SafeJournalists and EFJ: Brutal attacks on journalists covering local elections in Serbia require an urgent response from the relevant authorities.

Among the journalists who were brutally attacked in Bajina Bašta was Darko Gligorijević, a journalist from the Zoomer portal. Unknown individuals first attempted to seize his mobile phone, after which he was punched in the head and sprayed with pepper spray. Journalists from the editorial teams of Mašina, Blokada Info, and Serbian Political Globe also reportedly experienced violent behavior. An Insider vehicle was also targeted – its tires were slashed, while Ivana Marsenić, a freelance journalist, had her camera stolen. Several journalists suffered violent seizure or destruction of equipment, including Miroslav Pantović from Mačva News in Bogatić.

The level of violence further escalated in Šarbanovac, near Bor, when Ivan Bjelić from Revolt magazine and Lazar Dinić, both of whom had recently been threatened with death, were brutally beaten. As reported by journalists and media organizations that are part of the Permanent Working Group for Journalist Safety, Bjelić was attacked by a group of unidentified individuals who struck him on the body and head, which Dinić filmed, after which the attackers turned on him as well. In an attempt to escape, Lazar Dinić fell into the Timok River, where the attackers continued to beat him and forced him to shout, “Aco, President,” alluding to Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. Journalist Zorica Popović, who was reporting alongside them, was also attacked and struck in the stomach twice.

Ivan Bjelić and Lazar Dinić sustained serious injuries and were transported by ambulance to the hospital, where they were kept for treatment. Earlier that day, Bjelić had been detained under the pretext that there was a warrant out for him.

Other incidents of interference with journalists' work were recorded in Kula. Mina Delić from the Free Press Foundation was attacked twice. First, a man assaulted her near the "Tvrđava" café, grabbing her arm forcefully while she was holding her mobile phone. She was also pushed in front of the "Nuss" café and prevented from entering the establishment. Additionally, the Finnish public television journalistic team and journalists from Storyteller were obstructed in their work. In most cities and municipalities, reports indicate that recording at polling stations was also denied.

The recorded attacks followed a two-day mission in Serbia during which the EFJ collaborated with partners from the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) and the Council of Europe's Platform for the Safety of Journalists. This mission was conducted due to the unprecedented level of violence in a hostile environment, primarily carried out by state officials through discrediting campaigns and violent behavior from police officers.

Upon returning to Brussels, the EFJ was deeply shocked by numerous videos circulating on social media, showing police officers protecting buildings and vehicles where the attackers were located, armed with baseball bats and metal rods.

“As we emphasized at the press conference that concluded the mission, state officials have an obligation to prevent further escalation of violence and to end impunity before another tragedy occurs. We again call on state officials, including the Speaker of the National Assembly Ana Brnabić, with whom we met, to condemn all attacks on journalists, ensure that the police protect journalists in the field, and that investigations into the attacks are conducted at the highest possible legal level to prosecute those responsible,” stated Camille Magnissalis, EFJ's Officer for Media Freedom Monitoring and Communication.

Journalists must be ensured the ability to perform their work without interference, including reporting on elections. The events we witnessed yesterday are unacceptable and incompatible with a democratic society.

In light of the violence, we remind journalists that the following contact numbers are available for media personnel in the field: ANEM Safe Line 0800 100 115, Emergency Line of the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS) 060 688 22 31, while journalists can contact the Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS) at numbers 062 530 337 and 064 941 04 89.

European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)

SafeJournalists Network (SJN): Croatian Journalists' Society, Association of Journalists of Kosovo, Association of Journalists of Macedonia, BH Journalists Association, Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia, Media Union of Montenegro

Text reproduced from the portal SafeJournalists.