February 3, 2025
There have been at least 14 cases of journalists being physically assaulted since the student and citizen protests in Serbia started back in November 2024, as well as numerous death threats and insults, and even a campaign against journalists mounted by pro-regime media outlets and on social networks.
During an opposition protest in Novi Sad in January, police forcibly ejected five journalists and videographers from the building of City Hall.
A graffiti campaign is being led against Zoran Kesić, one of Serbia’s most popular TV presenters, with the streets of Belgrade city centre decorated with hundreds of graffiti signs opposing him.
Two journalists of pro-regime daily newspaper Večernje Novosti have been fired after announcing their support for the student protests.
Journalism professor Dinko Gruhonjić has had to call on the Croatian authorities to protect his son, who is studying in Zagreb. The Gruhonjićs became the target of a campaign during which Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and pro-regime media announced that both father and son were cooperating with the Croatian intelligence service.
Fresh death threats have also been received by Nenad Kulačin and Marko Vidojković, authors of a podcast that airs on independent channel TV Nova S.
Serbian Finance Minister Siniša Mali, one of President Vučić’s closest associates, was leaving a restaurant in Belgrade city centre when the guests started chanting “Long live the students!”. He responded by showing them the middle finger.
Journalist Danica Ilić, who recorded the incident and sought a statement from Mali, had her telephone snatched and later left on a window box in the street.
