Media organizations on attacks on journalists: The red line has long been crossed, what’s next?

Journalistic and media organizations from Serbia and the region strongly condemned the attacks on journalists and media workers during protests, noting that numerous physical assaults and destruction of equipment were recorded at the Wednesday evening protest, including six incidents involving police officers, the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS/NUNS) said on Thursday.

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During the demonstrations, journalists from several newsrooms were injured and attacked, including those from Kompas, Portal 192, Razglas, Zoomer, Masina, and student media outlets. Cases of physical violence, equipment confiscation, prevention of filming, and destruction of materials were documented.

“The red line has long been crossed. What’s next?” the statement reads.

The media organizations recalled that, in 2016, a Cooperation Agreement was signed with the Republic Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to protect journalists, but assessed that the institutions are not fulfilling their committed obligations.

They demand urgent prosecution of all attacks and threats, as well as the initiation of proceedings against police officers who exceeded their authority.

The organizations also said that the Serbian Internal Affairs Ministry on Thursday restricted access to its press conference, not allowing N1 television to attend, which they said was discrimination and a violation of the Information Act. The signatories appeal to institutions to ensure the protection of journalists and prevent further escalation of violence.

The statement was signed by the Coalition for Media Freedom, the Independent Association of Journalists of Vojvodina (NDNV), Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS/NUNS), the Business Association of Local and Independent Media “Local Press,” the Slavko Curuvija Foundation, Journalists’ Association of Serbia (UNS), The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM), and the SafeJournalists Network.