The Zoomer journalist has been placed in police custody for "shouting and causing a commotion" during the incident in the Student City.

“Today around 4 PM, the police arrived at the Zoomer editorial office and took our journalist Darko Gligorijević, who reported from the Students' City last night, ‘as a witness, that is, a citizen’ to give a statement regarding the incident,” stated Zoomer in a press release.

It further states that after providing his statement, Gligorijević was detained by the police as a suspect, under suspicion of violating Article 7 of the Law on Public Order and Peace, specifically for disturbing public order and peace by shouting and making noise.

According to this media outlet, Gligorijević will be brought before a judge of the Misdemeanor Court in Belgrade tomorrow.

As a reminder, today 11 individuals were arrested on suspicion of participating in the incident in the Students' City.

NUNS: The unlawful detention of Zoomer journalist is unacceptable

The Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia (NUNS) strongly protests against the unlawful summoning and detention of Zoomer portal journalist Darko Gligorijević, who was merely carrying out his journalistic duty during last night’s incident in the Students' Park in New Belgrade.

According to the statement from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, six individuals were arrested for the attack on Miloš Pavlović and his friends, among whom was Gligorijević, although it is clearly visible from available footage that he recorded himself and which was published by Zoomer that he did not participate in the incident, but was merely documenting the event.

After providing his statement, Gligorijević was detained by the police as a suspect under suspicion of violating Article 7 of the Law on Public Order and Peace, specifically for disturbing public order and peace by shouting and making noise.

Gligorijević will be brought before a judge of the Misdemeanor Court in Belgrade tomorrow.

NUNS reminds that in the case of a recent physical attack on students of the Faculty of Dramatic Arts, the police did not identify the attackers — the public did. Although the identities were later confirmed, the suspects were not detained, which indicates a concerning selectivity in the actions of the relevant authorities.

NUNS demands the immediate release of journalist Darko Gligorijević, the return of his property, and an immediate cessation of the practice of abusing procedures against journalists. They emphasize that journalists must not be targets of repression for doing their job in the public interest.

UNS: The police must urgently release Zoomer journalist Darko Gligorijević

The Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS) condemns the detention and holding of Zoomer portal journalist Darko Gligorijević, which occurred the day after he reported from the Students' City, and demands that Gligorijević be released.

Vojislav Arsić, a representative of the Zoomer publisher, told UNS that they have submitted a request for Gligorijević's release from detention. As Arsić stated, Gligorijević is expected to be heard by a misdemeanors judge today.

As Arsić explains, Gligorijević reported from the Students' City the day before yesterday, and the police detained him yesterday at 4 PM.

“Yesterday, police officers entered the Zoomer editorial office and took Darko Gligorijević, explaining that he was going with them to give a statement as a witness and citizen. After that, they decided to change his status and detain him as a suspect for violating Article 7 of the Law on Public Order and Peace. They stated that they suspect he disturbed public order and peace by shouting,” adds Arsić.

Arsić noted that he is the author of the recordings with Miloš Pavlović, which were published on Zoomer the night before.

“In these recordings, it can be seen that Miloš Pavlović was hit, but that he can walk,” said Arsić.

UNS calls on the authorities to urgently explain to the public the reasons for Gligorijević's detention and reminds that he was covering the event in the Students' City as a journalist.

Source: Danas, NUNS, UNS