Journalistic associations condemned the attack on Veran Matić.

The SafeJournalists network, which includes the Croatian Journalists' Association, the Kosovo Journalists' Association, the Association of Journalists of Macedonia, the BH Journalists Association, the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia, and the Media Union of Montenegro, strongly condemns the attack on Veran Matić.

They particularly emphasize that this case should not be viewed as an isolated incident.

"The attack occurred following a months-long campaign of public targeting, discrediting, and stigmatization of Veran Matić, to which he was subjected through public targeting by high-ranking state officials and coordinated attacks in the public space, as well as media content that was broadcast multiple times on national television networks," the statement reads.

They add that when a journalist is portrayed as an enemy, traitor, or legitimate target for months, institutions have an obligation to recognize the increased risk to their safety and to react proactively.

"In such circumstances, the lack of timely and decisive responses from the relevant institutions not only constitutes a failure in this specific case but also contributes to creating an atmosphere of impunity where pressures and attacks on journalists become normalized. When campaigns directed against journalists go unanswered by institutions, the risk of new incidents increases, and the message sent to the public is that endangering journalists' safety is acceptable and without consequences. Therefore, it is crucial for institutions to demonstrate that they are prepared to protect media freedom and journalists' right to work without fear of intimidation, threats, and violence," the Safe Journalists network emphasizes.

They demand that the competent authorities promptly conduct an effective and thorough investigation into the circumstances of this incident, determine accountability, and take measures in accordance with the law.

"We expect an urgent and unequivocal response from the institutions that will demonstrate that attacks, intimidation, and obstruction of journalists in performing their duties will not be tolerated. Any other course of action would send a message that journalists are left to fend for themselves when they become targets of pressure and attacks. The SafeJournalists network expresses its full solidarity with Veran Matić and emphasizes that it will monitor this case and inform relevant domestic and international organizations engaged in the protection of media freedom and journalists' safety," they state.

The Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS) also condemns the attack on the president of ANEM and member of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists, Veran Matić, and demands that the authorities urgently find and punish the perpetrator.

UNS expects the police to quickly identify and locate the twenty-year-old who seized Matić's phone, as Matić recorded his likeness on his phone and forwarded the photograph to the police.

UNS calls on the authorities to take the violent seizure of Veran Matić's phone seriously, noting that this is one in a series of attacks he has faced in recent months.

UNS reminds that during the airing of Insider on B92, Matić and the show's author, Brankica Stanković, were granted police protection because their safety was deemed at risk.

Matić was, let us recall, attacked while filming a public gathering of several dozen citizens who were wearing hats with white ribbons. Although he was not aware of the reasons for the gathering, Matić assessed it as a matter of public interest and took several photographs and recordings to inform the public.

As he was moving towards the steps leading to the main entrance of the National Assembly, an unknown young man approached him, trying to prevent him from filming, and snatched the phone from his hand. When Matić identified himself as a journalist and requested the return of his phone, the young man did not respond.

According to Matić, the phone was returned only after a man whom he recognized as Đorđe Prelić, known as a former leader of the Alkatraz fan group and one of those convicted for participating in the murder of French fan Brice Taton in 2009, issued the order. In a brief conversation, Prelić told Matić that he had "ruined his life" by reporting on TV B92. Matić believes this referred to the investigative series Insider, which was once aired on that television.

After the incident, Matić approached the security personnel present in the National Assembly building. A security member told him that he had not noticed the event and directed him to report the case to the police. The incident was reported to the Stari Grad Police Station on Majke Jevrosime Street.