Other threats to journalists, POP TV, Batrovci, 14.3.2025.

Translations: Beograd 

The day before the big protest that took place in Belgrade on March 15, POP TV journalist team from Slovenia was stopped and detained at the state border, after which they was denied entry to Serbia.

Although the journalists had proper invitation letters, they were denied entry based on an alleged negative security risk assessment, citing Article 15, Paragraph 1, Point 8 of the Law on Foreigners, in relation to the protection of the security of the Republic of Serbia and its citizens.

When making decisions regarding the rights and obligations of foreigners concerning entry and stay in Serbia, the police consult the national security authorities responsible for the protection of the security of the Republic of Serbia to assess whether a foreigner’s entry or stay presents an unacceptable security risk. We believe that this decision is based on an assessment by the Security and Information Agency (BIA).

The same Law states that “an unacceptable security risk exists if the available data and information indicate that a foreigner advocates, encourages, assists, prepares or undertakes activities that threaten the constitutional order and security of the Republic of Serbia, goods protected by international law and national, regional and global security of importance for the Republic of Serbia and the legal order” (Article 9 paragraph 1 point 3).

Taking into account the aforementioned article of the Law on Foreigners, it is not clear how the competent authority assessed that journalists pose a security risk to the constitutional order and security of Serbia and what available data on journalists indicate this.