Int’l, European Federation of Journalists Condemn Anti-Journalist Campaigns in Serbia

EFJ

The International Federation of Journalists and the European Federation of Journalists condemned on Oct. 3 smear campaigns against journalists in Serbia and called on the government to conduct an investigation into anonymous printed leaflets being distributed across Serbia targeting four reporters.

The leaflets were left in private mailboxes and in public areas in Belgrade and other cities. They describe each journalist as having "bloody hands" and accuse them of organizing a "so-called color revolution."

The leaflets include photographs and offensive texts about Marko Vidojkovic, Dinko Gruhonjic, Ivan Ivanovic and Sanja Ignjatovic Eker. "These threats are the result of fabricated narratives which have been relentlessly spread for months by public officials, including Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, and supported by pro-government tabloids, to discredit independent reports on the anti-corruption protests," a statement by the two journalistic organizations said.

The statement warned that such malicious statements incited hate against journalists, who are being unceasingly targeted by death threats only because they report truthfully. "What are the Serbian authorities waiting for before they take decisive action to uphold essential safety measures and protect those who bravely seek to inform the public? "European Federation of Journalists president Maja Sever asked, reiterating a call to the European Union to condemn every attempt to silence journalists.