On 11 August 2024, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić verbally abused journalists from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Kosovo during a press conference in Belgrade on the occasion of the rally against the Serbian government’s approval of lithium ore mining in Serbia.
The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins the SafeJournalists network in expressing its full solidarity with the journalists who have been targeted by President Vučic. We urge President Vučić and the authorities to refrain from this blatant pattern of harassing journalists or media outlets for critical reporting and instead ensure respect for the fundamental guarantees of media freedom.
On 10 August, civil dissatisfaction with Rio Tinto’s mining project in the Jadar Valley led to massive protests in Belgrade, including the blockade of two railway stations. Demonstrations had taken place in other cities across Serbia in the days before. On 16 July, the government session adopted a decree to restart the controversial project, which had been halted by the state authorities in 2022, amid large-scale protests. During the press conference held on 11 August, Vučić took the opportunity to point the finger at journalists who reported on the protests, including Oslobođenja from Sarajevo, Jutarnji list, and Dnevno.hr from Zagreb, and N1 and NOVA RS from Belgrade and the magazine Slobodna Bosna.
Criticizing the media coverage, Vučić can be heard saying: “I understand the live broadcasts in Kurti’s media. I understand the fascination, delight, and threats, as they say in Oslobođenje, it says ‘the fight against Vučić’s crimes’, then he says, Slobodna Bosna ‘ it could lead Serbia into a civil war’, then Jutarnji list, then Direktno, Dnevno, also announce civil war in Serbia and hope for it. They say, ‘an autocrat wants to devastate nature to stay in power.’ I understand their enthusiasm, I understand their desire to make things bad for Serbia, I have no problem with that.”
“The task of the media is to objectively and critically report on events of public interest, including activities of the government. The recent civil protests in Belgrade and other cities are public events, and journalists – reporters from these gatherings must not be targeted or attacked for their reports,” stated the SafeJournalists Network.
“The EFJ is alarmed by Aleksandar Vučić’s continued attacks on the media.. This time, by targeting media from neighboring countries in public discourse, Vučić is not interfering with the work of Serbian journalists only, but also endangering journalists from across the region,” said EFJ President Maja Sever.
Since the beginning of the year, the Media Freedom Rapid Response database has recorded President Vučić as being responsible for or/and linked to eight cases of verbal abuse against Serbian journalists. The EFJ and SafeJournalists Network urge President Vučić to stop silencing critical voices by harassing the journalists and to ensure them a safe working environment free from intimidation and political pressure.
SafeJournalists Network
Association of Journalists of Kosovo
Association of Journalists of Macedonia
BH Journalists Association
Croatian Journalists’ Association
Independent Journalists Association of Serbia
Trade Union of Media of Montenegro
The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)