Journalistic and media associations have filed a criminal complaint due to the endangerment of Veran Matić's safety.
Journalistic and media associations, members of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists, have filed a criminal complaint due to the endangerment of the safety of Veran Matić, a long-time journalist, president of the management board of the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM), and representative of that association in the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists (SRG).
The criminal complaint states that the broadcast of an episode of the allegedly documentary series "Evil Times 2: The Creation of Propaganda," produced by the association "Center for Social Stability" from Novi Sad, as well as the campaign conducted for propaganda purposes on social media and newly registered websites, where the editor-in-chief and publisher are the same – Veran Matić – poses a threat to his safety. The announcement of the continuation of the series dedicated to Matić suggests that the next episode will surpass the forgeries presented in the subject broadcast.
The complaint notes that in a well-organized campaign directed at Matić, information was presented that is not factual but rather interpretations of known and new blatant falsehoods that either simplify and distort the events in which Matić participated and the activities he undertook, or fabricate events and activities in which he has never participated or can be associated, such as being labeled as a traitor to Serbia, a foreign mercenary, and an agent, or being accused of embezzling large sums of money. In the publications on newly established portals, he is accused of actively supporting Albanian separatism, maintaining close ties with separatist structures in Pristina, undermining Serbia's constitutional order, separating part of our country, and being connected with the terrorist KLA, among other things.
Journalistic and media associations, members of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists, expect the competent authorities to investigate the claims made in the complaint as soon as possible and to undertake all legally prescribed actions.
The Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists consists of representatives from the Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS), the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS), the Independent Association of Journalists of Vojvodina (NDNV), the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM), the Media Association (AM), and the Association of Online Media (AOM).
