The journalist of the “Bujanovačke” portal, Nikola Stevanović, received threats via Facebook yesterday because of a journalistic comment related to the news about the re-introduction of mandatory military service in Serbia.
An anonymous user behind the profile named “Vojvoda Mojmilovo”, under the comment published on the “Bujanovačke” Facebook page, wrote: “And you pu** ‘journalist’ don’t forget where you are and where your editorial office is, behave yourself in the future.” Take this as a last civilized warning.”
The editor-in-chief of “Bujanovačke” Nikola Lazić tells IJAS that they often receive negative comments and insults, but also that there have been several threats that, according to his knowledge, have not been resolved.
“This is an open threat. We are certainly not comfortable and feel threatened. He doesn’t have to come here with a gun, but he will inspire someone else to come smash our windows or threaten and attack us in the street. There is a multi-ethnic environment here, it is close to Kosovo and there is that Serb-Albanian relationship which is complex. Here, we all know each other in a way,” says Lazić and adds that the latest threats have also been reported to the Prosecutor’s Office for High-Tech Crime.
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia strongly condemns direct threats and jeopardizing the safety of journalist Nikola Stevanović. We request the competent institutions to react as soon as possible, discover and process the person hiding behind the mentioned Facebook account.
We also expect that the previous threats addressed to the journalists of the “Bujanovačke” editorial office will be resolved as soon as possible.
Minister of Information Dejan Ristic recently boasted that the number of threats against journalists has decreased compared to the previous year, however, we remind that these threats are serious and are the result of negative campaigns against journalists who criticize the government. Also, competent institutions still do not do enough to create a safe environment for journalists to work, and impunity for threats and rejection of reports can only encourage further action by those who want to silence journalists.
Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia
Belgrade, October 18, 2024