Serbia: State Officials Lock Journalists in a Room and Promote Smear Campaign Targeting Media
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is alarmed by the Serbian government’s mistreatment of journalists and its flagrant disregard for press freedom.
Location: Serbia, Belgrade
Date: July 27, 2023
From trapping journalists in a room at an EU event to launching discrediting campaigns against critical media outlets, the Serbian government continues to show a blatant disregard for press freedom. The Coalition For Women In Journalism calls on state authorities and politicians to respect the media and stop using their power and influence to target and intimidate journalists.
In a shocking attempt to muzzle the press, Serbian authorities lock reporters in a room, preventing them from asking questions or interacting with official representatives, during a July 27 presentation by Prime Minister Ana Brnabić of the EU's Digital Europe Programme.
Accompanied by the Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Prime Minister Brnabić unveiled the Digital Europe Programme to a room filled with invited press. However, instead of facilitating an open and transparent exchange of information, the journalists, including Žana Bulajić, were confined to a room until the official representatives had left.
Journalists from N1 and Nova reported on the event and stated that government representatives and guests exited through one side of the room while they found the door locked. They say that an unidentified person physically prevented them from leaving until the delegations had left.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is horrified by the incident. We join Serbian and European journalists' unions in arguing that it highlights the country's authorities' growing disregard for press freedom.
Online Smear Campaign Against Journalists
In a separate incident on July 10th, Vladan Sekulic, a member of the main board of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), published an Instagram video targeting reporters and anchors from N1, Nova S, and Nova daily newspaper, including Žaklina Tatalović and Vanja Đurić.
The video alleges the journalists’ objective is to "destroy Serbian culture and Orthodoxy in Serbia." It includes photographs of present and former journalists alongside certain opposition politicians, branding them as "the dark world of the N1 and Nova media". It accuses these media organizations of embodying "anti-Serb propaganda" and harboring malicious intentions to dismantle Serbian identity, culture, tradition, and religion, claiming that foreign sources fund these outlets. This act of harassment was supported by another senior party official, Vladimir Djukanovic, on July 11th
Government officials have previously targeted journalists from N1, Nova S, and the Nova newspaper. In March, Žaklina Tatalović, a presenter at CNN International's local partner N1, received death threats on Twitter and has persistently been harassed by pro-government tabloids. In 2022, Jelena Obucina of Nova S TV also faced death threats after state-affiliated media falsely accused her of threatening Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and inciting anti-state propaganda.
These incidents are just one example of the increasing violations against journalists in Serbia, many of which are initiated or supported by high-ranking politicians.
The mistreatment and harassment of journalists by the Serbian government are raising concerns about the erosion of press freedom and the stifling of independent media in the country. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) expressed alarm over these incidents. EFJ President Maja Sever emphasized the serious responsibility of politicians and civil servants who broadcast or relay such videos, stating that the amateur nature of these threats does not diminish their danger.
As journalists continue to face intimidation and attacks, the Coalition For Women In Journalism calls for immediate action to protect the rights of journalists and uphold press freedom in Serbia. The government and its officials must stop targeting critical press and condemn all attacks on the media.
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.