NUNS: Urgently assess the safety of Veran Matić and halt the campaign of threats.

Veran Matić has received new threats via the social network X. A message was posted from the account @glisha_m: “You are part of the hydra. We will eliminate the hydra!”

This threat followed a previous message from the same account, which included a photograph of Veran Matić along with the text: “Let’s cut off the head of the hydra!” The post was made beneath an insert from the show “Without Censorship,” in which Matić appeared, and was published on the social network X.

At the same time, on Facebook, a user named Glišić Milenko posted the message: “You are part of the hydra just like Veran Matić. WE WILL CRUSH YOU! You will end up like Afghan NGOs,” also accompanied by a photograph of Veran Matić.

According to information from ANEM, the same person is behind these accounts, who has previously issued threats to journalists and media outlets but has not faced any legal consequences for this. The lack of effective institutional response leads to impunity and encourages the repetition of such acts.

NUNS emphasizes that these threats come after a months-long campaign of targeting, discrediting, and hate speech directed against Veran Matić in certain media and on social networks. The continuous labeling of individuals as “enemies,” accompanied by calls for violence, significantly increases the risk to their safety.

Considering the frequency of threats, insults, and attacks in the online space, as well as the previous physical assaults to which Veran Matić has been subjected, he has requested an assessment of his own security from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

NUNS demands that the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in accordance with the law, promptly conduct a security assessment for Veran Matić and his family members and take all necessary measures to ensure their appropriate protection.

At the same time, we urge the police and the competent public prosecutor's office to urgently identify the person behind the accounts @glisha_m and the profile Glišić Milenko, investigate all circumstances of these cases, and initiate appropriate proceedings against the responsible individual.

An effective institutional response is crucial for preserving media freedom and preventing the creation of an atmosphere where violence and intimidation of journalists are considered acceptable means of dealing with critical voices.

Source: Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia