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26 clusters · 33 sources · 64 days · First seen · Last updated

Categories: CRIME · POLITICS · CULTURE

Balkans journalist threats and repression

Entities: Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) · Special Prosecutor’s Office for High‑Tech Crime (Belgrade) · Jasmina Paunović · Marko Vidojković · Da Se Zna!

Overview

Press‑freedom violations in the Balkans accelerated through July 2026. ANEM recorded 71 threat or attack cases against Serbian journalists in the first half of the year, a 45 % rise on 2025, while police withheld details in 28 cases and only one proceeded to prosecution. In the preceding two‑and‑a‑half years, just 10 of 279 opened cases resulted in any judicial measure, leaving most perpetrators unpunished. Four reporters have fled Serbia, taking the total of journalist exiles to six.

High‑profile attacks continued. TV Nova S reporter Đorđe Mijailović was targeted after a police‑statement on an unverified child‑death claim; Valjevo station V5 aired a ten‑minute segment accusing him of false reporting, revealing private photos and attacking his lawyer, while receiving over 6.73 million dinars in public funding. Online harassment surged, with 98 threats recorded in the first half of 2026—bot attacks, hacking attempts and DDoS assaults—alongside physical assaults such as a tomato thrown at N1 reporter Gordana Bjeletić during a Pride parade in Pirot.

In late July, ANEM reported fresh death threats against reporters Marko Vidojković and Nenad Kulačin on the Instagram account “lesicslobodan”. The threats were forwarded to the Special Prosecutor’s Office for High‑Tech Crime, underscoring the contrast between swift arrests for threats to ministers and the scant response to threats against media workers.

The repression landscape broadened with journalist Jasmina Paunović alleging that a criminal complaint for alleged hate speech was politically motivated, accusing public prosecutor Nenad Stefanović of using the law to silence dissent as Serbia pursues EU accession. Simultaneously, NGOs documented a rise in violence against LGBTQ+ persons, including a stabbing of a transgender woman on a Belgrade bus, reflecting a hostile climate that intertwines hate‑based attacks and press‑freedom pressures.

Timeline

  1. 3 days ago

    [CRIME] 13 sources
    Serbian journalists Vidojković and Kulačin face fresh death threats

    ANEM reported a new death threat against Serbian journalists Marko Vidojković and Nenad Kulačin, highlighting police inaction on journalist threats versus swift action on officials.

  2. 4 days ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Serbia sees increase in queer attacks and politicized criminal cases

    Serbia reports rising LGBTQ+ violence and a politically charged criminal case against journalist Jasmina Paunović, underscoring human‑rights and repression issues.

  3. 10 days ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Serbia's Journalist Threats Persist Amid Unequal Police Response

    Serbian journalists face rising threats and attacks, while police act quickly on threats to officials but largely ignore cases involving media workers.

  4. 13 days ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Threats to N1 Director Branislav Šovljanski Spur Calls for Police Action

    ANEM denounced violent threats against N1 director Branislav Šovljanski and his family, urging Serbian authorities to identify and prosecute the sender and calling for stronger journalist protection.

  5. 14 days ago

    [POLITICS] 5 sources
    Serbian journalist Đorđe Mijailović faces targeted campaign on Valjevo TV V5

    ANEM condemned a targeted campaign against Serbian journalist Đorđe Mijailović on Valjevo TV V5, urging ministries to act after the channel aired a ten‑minute segment accusing him of spreading false news and sl

  6. 16 days ago

    [POLITICS] 6 sources
    Serbia records 45% surge in attacks on journalists, 71 cases opened in first half of 2026

    Serbia's ANEM reports 71 cases of journalist threats and attacks in early 2026, a 45% rise over 2025, with only 3.6% resolved and several reporters fleeing the country.

  7. 21 days ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Serbian press group urges prosecution of threats against Vranje news outlet

    ANEM demands swift prosecution of Facebook threats against Vranje portal Slobodna reč, citing media intimidation ahead of Serbian elections and urging journalists to use its safety hotline.

  8. 23 days ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Serbia sees sharp rise in threats against journalists and media outlets

    Serbia's media freedom worsens as journalists face increased attacks and threats, prompting NUNS to demand urgent state action against anonymous intimidation campaigns.

  9. 24 days ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Serbian journalists Darija Ranković and Slavica Vujanac targeted on TV Informer, SafeJournalists demand action

    SafeJournalists condemned sexist, baseless attacks on Serbian reporters Darija Ranković and Slavica Vujanac on TV Informer, urging the Ministry of Information to denounce the targeting.

  10. 30 days ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Montenegro Parliament Committee Fails to Reach Quorum on ANB Report

    Montenegro’s security committee missed a quorum, halting the ANB report discussion; officials blame the ruling majority’s avoidance of oversight, calling it a systemic fault.

  11. 30 days ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Montenegro prosecutor's office urged to disclose investigation files in journalist Duško Jovanović murder

    Montenegro’s Higher State Prosecutor was urged to hand over full files on the 2004 murder of journalist Duško Jovanović, with the commission saying limited access blocks oversight and the case remains unsolved.

  12. about 1 month ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Serbia escalates crackdown on independent journalists, targeting Beta news agency

    Serbian authorities intensify pressure on Beta news agency, summoning its editor over alleged threats to constitutional order, prompting domestic and international calls for media‑freedom protection.

  13. about 1 month ago

    [POLITICS] 3 sources
    Serbian media groups condemn new threats to TV N1 and journalist Veran Matić

    Veran Matić and TV N1 faced fresh death threats; Serbian media groups NUNS and ANEM demand urgent police action, noting a pattern of unpunished attacks on journalists.

  14. about 1 month ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    European Journalists Federation condemns Kosovo media regulator's heavy fines

    The European Federation of Journalists condemned Kosovo’s media regulator KPM for levying over €60,000 in fines on broadcasters, urging the ruling Vetëvendosje party to stop attacks and calling for respect of ‑

  15. about 1 month ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Montenegro Ombudsman asked to investigate ANB employee monitoring claims

    Montenegro’s Ombudsman and security committee were urged by Human Rights Action to probe ANB hiring and employee surveillance after investigative reports alleged illegal monitoring, unqualified appointments and

  16. about 1 month ago

    [POLITICS] 4 sources
    Montenegro's ANB chief Ivica Janović files criminal complaint against investigative journalists

    Montenegro's ANB chief Ivica Janović sued investigative journalists Andrea Perišić and Đurđe Radulović over a staffing report, prompting media groups to call the move intimidation and demand dismissal.

  17. about 1 month ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Serbian authorities slammed over Senjaku murder handling and attack on journalist Veran Matić

    Serbian opposition Serbia Center denounced the prosecution’s handling of the Senjaku murder case and condemned the assault on journalist Veran Matić, accusing security forces of bias and inaction.

  18. about 1 month ago

    [CULTURE] 2 sources
    European Federation of Journalists condemns attacks on Kosovo and Vojvodina reporters, pushes for World Press Photo rev­

    EFJ condemned Serbian tabloid attacks on Kosovo and Vojvodina journalists and urged World Press Photo to revoke a 1993 award tied to a staged Bosnian‑war execution photo.

  19. about 1 month ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Serbian journalist Danica Vučenić receives death threats, sparking regional press‑freedom concerns

    Death threats against Serbian reporter Danica Vučenić and criminal complaints against journalists in Montenegro raise serious press‑freedom concerns in the Balkans.

  20. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources
    Serbian journalist Vladimir Mitrić receives new hammer‑death threat

    Vladimir Mitrić, a Serbian journalist under police protection, received a Facebook death threat urging he be killed with a hammer; police have reported it and media groups call for stronger protection.

  21. about 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Serbian media outlets Vranje News and Bečejski Mozaik receive threatening messages

    ANEM says Serbian portals Vranje News and Bečejski Mozaik got threatening emails targeting journalists and their families, urging authorities to act.

  22. about 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Serbian journalists targeted with threats and identity fraud

    Serbian journalists face violence and online scams: Kristina Demeter Filipčev received hate‑filled threats after a rally report, while BIRN’s Jelena Zoric was impersonated in a fake investment advertisement.

  23. about 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 5 sources
    EU and Serbian media bodies denounce threats against journalists Jelena Jovanović and Danica Vučenić

    EU and Serbian media groups condemned online threats to journalists Jelena Jovanović (Montenegro) and Danica Vučenić (Serbia), urging swift police action and stronger protection for press freedom.

  24. about 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Montenegro Ombudsman and Budva Mayor Condemn Threats Against Journalist Jelena Jovanović

    Montenegro’s Ombudsman and Budva’s mayor condemned online threats against journalist Jelena Jovanović, urging state protection and swift action against perpetrators.

  25. about 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Serbian ministry and Montenegrin civic group condemn attacks on journalists

    Serbian officials condemned a Frankfurt assault on journalist Zoran Vicelarević, while Montenegro’s URA denounced attacks on reporter Jelena Jovanović, urging authorities to protect media freedom.

  26. 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Montenegro journalist Kristina Perković receives death threat, media council demands police action

    Montenegro’s media council demands police identify and prosecute the Instagram user who threatened journalist Kristina Perković, urging classification as a security crime and transparency on past journalist‑att

Sources

072info.com · 24-ore.com · 24sata.hr · aktuelno.me · autonomija.info · becejski-mozaik.co.rs · beta.rs · cenzolovka.rs · dan.co.me · danas.rs · europeanwesternbalkans.rs · fns.org · index.hr · istokrs.com · javniservis.net · jutarnji.hr · localpress.org.rs · m.tportal.hr · nedeljnik.rs · nova.rs · optimalis.hu · petanque.no · petanquelife.com · portalanalitika.me · radiobijelopolje.me · resetka.rs · sjevercg.me · telegrafi.com · vecernji.hr · vijesti.hrt.hr · vijesti.me · vreme.com · ziginfo.rs

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history