Regional NGOs Condemn Attack on Journalist Dinko Gruhonjic's Family

Dinko Gruhonjic (BETAPHOTO/Milos Miskov)

The regional non-governmental organizations that established the regional Srdjan Aleksic Award for journalism, on June 23 condemned the severe damaging of the car owned by David Gruhonjic, son of journalist and university professor Dinko Gruhonjic.
A joint statement, signed by the Banjaluka-based Helsinki Citizens' Assembly, the Zagreb-based Lupiga association for the promotion of media culture, art and tolerance, the Sarajevo-based Network for Building Peace, the Independent Journalists' Association of Vojvodina from Novi Sad, and the Montenegro Media Institute from Podgorica, says that the attack on Dinko Gruhonjic's family cannot be viewed as an isolated case of hooliganism "by unidentified perpetrators."

"On the contrary, this is a serious, dangerous and deeply disturbing message of intimidation, sent not only to Dinko Gruhonjic and his family, but also to all in Serbia who dare to speak, write and publicly point out social anomalies, abuse of power and political violence," reads the statement.

The NGOs further say that such attacks are the result of a years-long smear campaign, during which Gruhonjic has on a daily basis been presented by tabloids, televisions and social media accounts as an enemy, traitor and a completely legitimate target.

The organizations called on the police, prosecution and all competent bodies to conduct an urgent, thorough and transparent investigation into this attack, to identify and prosecute the culprits, and to assess the security risk and provide adequate protection to Dinko Gruhonjic and his family.