Serbia is among the countries where the largest number of attacks on journalists have been committed, which endangers their safety and integrity, according to a new report by the Council of Europe entitled "Media Freedom in Europe: It's Time for a Turnaround", reports "Voice of America".
In that category, it is ranked with four other countries - Russia, France, Turkey and Italy, it was stated in the Platform of the Council of Europe for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists for 2024.
These are cases of death threats to the editor of the Crime and Corruption Research Network (KRIK) Stevan Dojฤinoviฤ, the journalist of the newspaper "Danas" Vojin Radovanoviฤ, as well as the attack on the photojournalist of the agency "Fonet" Marko Dragoslaviฤ.
Unsolved murder of Pantic
The category of impunity for murders of journalists includes the case of Milan Pantiฤ, a journalist from "Veฤernje novosti", who was killed in front of the door of his apartment in 2001. Journalist Pantiฤ investigated crime and corruption in Jagodina, the city where he lived in central Serbia, and the Pomeranian District. The name of Radislava Dada Vujasinoviฤ, who is suspected of having been killed in 1994, is already on that list. Until now, the investigative procedures have provided conflicting conclusions that her death was the result of suicide, that is, murder.
The report, which covers the period until December 31, 2023, did not mention the acquittal of the Court of Appeal against the accused for the murder of journalist Slavko ฤuruvija, published on February 2, 2024.
However, it was noted on the website of the Platform for the Safety of Journalists, with a note that an explanation was requested from the State of Serbia. It was also specified that the state of Serbia is expected to shed light on the death of the founder and editor of "Dnevni Telegraf" and to punish the suspected perpetrators.
The Court of Appeal in Belgrade overturned the first-instance verdict and acquitted those accused of that crime, former members of the State Security Service. This caused a strong indignation in part of the domestic and international public.
In the category of intimidation and harassment, the Platform for the Safety of Journalists records death threats to "Danasa" journalist Nikola Krstiฤ, as well as a lawsuit filed by Belgrade's mayor in his technical mandate, Aleksandar ล apiฤ, against the Balkan Research Network (BIRN).
The reason is a text in which it is stated that he did not register a house worth hundreds of thousands of euros abroad - which allegedly damaged his reputation.
Also, on the website of the Platform for the Safety of Journalists, the lawsuit filed by the official of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) Vladimir ฤukanoviฤ against the then NIN journalist Vuk Cvijiฤ is listed. He was sued because of a text in which it is stated that he offered a monetary bribe to cover up the "Jovanjica" affair - in the case of illegal marijuana production and the alleged connection of State Security structures to it.
Photo: AP Photo/Pedja MilosavljevicThe murder of Slavko ฤuruvija remains unsolved even after 25 years
Targeting of journalists in Kosovo
This category also includes the targeting of several media from the north of Kosovo, which report in Serbian, "Kosovo online", "Radio Kontakt plus", "Radio Kosovska Mitrovica", "TV Most" and "Kossev"), which were on the Telegram network targeted as enemies of the Serbian people and Serbia - under the influence of NATO and the West.
In addition, a slanderous campaign was also mentioned against the media owned by the United Group - in this case, television N1 and Nova S, which the deputy of the Serbian Progressive Party Nebojลกa Bakarec, behind the speaker of the parliament, labeled as responsible for spreading hatred, violence, stereotypes and prejudices.
One of the items in the warning register of the Platform for the Safety of Journalists refers to, as indicated, the adoption of controversial media laws in the national parliament of Serbia.
It was specified that a few days before the dissolution of the Assembly, before the extraordinary elections in 2023, amendments on media laws were adopted, which was explained by harmonization with the legislation of the European Union in that area.
However, it was noted that this enabled state companies in Serbia to purchase and own media.
"This legalizes the media ownership that Telekom Srbija acquired by violating the law in 2014." The new law paves the way for further direct state takeover of private media," stated the report of the Council of Europe.
Telekom Srbija is a state-owned telecommunications operator.
With the adoption of a set of media laws in 2014, the privatization of state-owned media was carried out in Serbia. All local media were privatized. Only Radio-television Serbia and Radio-television Vojvodina remained in state ownership.
The practice of direct state financing of the media's work was suspended, and it was switched to competitive project co-financing.
When it comes to Montenegro, it is mentioned in the report in the context of a country where the business status of journalists is unfavorable, while their social protection is assessed as insufficient.
