Threats directed against TV N1 director, Beta agency editor and journalists

Jugoslav Ćosić, director of independent television company N1, has received threats, along with other journalists of this broadcaster, dubbing them “foreign mercenaries”, “traitors to the country” or “a media branch of America's CIA”.

This television company’s owner, Brussels-based Adria News, responded by sending letters to more than 130 addresses of international organisations and European Union bodies, seeking protection for TV N1 and its journalists against a smear campaign being led by senior state officials.

Also seeking an end to such attacks and the protection of this television company’s journalists is Harlem Désire, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, as well as Freedom House, the International Federation of Journalists and others.

Threats have also been directed against Dragan Janjić, editor-in-chief of the Beta News Agency, and Nedim Sejdinović, President of the Independent Association of Journalists of Vojvodina, who has been dubbed a “Muslim extremist” and “Serb-hater”, while calls have been made for him to be expelled from the country.

Death threats were received Beta journalist Dinko Gruhonjić, with a message insisting that he would be “judged on the street”.