Journalistic Section of SRG: Attacks, threats, and interference with journalists' work throughout the entire election day.

The N1 television team was detained in front of the building of the Republic Electoral Commission (RIK) and was only allowed entry into the space in front of RIK's headquarters after waiting and undergoing a lengthy accreditation check. Previously, the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) had refused to issue accreditations to journalists from N1, Nova S, Radar, and Danas for monitoring the elections at their headquarters, commenting that it "was not an option."

 Pro-government television Kurir aired a conversation with Vukša Dragović, the leader of the "Serbian Sovereignists," who directly accused the leaders of the organization CRTA, the Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation, and journalist Danica Vučenic of being "anti-Serbian and autochauvinists" and, as he stated, "serving to incite conflicts and bloodshed among the people." The journalistic section of the SRG warns that such unfounded accusations against independent journalists and civil society organizations are the most dangerous tool of pro-government media and tabloids, and represent a continuation of the campaign targeting all those who are critical of the regime of Aleksandar Vučić.

 Journalistic and media organizations that are members of the SRG recorded a series of incidents during the election day across Serbia. Due to the attack on journalist Mihajlo Stojković from the InfoVranjske portal and journalist Jelena Stojković from the Večernje novosti newspaper, I. K. (57) and D. A. (28) from the village of Pavlovac near Vranje were arrested, as reported by the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade.

 Three journalists from "Blokada info" were physically attacked at a polling station on Bežanijska kosa in Belgrade when a group of citizens assaulted them after a verbal dispute. The journalists reported the incident to the police.

 The team from the Epicentar Press portal was not allowed to film at the polling station in the "Dr Dragiša Mišović" Primary School in Čačak, even though the cameraman showed his NUNS press credentials. We also recorded the obstruction of journalistic work at polling stations in Senta, Pančevo, Ruma, and Kraljevo.

 Journalist Mina Delić from the portal Slobodni Mađar So stated that when she attempted to take photographs at the polling station in the “Starina Novak” Primary School in Belgrade, the president of the polling board did not allow her, explaining that she lacked accreditation and needed to contact RIK. Although she showed him an email from RIK stating that accreditation was not required, she was still not permitted to take photographs. 

 At the polling station in the Machine School in Pančevo, the president of the polling board did not allow journalist Ivana Predić from the PANpress portal to report, even though she showed her the instruction from the National Assembly of Serbia stating that no accreditation was needed for reporting.  The editor of the Serbian Times from Chicago, Antonio Kovačević, was also not allowed to film at the polling station at the General Consulate of the Republic of Serbia in Chicago. Nikola Doderović, a correspondent for the Australian SBS Radio Serbia from Niš, informed the Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS) that he was part of a group of citizens that about fifteen people began to chase and drive away from the polling station after the police had previously verified their identities while registering a reported irregularity at that polling station.

 The journalistic section of the SRG demands that the competent authorities investigate the accountability of those who denied journalists access and obstructed them in carrying out their professional duties, reminding that according to the Law on the Election of Members of Parliament (as well as the corresponding provisions of the Law on Local Elections), the work of the bodies for the conduct of elections is public. 

 We strongly condemn the entry ban into Serbia for journalist Denis Mahmutović from the Croatian portal Telegram and photographer Marko Miščević, who attempted to enter the country to report on the elections, and were denied entry on the grounds that they posed a security threat. We also condemn the entry ban for the journalistic team from television ALSAT from North Macedonia – editor Adrian Kerimi, journalist Zekirija Haxhiu, and cameraman Besim Shkreti, who were turned back at the border crossing near Preševo on the grounds that they did not possess accreditations.  The Serbian police refused to allow the TV ALSAT team entry even when they were told that they did not need accreditations, as they did not intend to report from polling stations or election headquarters.

 We remind that media reporting from the field have access to emergency hotline numbers: ANEM Safe Line 0800 100 115, emergency numbers of the Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia (NUNS) 060 688 22 31 and 066 8822 008, while journalists can contact the Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS) at the phone numbers of the representative in the SRG and lawyer 062 530 337 and 064 941 04 89.

 We call on all journalists and media representatives to report any threats, pressure, attacks, and other forms of obstruction to their work and threats to their safety to these phone numbers. All information will be communicated and forwarded to the on-call members of the SRG, who are in communication with contact points in the police and prosecutor's offices.

 Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM)

Independent Journalists' Association of Vojvodina (NDNV)

Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia (NUNS)

Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation – Association of Online Media (SĆF – AOM)

Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS)

Media Association (AsMedi)