Reporters Without Borders: Record wave of violence in Serbia – 34 physical attacks on journalists in July and August.

Violence against journalists in Serbia — which Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has repeatedly warned about — has reached a tragic new record. RSF documented 34 physical attacks carried out in less than two months against media professionals by political activists and law enforcement while they were reporting on anti-corruption protests, as stated in a press release issued today by Reporters Without Borders, which we are sharing in full.

This figure surpasses all annual aggregate data on physical attacks recorded in Serbia at least since 2020. RSF calls on the member states of the European Union (EU) and the European Parliament to send a clear message to the Serbian authorities that their passive stance — and potential complicity — in this violence is incompatible with Serbia's goal of joining the EU.

One of the most violent attacks on Serbian journalists this summer occurred on August 13. While reporting on a protest outside the local headquarters of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) in Novi Sad, the editor-in-chief of the Razglas portal, Žarko Bogosavljević, and a journalist from the Novi Sad 192 portal, Nikola Bilić, were beaten by SNS supporters with metal rods. The attack was so violent that Bilić, who sustained head injuries, was sent to the Emergency Center.

Between July 1 and August 25 alone, RSF recorded 34 physical attacks on Serbian journalists, photojournalists, and cameramen. The vast majority of them were covering anti-corruption demonstrations sparked by the deadly collapse of a train station in Novi Sad in November 2024.

Out of the 34 incidents, 14 were perpetrated by violent SNS supporters, a party led by President Aleksandar Vučić, who also attacked many peaceful demonstrators as well as some police officers. The remaining 20 attacks were carried out by law enforcement officers.

The number of attacks in the past two months surpasses all annual aggregate data on violence against media professionals in Serbia at least since 2020, according to RSF data, and is double the number of cases recorded in 2024 (17). The current annual total for 2025 stands at 65 cases — an unprecedented level according to records kept by the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS) since 2008.

Although the EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos condemned the attacks in mid-August, she was soon reprimanded by the Speaker of the Serbian Assembly Ana Brnabić, a member of the SNS, who told her to remain "quiet."

"On average, one Serbian media professional is physically attacked every two days. Thirty-four attacks in less than two months! This is intolerable. Do we have to wait for a journalist to be seriously injured or killed? Faced with the passivity of Serbian authorities — and potential complicity — the EU must act. We particularly call on the European Parliament and influential member states such as Germany and France to decisively condemn the record number of attacks on Serbian journalists. The Serbian government must understand that this regression is incompatible with its alleged ambition to join the EU," said Pavol Salaj (Szalai), head of the RSF desk for the European Union and the Balkans.

Serbian journalists are regularly subjected to threats or attacks with metal rods, bricks, and stones by violent political supporters, while the police bombard them with tear gas. On several occasions, the police did not intervene to protect journalists while they were being attacked by violent demonstrators.

These attacks, as well as numerous death threats against journalists, are fueled by frequent statements from President Aleksandar Vučić and reporting from pro-government tabloids. Since December 2024, they have made unfounded accusations that demonstrators and certain independent media are orchestrating a "coup" financed by Western countries. At the end of June, the head of state even labeled television channels N1 and Nova S, which bravely report on protests despite great danger, as "terrorists."

Press Freedom Under Attack

Since the start of the anti-corruption protests, RSF has repeatedly warned of the increase in violence against journalists and political pressure on the media — through statements, at demonstrations in Paris, and in its contribution to the EU report on the rule of law in Serbia. RSF has also condemned the authorities' tendency to support Russian propaganda instead of promoting media freedom.

Serbia is ranked 96th out of 180 countries and territories in the World Press Freedom Index by RSF for 2025, which is the second to last position in the EU and Balkan region, as noted in the report by Reporters Without Borders.

Source: Cenzolovka