Vojkan Kostic (BETAPHOTO/MILOS MISKOV)
The Media Freedom Coalition declared on June 23 that the summoning of the editor-in-chief of BETA, Vojkan Kostic, to an interview by the Crime Police Bureau represented “serious pressure against journalists and an attempt of intimidation.”
“It is particularly alarming that the police were initially behaving disagreeably toward Kostic, making statements that he understood as intimidation and a warning that, if he continued reporting, he could be personally charged with a crime. Such action represents impermissible pressure against the journalists who report from publicly important events,” stated the Coalition.
They stated further that journalists’ presence on the ground, asking questions and reporting cannot be treated as suspicious activity, or a cause for intimidation, arrest, questioning or seizure of equipment. The Interior Ministry and the prosecution have been requested to explain why BETA’s editor was summoned in the proceedings for one of the most serious crimes against the constitutional order and security of Serbia, and on which grounds has his presence on the ground as a journalist been brought in connection with that case.
The Media Freedom Coalition consists of the Media Association, Online Media Association, Independent Journalists’ Association of Vojvodina, Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia, Association of Local and Independent Media ‘Local Press” business association, Slavko Curuvija foundation and the Nezavisnost (Independence) trade union of culture, art and media.
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