EFJ: Investigate Attacks on Journalists in Novi Sad Thoroughly

Novi Sad (BETAPHOTO/Dragan Gojic)

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) warned on March 21 about the escalation of threats and violence experienced by journalists in Novi Sad having reached “an unprecedented level in the past 14 days.”

In a joint statement of the EFJ, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the OBC Transeuropa (OBCT), the International Press Institute (IPI), the Free Press Unlimited (FPU) and the SafeJournalists Network, the authorities in Serbia are urged to “immediately and thoroughly investigate the persistent attacks” on journalists and make sure that the perpetrators are prosecuted.

“Within just ten days, not fewer than seven journalists have faced threats and attacks in the city of Novi Sad alone. Whether these were physical attacks, verbal abuse, online harassment or death threats, the ability of Serbian journalists to do their job is seriously undermined, and their safety is at risk,” the statement reads.

It was also stated that, on March 8, when the journalists of Tanjug, Kurir TV and Radio 021 were verbally abused while reporting from a protest in front of the Center for Social Work, the police did not respond. The statement goes on to say that the reporter of TV N1, Ksenija Pavkov, had received a number of online insults and threats with physical violence for her report from the same protest. Soon after that, the leaders of the Independent Journalists’ Society of Vojvodina, Ana Lalic Hegedis, received thousands of online death threats via social networks and e-mail.