**Media Freedom Under Threat in Serbia**
A report by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) has revealed a disturbing trend of media freedom violations in Serbia. In 2024, the organization recorded 83 alerts involving 117 persons or entities related to media in Serbia.
The majority of incidents were verbal attacks, with at least 14 death threats made against journalists and media outlets. This includes the Slavko Curuvija Foundation, which received online death threats referencing the 1999 murder of journalist Slavko Curuvija.
**Journalists Face Harassment and Threats**
Independent journalists Ana Lalic Hegedis and Dinko Gruhonjic have faced unprecedented levels of death threats after participating in a festival and being misrepresented as enemies of the state. The harassment continued with leaflets distributed near polling stations portraying Gruhonjic as a political opponent, fueled by Prime Minister Milos Vucevic’s rhetoric.
**Public Officials Involved in Abuses**
Verbal abuses attributed to public officials remain a major concern, with 11 cases documented in 2024. Danas journalist Vojin Radovanovic was insulted and forced to delete footage by Belgrade city councilor Slobodan Solevic. Other incidents involved Balkan media outlets, including N1, Nova RS, and the magazine Slobodna Bosna.
**Physical Attacks on Journalists**
MFRR documented 14 cases of physical attacks, most initiated by private individuals. At least ten journalists were assaulted during nationwide blockades demanding an investigation into a deadly railway station collapse.
**Police and State Security Involved in Abuses**
Two instances of physical assaults by police/state security were documented, including the reported abduction of journalist Ljubomir Stefanovic for hours at a police station. Amnesty International revealed invasive surveillance of journalists and sources using NoviSpy spyware, prompting calls for stronger accountability mechanisms.
**Growing Threats to Journalists’ Safety**
The MFRR’s monitoring database recorded 1,548 press freedom violations impacting 2,567 media-related persons or entities in EU member states or candidate countries – an alarming increase compared to the previous year.
