Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) announced on Saturday (August 16th) that a uniformed police officer, equipped to break up demonstrations, sprayed a journalist on Friday evening Vuk Cvijić with a chemical agent on his neck while he and his colleagues stood near the General Staff in Belgrade and followed the protest.
In a statement, ANEM stated that Cvijić was standing with his colleagues at the General Staff last night, when a uniformed policeman, equipped to break up demonstrations, approached him from behind and sprayed him with a chemical agent on his neck.
"The attack was targeted only at him, even though he was in the company of friends and colleagues", stated ANEM and added that the chemical agent did not work immediately, but after an hour, when both eyes of Cvijić were completely closed, with severe pain and irritation of the parts of the body affected by the substance.
"It is realistic to expect further escalation of violence"
Rinsing with water and saline solution in the first pharmacy did not help, and only after receiving help at the Zemun Hospital did the symptoms begin to decrease.
The association called on the internal control of the police to urgently conduct an investigation and determine the responsibility for that brutal excess of authority, as well as why the attack was deliberately aimed at Cvijić, and asked the MUP to inform the public which chemical agent was used and whether its use is even permitted by law.
"After the attempt to blind Vuk Cvijić, it is realistic to expect further escalation of violence against citizens and media workers," stated ANEM and called on colleagues and citizens for mutual solidarity and mutual protection.
Source: FoNet
