Veran Matić: Serious repression of the authorities against the media, an offensive to stifle free speech.

"Nothing would have happened in the case of the murder of Slavko Ćuruvija if we from the media had not gotten involved in the investigation and the commission. The investigation was led by a team from the Ministry of Interior, and in the first years of its operation, the result was 100 years of prison for the four accused in this case. However, after 2016, the climate changed, when war criminals became heroes again, and criminals gained recognition as respected businessmen. All of this led to the Appellate Court delivering an acquittal in the Ćuruvija case, which was shocking for all of us. We now have a situation where the accused in this case are suing the Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation, established by Slavko Ćuruvija's children, and now his children are in the defendant's seat, which is terrifying," stated Matić while appearing on the morning program of Nova Television.

He added that in the first nine months of this year, there have been more incidents, attacks, and threats against journalists than during the entire previous year, and that, consequently, this will be the most challenging year for journalism in Serbia in the last thirty years.

"The evolution of everything that is happening is concerning. Last year, we had a situation where the police nearly stopped investigating attacks on journalists, and that was dramatic for us. It was also dramatic for the prosecution, as the prosecution cannot function without receiving reports on investigations. Now we have reached a period where the police protect the perpetrators. Instead of journalists being protected in cases when they are attacked, the police are removing them and acting as if people in black shirts are ordering them to do so," Matić assessed.

According to him, all of this has turned into a situation where the police attack journalists, with 14 such attacks recorded in August, which is unprecedented.

"Then we also have relentless targeting of journalists and media by the top of the government and tabloids, just as it was in 1998 and 1999 when a large number of media outlets were punished and closed down. We are, therefore, witnessing serious pressure and repression from the authorities against critical and professional media," emphasized the president of the ANEM Board of Directors.

He noted that such a level of aggression towards the media and the open announcement that media outlets from the United Media group will cease to exist is unacceptable in a civilized world. He also added that the lack of reaction from institutions like the European Commission, which have the instruments to exert a certain level of pressure, is concerning.

"I worry for the safety of United Media journalists who report on the streets, especially female journalists who are additionally endangered in Serbia, as well as cameramen who are the true heroes of these protests. The announcement that you will no longer exist is disturbing, particularly in a broader context. If media outlets like N1, Nova, and others from the group were to be closed, it would destroy pluralism and diversity in society," Matić responded to a question from Nova Television regarding the events related to United Media.

Matić also assessed that at this moment in Serbia, we are experiencing an offensive aimed at stifling free speech, which simultaneously represents a security problem for editorial offices, journalists, and media workers in our country.