Violence against journalists accompanies gatherings of the Serbian Progressive Party and protests – the first six months of escalating attacks on the freedom of journalists and the media
In the first six months of 2025, public prosecutors in Serbia initiated 44 cases based on submitted criminal complaints and/or reports, which represents a significant increase compared to the same period in 2024. These cases pertain to incidents affecting 46 journalists and media workers, consisting of 55% male and 45% female individuals. Nearly half of the attacks (21) occurred in a digital environment, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Special Prosecutor's Office for High-Tech Crime. Regarding online attacks, 70% of the victims are female journalists, while 30% are male journalists.
In the past six months, one conviction has been issued, similar to last year during the same period. In two cases, proceedings are ongoing before the court based on the public prosecutor's indictment (as was the case last year). In two cases, decisions have been made to dismiss the criminal complaints (the same as last year), in six cases official notes have been issued stating that there is no basis for initiating criminal proceedings, in one case evidence-gathering actions are underway, and in 25 cases requests have been submitted to the police for the collection of necessary information, while in one case a decision is pending regarding an initiative for the initiation of proceedings to resolve jurisdictional conflicts.
The majority of reported attacks on journalists are related to gatherings of the SNS (Serbian Progressive Party).
In these 44 formed cases, journalists and media workers from 20 media outlets, one independent photographer, and one influencer are included.
Televisions Nova S and N1 each reported 5 attacks and threats, KTV and Kurir 4 each, Insajder, RTS, and Glas Zaječara 3 each, In Medija, Niška inicijativa, and NDNV 2 each, and 1 each from Magločistač, Srbin info, Srpski telegraf, BIRN, Zrenjaninski list, Bečejski mozak, Info centrala, Radar, TV Belle Amie, and Južne vesti.
Reports have come from 10 cities, with the highest number of media outlets in Belgrade (13) and Niš (8), followed by Zaječar, Novi Sad, and Zrenjanin with 3 each, Inđija with 2, and Bečej, Jagodina, and Prokuplje with 1 each.
The prosecution also notes an increase in physical attacks and interference with the recording of events. The records do not include attacks that occurred at gatherings on Vidovdan (St. Vitus Day).
The associations NUNS and UNS report a significantly higher number of cases of endangerment, threats, and harassment. The regional platform SafeJournalists, which brings together leading journalists' associations (NUNS from Serbia), recorded a record number of attacks and threats in the first six months:
Five attacks by police officers, 58 threats of death and physical safety against journalists, 36 actual attacks involving damage and theft of equipment and minor physical injuries in some cases, two threats from politicians, and 13 different other types of threats.
All 115 cases of attacks, threats, and endangerment of safety are eligible to be included in the records of the Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office, but many have not been reported, which primarily indicates a serious decrease in trust in institutional work.
Considering that there was only one conviction in the entire year of 2024 in cases of endangerment of journalists' safety, that the police inadequately investigated attacks and threats in more than half of the cases and failed to send reports to the prosecutor's offices, it is no surprise that distrust exists.
Nevertheless, we urge all female and male journalists, media workers, and media outlets to report all cases of endangerment of safety to the police and prosecutors' offices, with the assistance of journalists' associations and support hotlines that are constantly available (NUNS 0606882231, UNS 0649410489, ANEM 0800 100 115). Reports of police attacks should be made to the Internal Control Service of the Ministry of the Interior, and the public should be informed of any endangerment of safety.
Solidarity among all journalists, media, and associations is crucial for protection and defense against violence, threats, and all other forms of endangerment and harassment of safety.
Veran Matić, President of the ANEM Management Board and Member of the Permanent Working Group for Journalists' Safety
The project "System for the Prevention of Violence and Protection of Journalists" is carried out by ANEM in partnership with Insajder TV and the Center for the Development of Local Media, with support from the European Union and the Balkan Democracy Fund.
