Journalistic section of SRG: Identify and penalize those who attack journalists, and ensure unobstructed work for reporters.

The journalistic section of SRG is calling on the authorities to urgently find and punish those responsible for the attacks, as well as to enable journalists to report without hindrance.

A group gathered in the center of the village of Pavlovac physically attacked InfoVranjske journalist Mihailo Stojković and “Večernje novosti” journalist Jelena Stojković while they were attempting to cover events in the area.

According to reports, the attackers threw stones at them, pushed and dragged them, injuring both. The attack has been reported to the prosecutor's office, as well as to the police, who arrived at the scene and took statements from the journalists.

The journalistic team from Epicentar Press was not allowed to film at the polling station in OŠ “Dr Dragiša Mišović” in Čačak.

As reported by colleagues from Epicentar Press, although the cameraman presented his NUNS journalist ID, the president of the polling board did not allow him to report.

“Although we told them that accreditation from RIK is not required for reporting, the president of the board was rude and threatened to interrupt the voting. We made a few shots and left. We informed the president of the Election Commission in Čačak about this case,” said journalist Milena Gavrilović.

At the polling station in the Machine School in Pančevo, the president of the polling board did not allow PANpress journalist Ivana Predić to report, even though she showed her the instructions provided to journalists by the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, stating that accreditation is not required for reporting.

“I left the polling station. I went to OŠ ‘Jovan Jovanović Zmaj’, where I was told that the election commission had not announced me and that I could not enter. I am preparing to go to the Election Commission,” said Predić.

Today, Serbian Times editor from Chicago, Antonio Kovačević, was also not allowed to film at the polling station in the General Consulate of the Republic of Serbia in Chicago.

“After three months of contact with the General Consulate of Serbia in Chicago, no one has ever told me that accreditation would be required for reporting on the electoral process. I arrived there and was not allowed to enter, with the explanation that I was not accredited. I asked Consul Marko Nikolić why no one informed us that accreditations were needed, and he could not answer me,” said Antonio Kovačević.

He stated that he requested a written explanation from the consulate as to why he was not allowed to report.

“I managed to enter to vote, but not to report. The only thing I can do is report from outside the consulate premises,” said Kovačević.

The journalistic section of SRG again appeals to all participants in the electoral process that, according to the Law on the Election of Members of Parliament (as well as the relevant provisions of the Law on Local Elections), the work of the election bodies is public.

All bodies (RIK, local election commissions, and polling boards) are obliged to ensure the public nature of their work.

The journalistic section of SRG demands that the relevant authorities investigate the responsibility of those who denied journalists access and obstructed them in carrying out their professional duties, as well as to immediately ensure the conditions for unhindered monitoring of the work of election commissions throughout all phases of the electoral process.

We particularly warn that invoking nonexistent or inapplicable requirements for media accreditation must not be used as an excuse for arbitrarily restricting journalists' access.

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

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

Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM)

Independent Journalists' Association of Vojvodina (NDNV)

Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS)

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

Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS)

Media Association (AM)