Serbia: Hooligans Chant Death Threats at Award-Winning Journalist Brankica Stankovic
The award-winning journalist was previously under police protection for 7 years following similar threats
Location: Serbia, Belgrade
Date: June 6, 2023
Editor of Insider, Brankica Stankovic, is once again the target of hate and intimidation by hooligan gangs. The Coalition For Women In Journalism has been monitoring the worrying threats hooligans in the Balkans — who are often linked to organized crime — have yielded against women journalists. We stand in solidarity with Brankica Stankovic, who had to be placed under police protection 14 years ago for similar threats. The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the behavior of supposed sports fans who repeatedly target Brankica Stankovic and urges the public prosecutor to investigate and prosecute those responsible.
On June 6, Brankica Stankovic, the renowned editor-in-chief of Serbia's celebrated investigative TV show "Insajder", was once again targeted by abusive and threatening chants from hooligans during a basketball game between KK Partizan Belgrade and Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana.
The threatening chants echoed those of 14 years ago when Stankovic was placed under police protection. This time, the hooligans went a step further and threw an impaled doll bearing Stankovic's name.
The Independent Journalists Association of Serbia (IJAS) has called on the Prosecutor’s Office to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of the threats and expressed dismay at the lack of response from authorities and club leaders.
Fellow women journalists expressed their willingness to attend the next game and identify those chanting about Stanković
Stankovic remains a target of constant harassment despite past protection efforts.
Rečeno - učinjeno. Novinari Insajdera bili su večeras u Areni ispred sektora 200 zapad. Baš odatle su poslednje 2 utakmice, huligani skandirali protiv @brankica_st Iako su večeras "preskočili" insistiraćemo da se utvrdi po čijem nalogu su huligani ponovo crtali metu novinarki pic.twitter.com/oN8UPJn0VH
— T.V. (@TanjaVujisic2) June 15, 2023
Previous threats to Stankovic
Stankovic lived under 24/7 police protection for 7 years - starting December 2009 - after receiving numerous threats against her life.
The threats began after Stanković produced a report about the use of hooligans as an “army” for political purposes by some in power. The report led to a group of hooligans holding up a rubber doll representing Stanković at a UEFA Europa League match, kicking and punting it around the stadium and on camera at the nationally televised game.
In 2010, six Partizan football club fans were accused of threatening journalist Stankovic during the match but were later released from custody after a Belgrade court dismissed the case against them
Police also discovered that Stanković was targeted by members of the group which participated in the 2003 assassination of the first democratically elected Serbian Prime Minister, Zoran Djindjic.
Despite the threats, Stanković continues to pursue the truth about power and corruption in Serbia.
Hooliganism in Serbia
Hooligans in Serbia have repeatedly threatened and attacked journalists. A report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime found that football hooliganism in the Western Balkans is linked to politics, nationalism, violence, and organized crime, with the highest links noted in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The report identified 78 hardcore ultra fans and 21 groups that engage in football hooliganism “and also have links to politics and/or organized crime”.
Threats and intimidation of women journalists
Investigative journalists in Serbia are often subject to threats and harassment. CFWIJ has documented numerous violations against women journalists in Serbia in recent years.
In March 2023, journalist Žaklina Tatalović, presenter at CNN International's local broadcast partner N1, was threatened with death on Twitter. In January 2022, Isidora Kovacevic, editor-in-chief of the Serbian daily “Podrinske”, was the target of threatening “wanted” posters that offered a reward for Kovacevic’s head.
In December 2022, Jelena Obučina, a journalist with the Nova S TV channel, received messages via Twitter threatening her with “impalement” and stating that she “would be burned.”
The Coalition For Women In Journalism urges Serbian authorities to investigate those chanting and threatening Brankica Stankovic. She has been targeted by hooligans with criminal links for many years, and their threats must not be allowed to continue with impunity. We call on the Prosecutor’s Office in Serbia to open an investigation into those harassing Stankovic and hold those responsible to account.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.