RSF urges end to violence against journalists at Serbian protests

At least 12 journalists have been attacked in Serbia while covering anti-corruption protests since November, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which called on authorities to stop the violence and hold those responsible to account.

Protesters observe a fifteen-minute silence to honor the victims of the Novi Sad train station accident, outside the Faculty of Law in Belgrade, Serbia, 29 January 2025. University students staged a protest, demanding accountability after fifteen people lost their lives in the collapse of the Novi Sad Railway Station canopy on November 1, 2024. The

EPA/ANDREJ CUKIC

The demonstrations, sparked by allegations of graft and a deadly incident in Novi Sad in which 15 people died, have seen supporters of President Aleksandar Vučić and Serbian police frequently target reporters with physical assaults, insults, and other forms of harassment, RSF said on Thursday.

In Serbia, students have begun an 80 km march from Belgrade, once again demanding justice and transparency. They will reach Novi Sad on Saturday, where they plan to block the city’s bridges—exactly 3 months after the deadly collapse that sparked their protest. A direct challenge… pic.twitter.com/j727Btfuji

— European Democrats (@democrats_eu) January 30, 2025

“Over a 12-week period of protests, at least 12 journalists have been assaulted,” said Pavol Szalai, head of RSF’s EU-Balkans Desk. “Whether inflicted by police or ruling party supporters, this violence is an unacceptable violation of press freedom. Authorities must take criminal and disciplinary action against those responsible and guarantee journalists’ safety.”

Prime Minister Milos Vučević, who resigned on January 28, leaves a legacy of what RSF called a “disastrous record” regarding journalists’ safety. The public prosecutor’s office has opened investigations into at least four of the physical assaults, RSF reported.

• On November 27, 2024, N1 TV journalist Jelena Mirkovic and her cameraman, Aleksandar Cvrkotić, were assaulted by Vučić supporters during a protest in Belgrade. Mirkovic required hospital treatment for her injuries.
• On January 26, 2025, Finance Minister Sinisa Mali allegedly grabbed the phone of reporter Danica Ilić while she tried to interview him outside a Belgrade restaurant.
• A week earlier, on January 17, five journalists, including those from TV Nova S, Radio 021, N1, and the daily Danas, were attacked by police in Novi Sad.

Serbia is ranked 98th out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2024 World Press Freedom Index, the country’s lowest position in the index’s 22-year history.

(jh)

Source: RSF, IAR