Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation: Daily campaigns of intimidation and silencing are creating an atmosphere in which it is unbearable to be a journalist.
The Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation has announced that it is appalled by the escalation of attacks on independent journalists and media, in which all means are being used to intimidate and silence them.
They add that it is no longer about isolated incidents, but rather organized, daily, systematic campaigns of intimidation aimed at breaking journalists and leaving the public uninformed.
In a statement, they remind that just in the last three days, journalist Marko Dragoslavić was followed by an unknown individual who hurled insults and death threats, while journalist Vuk Cvijić and the editorial team of Radar received threats of physical violence. Additionally, the Instagram accounts of the portals Nova.rs, Autonomija, and VOICE have been suspended, and the account of the weekly magazine Radar has been permanently disabled. The targets of these account closures include the non-governmental organizations Crta and OsnaŽene, photographers Gavrilo Andrić and Irena Mrvica, and numerous activists.
"High-ranking state officials normalize threats of violence in their public appearances on a daily basis. In just the last five months of 2025, the Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation recorded at least 674 verbal attacks by state officials on critical journalists and media outlets. While we insist that it is the state's duty to ensure media freedom and create safe working conditions for journalists, the authorities are increasingly constricting the space for public information," emphasizes the SĆF.
They assess that the latest threats and the shutting down of media accounts are a direct result of the ongoing campaigns by the authorities, which label all independent and critical voices in society as hostile and treasonous.
"The goal is silencing, creating an atmosphere in which it is unbearable to be a journalist. At the same time, pro-regime outlets are used as weapons to target dissenters and to create a false image of society shaped by public opinion according to the needs of the authorities," the statement emphasizes.
According to data from the Supreme Public Prosecutor's Office, 134 cases related to attacks on journalists and media workers were opened in public prosecutor's offices last year, of which only three resulted in convictions.
"Impunity, in synergy with campaigns led by the highest state officials, encourages further threats and empowers individuals to attack journalists without fear of prosecution. The alarming situation of recent days confirms that we are in the midst of an escalation of violence that can only be prevented by the urgent response of the competent authorities and the prosecution of perpetrators, as well as an immediate cessation of organized witch hunts against journalists. It is disheartening that we already know this will not happen," they state in the SĆF.
