Serbian journalist Đorđe Mijailović faces targeted campaign on Valjevo TV V5

The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) sharply condemned a targeted campaign against journalist Đorđe Mijailović of TV Nova S that aired on the local Valjevo television station V5. ANEM called on the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications and the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM) to respond urgently and protect the safety of the media worker.

The dispute originated from Mijailović’s police statement on 14 July, where he reported hearing claims that a minor had died after being beaten by police during a protest. He explained that, because the information was unverified, he did not broadcast it live but later relayed the verified facts that the child was seriously injured and was recovering after surgery. On 16 August, V5’s program “Pretres” devoted nearly ten minutes to the case, accusing Mijailović of spreading false news, questioning his journalistic licence, displaying his private photos and attacking his lawyer, Vladimir Terzić, as a “criminal choice of attorney.”

ANEM noted that V5 was purchased this year by Best Media Teams, a subsidiary of publishers known for frequent violations of Serbia’s journalist code, and that the station has received more than 6.73 million dinars in public project funding. The association warned that the campaign reflects a broader, dangerous effort to silence independent journalists.