Journalists in Serbia face threats and physical attacks during election coverage

journalist attacks media freedom Serbia elections NUNS press harassment

The Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS) has condemned a series of attacks, threats, and obstructions targeting journalists across Kragujevac, Bečej, and Belgrade. These incidents occurred as media professionals were reporting on political gatherings and matters of public interest ahead of upcoming elections.

In Belgrade, N1 reporter Mladen Savatović was subjected to verbal abuse and a physical attack attempt by Momčilo Mandić, a former minister in the Government of Republika Srpska and father of Vladimir Mandić. Savatović reported that despite calling for assistance, police failed to arrive at the scene.

In Bečej, journalist Kristina Demeter had her phone seized and placed on a tree branch by a man during the filming of a Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) gathering. Additionally, Glas Šumadije reporter Aleksandra Kostić faced verbal threats while covering a similar political event.

NUNS and the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) have called for urgent action from police and prosecutors to identify the perpetrators and ensure the safety of media workers during the electoral process.

Entities

Aleksandra Kostić · Kristina Demeter · Mladen Savatović · Momčilo Mandić · N1 · NUNS · Nezavisno udruženje novinara Srbije · Serbian Progressive Party · Srpska napredna stranka

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 7 SOURCES] N1 reporter Mladen Savatović was threatened and faced a physical attack attempt in Belgrade. serbiantimes.info · nova.rs · www.vijesti.me · vreme.com · n1info.rs
[● 6 SOURCES] Aleksandra Kostić of Glas Šumadije received verbal threats while reporting on a Serbian Progressive Party gathering. www.srpskadijaspora.info · becejski-mozaik.co.rs · beta.rs · vreme.com
[● 3 SOURCES] NUNS called on police and prosecutors to identify the perpetrators of these incidents. www.srpskadijaspora.info · beta.rs
[● 5 SOURCES] The Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS) condemned three incidents involving journalists in one day. www.srpskadijaspora.info · beta.rs · n1info.rs
[● 3 SOURCES] In Bečej, a man seized journalist Kristina Demeter's phone and placed it on a tree branch. becejski-mozaik.co.rs
[● 4 SOURCES] Police failed to respond to the scene of the attack on the N1 reporter despite confirmation of dispatch. www.vijesti.me · n1info.rs · nova.rs · vreme.com
[● 5 SOURCES] Momcilo Mandic, a former justice minister in Republika Srpska, attempted to physically attack N1 reporter Mladen Savatović in Belgrade. serbiantimes.info · nova.rs · www.vijesti.me · vreme.com · n1info.rs
[○ 1 SOURCE] ANEM filed a report regarding the seizure of a journalist's phone in Bečej. becejski-mozaik.co.rs