Veran Matić on threats to journalists: Over the last year, a hybrid attack from all fronts.

According to him, the characteristic of this entire year has been the escalation of attacks on journalists, as well as the fact that not all of them are reported.

"The situation is more dramatic than what we see. Today, I found threats against N1 on X, I started writing a report to the prosecutor's office, and while I was writing, I received threats against Mladen Savatović. Once again, songs were sung about Brankica Stanković, yesterday I had four reports to the prosecutor's office, and I worked on a statement from ANEM regarding Vučić's interview in which he admits the motives behind not allowing a democratic election of REM, in order to preserve Informer as the most powerful weapon, evidently for the president and SNS, which is also used against journalists. That dynamic of targeting, we have seen, I believe that the Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation announced that Vučić verbally attacked N1 and your editorial office 77 times in the past two or three months, which creates a trigger for criminals, state security, services...", he said.

He recalled the case of threats against the family of Ana Lalić Hegediš, which came from Paris.

"An arrest warrant was issued, he was arrested when he arrived in the country, she had to leave the country, he then said he found it strange that he was being arrested, he was just watching and reading Informer, got angry, and wrote that threatening message. On one hand, this is the role of tabloids, they target and incite bullies; on the other hand, we had a case where the owner of a tabloid went outside and attacked Vuk Cvijić, and that case remains unresolved," says Matić.

Commenting on the threats against Vuk Cvijić, he states that it represents "a step in terms of arrogance".

"I think Vučić, with that promise and those constant amnesties, gave a clear green light to amnesty all those who will be accused of possible violence against journalists; we saw that he did the same for the bullies who trampled on students," Matić notes.

He stated that Cvijić went to the police last night, gave a statement, and this morning to the prosecutor's office, and that he has "become very aware that most likely nothing will come of it".

"There is obviously a policy of protecting bullies, especially in the most serious cases. However, it is absolutely necessary to report these incidents; we need to demonstrate publicly that we are doing everything to respect the rule of law, comply with laws, and want institutions to function. This cannot be done if it remains our mutual solidarity; we must demonstrate to those institutions that we know they are under pressure, that they do not function, and that it is essential for them to be liberated as well. After each action, we need to present this to the public, both domestically and internationally," he states.

He also recalled the case of the attack on cameraman Juronjuza, when the prosecutor's office rejected the criminal complaint, despite the testimony.

"Uglješa Bokić was physically attacked, the criminal complaint was dismissed, and he was advised to sue on his own. I have already said that this situation is the worst in the past 25 or 26 years, precisely because of the unimaginable state we find ourselves in; it is very difficult to explain to people from abroad," he says.

He emphasizes that "over the past year, there has been a hybrid attack using all weapons" and reminds of the SLAPP lawsuits against the KRIK editorial office, break-ins into apartments, targeting through tabloids...

"This is not just one attack; you are permanently exposed to attacks, especially investigative journalists and particularly the editorial offices of N1 and Nova," he says.

He adds that in 2014 we were in 54th place on the Reporters Without Borders list, and today we are 96th.

"There is a clear record of decline year after year. The number of attacks on journalists is increasing, while the number of convictions is decreasing. There is currently no institutional protection for journalists and media that could be effective," he states.

He believes it is important for citizens to be more engaged in solidarity and protests.

"This must be a permanent state, including the student movement. This regime is currently dictatorial, with a desire to eliminate free media," he says.

Source: N1