"The 'war' against journalists must be stopped."

While recording incidents during the passage of war veterans across Nikola Pašić Square, where they were attacked and insulted, Miljuš was hit twice on the arm, and his mobile phone, which is his work tool, was knocked out of his hand. The journalist from Insajder TV filmed the attack and the assailants, and the case was reported with the video footage submitted to the duty prosecutor, the contact point for reporting attacks on journalists at the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office. The organizer of the event must ensure that journalists can work without hindrance. Representatives of the Ministry of the Interior, of whom there are many at this event, must protect journalists and react to prevent escalation when an attack occurs, and apprehend and prosecute the assailants.

Out of 24 recorded cases of physical attacks on journalists in the past six months, the police responded in only one case, stopping and apprehending the assailant. Obvious attacks that were recorded, such as the attack on the cameraman from Juronjuz television in Novi Sad, have not been sanctioned since December 5, even though the assailant has long been identified.

In 2024, only one perpetrator of attacks on journalists has been judicially punished, and in more than half of the cases, the investigation has not been completed. These are clear indicators that send a message to society that attacks on journalists are not only unacceptable but rather desirable since they will go unpunished. Not only unpunished but also rewarded, as it is evident that there was intent on the part of the Novi Sad authorities regarding the assailant of the Juronjuz TV cameraman.

The Association of Independent Electronic Media demands that the prosecution and the Ministry of the Interior act urgently and preventively, both during and after events, in order to stop the offensive violence against journalists and media. Such escalations have led to tragic consequences such as murders or assassination attempts, which remain unpunished to this day.

Solidarity among journalists and media, mutual support both in the field and through their programs, can strongly influence the relevant institutions to be more efficient and to make this issue a daily priority.

Today's attacks on journalists serve as a kind of greeting to journalists for the upcoming International Day for Press Freedom, which will be marked worldwide on May 3. The position of journalists and media in Serbia worsens year by year, as noted by international organizations concerned with freedom of speech and human rights.

The fight for media freedom, for a professional public service, and an independent Regulatory Body for Electronic Media (REM), which are fundamentally rooted in student and civic protests, gives hope that it is possible to create a decent professional media scene. For this reason, mutual solidarity is now of vital importance.

Veran Matić, President of the ANEM Board of Directors