ANEM: New threats to Dinko Gruhonjić are a consequence of the falsehoods spread about him by representatives of the government.
In the past few days, journalist and university professor from Novi Sad, Dinko Gruhonjić, has received dozens of messages that represent direct threats to his life and the life of his family, constituting a criminal offense of "Endangering Safety" in each individual case.
In a message from a well-known profile on a social network, ZD from Vrbasa threatens Gruhonjić: “I will exterminate your kind. Be assured of that. I’m crazy if anyone messes with me... I kill for Sebija. You’re not safe, I know...” and “I will f**k your rotten Ustasha mother. Kadtad.”
From another profile, a woman named N.B. says “...Ustasha black-shirt, you need to be killed just like your relatives killed Serbs in Jasenovac” and “...but I will personally make sure that you and your people are arrested and expelled from Serbia, and you should be sent to Banja Luka so that our Serbs there can have some fun with you, like shooting at you a little bit...”.
From a third profile, N.P., who is already known for making threats, sent a message that, like many others directed at Gruhonjić, is not suitable for public disclosure.
Dinko Gruhonjić is being publicly accused and falsely charged daily by representatives of the authorities, who, from podiums at rallies, in interviews on public services, and through witch hunts in tabloids, seek to connect him with student protests and the status of Vojvodina.
In the past year, the Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office recorded five cases of threats, attacks, and endangerment of Gruhonjić's safety. Unfortunately, none of the cases have been resolved or reached a judicial conclusion: in two cases, the police did not conduct investigative actions or inform the prosecutor's office about the results of the investigation, despite the prosecutor's office sending multiple urgencies for action, and in two cases, a potential perpetrator was identified and a search was issued, so far without results.
The impunity for attacks on journalists, especially those like Dinko who are the most frequent targets of threats, insults, and attacks, encourages attackers to continue their assaults knowing they will not be prosecuted. Worse still, the attacks are accompanied by the perpetrators' belief that they are doing exactly what the representatives of the authorities are asking of them and want to happen, as they persistently and continuously repeat false accusations.
The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) calls on the prosecutor's office and police to take these threats very seriously, identify the perpetrators as soon as possible, and file charges, while urging the courts to punish the responsible parties according to the law.
Additionally, all previous threats and attacks on Dinko as well as on all other journalists must be thoroughly investigated by the relevant institutions, and the perpetrators punished, thereby sending a clear message that these criminal acts are not forgotten and that justice will be achieved.
Veran Matić
President of ANEM
