Jan Bratu (OSCE) on the local elections in Serbia: Unprecedented levels of violence and intimidation against journalists.

The representative of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) for media freedom, Jan Bratu, assessed that there was an "unprecedented level of violence and intimidation of journalists" during the local elections on Sunday in Serbia and called on the Serbian authorities to condemn it "publicly and unambiguously."

Bratu stated on platform X that the „elections in ten municipalities of Serbia were marked by numerous documented obstructions and physical attacks on journalists“ and called on the law enforcement agencies and the prosecution in Serbia to protect media freedom and the safety of journalists and to prosecute the perpetrators of attacks and intimidation.

„The safety of journalists is the obligation and responsibility of the state,“ Bratu pointed out, emphasizing that „differences in political views do not justify violence and intimidation.“

In a statement, Bratu reminded of Serbia’s obligation to respect the Ministerial Council Decision of the OSCE no. 3/18, adopted in 2018 in Milan regarding the safety of journalists, which is considered a milestone because it requires participating states of the OSCE to prevent, investigate, and prosecute crimes against journalists.

This decision confirms that journalists, media actors, and all others who contribute to public discourse should be protected from threats and violence and calls on states to investigate crimes against journalists and hold the perpetrators accountable.

Bratu was previously the head of the OSCE Mission in Serbia from January 2021 to December 2024, before taking up his current position as the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media. Prior to that, he was the head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo (October 2016 – December 2020).

He previously served as the Ambassador of Norway to Kosovo and Albania, as well as the Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina.