments about journalist Sofija Bogosavljev, the author of the article regarding assets purchased by his former partner during their relationship. The minister referred to journalists as “liars from the Kavač publication that has spread various nonsense,” “voyeurs” who resorted to “dirty tricks.”
In denying the claims made by Glišić, the editorial team stated that the way the minister described their meetings constitutes “practical confirmation that KRIK journalists are being monitored.”
For the Cenzolovka portal, KRIK's Deputy Editor-in-Chief Bojana Jovanović said:
“Officials do not hesitate to insult and falsely accuse journalists, thus truly creating a hostile environment. The false accusation that we are a 'Kavač publication,' made yesterday by Minister Darko Glišić, is a clear targeting and endangerment of the safety of all of us at KRIK, as it falsely puts us on the side of a criminal clan that is in conflict with other groups. This is just one of the problems we face; it is very stressful and exhausting, affecting our health and our work since we have to defend ourselves and focus on ourselves instead of investigating.”
Journalistic and media associations have expressed their support for the KRIK editorial team and emphasized their professionalism. The minister was contacted but refused all communication with KRIK journalists. Glišić's accusations and insults have been characterized as blatant targeting of journalists, endangering their safety and complicating their professional work.
Commenting on KRIK's reporting on Hepi television, Glišić announced a “multimedia spectacle” that will take place in the next (approximately) two weeks.
Following that, in the second half of June, three days before the protest "See You on Vidovdan," Ivan Matović, a councilor from the opposition party "New Face of Serbia" in the City Assembly of Kraljevo, was detained. Alongside him, former president of the Serbian Military Union Novica Antić, retired first-class captain Branko Momčilović Majkan, retired warrant officer Vidan Koljajić, former member of the Military Union Aleksandar Ivanović, and former police officer Srđan Gajović were also detained. All of them, except for Gajović, were at the Turist hotel restaurant in Kraljevo on June 21, where they were discussing the protests. The arrests followed the publication of intercepted conversations they had, on Informer television and other media outlets close to the authorities.
Matović has been charged with inciting violent change of the constitutional order. In a statement given to the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade, Matović claimed that the current Minister for Public Investments is behind his arrest, from whom he has been suffering pressure for years. One of the reasons for the “revenge,” Matović sees as Glišić's suspicion that he provided KRIK with information about his (Glišić's) former partner, who purchased three apartments during their emotional relationship, the value of which far exceeds what she could afford with her then-current income.
As of the date of writing this report, all those arrested are in custody, except for Vidan Koljajić and Aca Ivanović, who have been released to defend themselves from freedom.
The entire document Monitoring the Media Scene in Serbia for the month of June can be read in Serbian and English at this link.
