March 15, 2024
The Independent Journalists’ Association of Vojvodina (NDNV) has for the first time presented its annual award to an organisation: the Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation.
Explaining the award selection, NDNV Executive Director Ana Lalić emphasised that the Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation is a “symbol of the fight for the very survival of the profession of journalism”, which isn’t only being exposed to censorship, pressure and threats, but is also being openly terrorised by the state.
“Also confirming that the state powerholders are ready to do anything to silence the truth is the recent shameful verdict with which journalist Slavko Ćuruvija was murdered for a second time. Instead of punishment, the trial was followed by a verdict with which the same people who murdered Ćuruvija sent an unequivocal message that killing journalists is permitted in this country,” said Lalić in response to the acquittal of those accused and previously convicted of murdering journalist Slavko Ćuruvija 25 years ago, during the period of the Slobodan Milošević regime.
“Many people think that there’s no solidarity in our journalism, but it nonetheless exists. I think that this acknowledgement represents a hand extended to the Foundation at a very difficult juncture and support that really means a lot to us,” said SĆF executive director Ivana Stevanović.
