Recent attacks on journalists in Serbia, highlighted by the assault on Vuk Cvijic, a journalist for Radar magazine, have sparked condemnation from media organizations and international bodies. European Federation of Journalists president linked the attack to a hostile environment fostered by senior Serbian officials. Cvijic was attacked by Milan Ladjevic, owner of the pro-government tabloid Srpski Telegraf, potentially due to his reporting on a court case involving a former police general. The Committee to Protect Journalists highlighted increasing violence against independent journalists in Serbia, stemming from official rhetoric. The SafeJournalists network, Media Freedom Rapid Response partners, and the Coalition for Media Freedom urged authorities to address these attacks and legal threats, emphasizing the need for measures against vexatious lawsuits. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemned Judge Dušanka Đorđević’s lawsuits against KRIK for the “Judge Who Judges” database, warning of potential denial of citizen access to crucial information. IFJ urged Serbian courts to dismiss these baseless accusations and uphold journalists’ vital role in promoting transparency and accountability. The Media Freedom Coalition deems the verdict against KRIK unjust, fearing it sets a precedent for silencing investigative journalism. Read more here.
Source: Balkan Insight, KRIK, ARTICLE 19