The call by President Veran Matić for lynching is an act of political despair and a brutal message against the rule of law.
Civil society warns of increasingly dangerous smear campaigns against media workers, the consequences of which can seriously jeopardize their safety. These attacks come from the highest public offices in Serbia. The statement by President Vučić, in which he calls for Veran Matić to apologize to those accused of the murder of journalist Slavko Ćuruvija and "bring them a bottle of wine," represents an unequivocal and dangerous political message: that in Serbia, targeting and calling for revenge against those who fight for truth and justice is once again permissible.

Veran Matić has dedicated his life to freedom of speech, protecting journalists, and building a culture of solidarity and philanthropy in our country. As part of his charitable work, Veran launched the initiative "Battle for Babies," which has enabled maternity hospitals across Serbia to receive over 220 incubators, thereby saving the lives of thousands of infants. Through the establishment of the Serbian Philanthropic Forum and his leadership of the B92 Fund, he has mobilized the public, companies, and institutions to engage in numerous humanitarian actions in the fields of healthcare, education, and media freedom. He has particularly distinguished himself in collecting and distributing aid during emergencies such as the floods of 2014 and the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating that media influence combined with social responsibility has a direct positive impact on raising the level of social solidarity and finding systemic solutions to issues that directly affect citizens' lives.
Moreover, Veran Matić has consistently and bravely protected the safety of journalists in Serbia for decades—from the founding of the Commission for the Clarification of Journalist Murders, to the SOS phone line for assistance to journalists, which he answered personally, and to his ongoing support for local media across Serbia in the most challenging conditions of pressure and threats. While Matić stood by his colleagues, the state symbolically and institutionally absented itself. The most painful example of this remains the fact that the case of the murder of Slavko Ćuruvija, after all the years and processes, has not received its epilogue or justice.
By calling for vengeance against a man dedicated to truth and the public good, the president demonstrates that he uses his position to attack defenders of freedom of speech, while simultaneously absolving perpetrators and providing protection to those who brutally attack citizens with fists, baseball bats, and cars. With this act, the president continues to openly stand on the side of violence and impunity, clearly showing that crime and violence are not incidents, but state policy.
Therefore, we, the undersigned civil society organizations, call on the relevant institutions to act professionally and responsibly, to protect the personal safety of Veran Matić, and to reject the political practice of impunity for violence, while urging citizens to remain persistent and united in the fight for accountability.
In a responsible society, the head of state, when losing power, does not call for lynching.
In a responsible society, people like Veran Matić are protected and rewarded—not targeted.
Civil society organizations - signatories:
Catalyst Balkans
Civic Initiatives
Youth Initiative for Human Rights
CRTA
Trag Foundation
Belgrade Center for Human Rights
Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia
Smart Kolektiv
Partners Serbia
Association Our Home
Citizens' Association Novi Sad Bicycle Initiative
Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation
Center "Living Upright"
Romani Asvin
Green Oasis Kučevo
Kučevo Initiative
Association "Teach Me"
Pro.Tok21
Youth Association "Our World, Our Rules"
Center for Girls
Association of Independent Electronic Media ANEM
B92 Fund
A 11 - Initiative for Economic and Social Rights
New Optimism
SviĆe BAZA
Serbian Philanthropic Forum
Women's Forum Prijepolje
Association KROKODIL
Proaktiv
Okular
Association ZOO Planet Niš
Local Foundation StPa
Association Tatamate
Association Cirkusfera
Bookscope
Network for Academic Solidarity and Engagement (MASA)
ASTRA - Action Against Human Trafficking
NVO Beacon
Civil Rights Defenders
Local Foundation LFP
IRIDA
Inicijativa za razvoj i saradnju
Alternativni centar za devojke
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