Serbian journalist Vladimir Mitrić receives new hammer‑death threat

A Facebook user posted a threatening message directed at Vladimir Mitrić, a veteran reporter for Večernje novosti from Loznica, writing “TREBALO TE JE DAVNO UBITI MALJEM U GLAVI, MAGARČINO”. Mitrić has worked under police protection for more than two decades after surviving a 2005 assault in which a former police officer beat him with a baseball bat, causing severe injuries. The 2005 attacker was convicted but has long evaded payment of court‑ordered compensation. The recent threat was recorded by the Loznica police, reported to the public prosecutor, and forwarded to the high‑technology crime unit. Media‑safety organization ANEM and other press bodies condemned the threat, urging authorities to intensify protection for journalists and to investigate the case thoroughly. The incident underscores persistent risks to press freedom in Serbia, a situation supported by EU‑funded projects aimed at improving safety mechanisms for journalists.