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Montenegrin police cooperates with FBI in the case of Lakic

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PODGORICA 27.06.2018. – Montenegrin police cooperates with the partners, especially FBI in the case of clarification of the attempt of murder of journalist Olivera Lakić, said Vesko Damjanović, Director of the Police directorate to the Radio-television of Montenegro (RTCG).

He said that this case attracted public interests and also the interest of the European institutions, and that the all capacities of the Police Directorate were available for resolving this criminal offense.

“We undertook numerous operational, tactical and investigative actions and intensively exchanged information with partner services. I will note that we are also working with the FBI on this case”, said Damjanović.

He says that all investigations are equally important, and that this case is one of the priorities in the work of the police.

Journalist of “Vijesti” Olivera Lakić was wounded on 9th May in front of her apartment on the St. Peter Cetinjski boulevard in Podgorica.

Olivera Lakić was target of brutal attacks, which were never fully resolved, before. This time, judging by the circumstances and the consequences of the attack, the situation is even worse. Lakić has obviously been followed and then attacked in front of the building where she lives. It is clear that attackers with this dishonorable shot wanted to send her a message to stop with reporting on suspicious and criminal affairs, which she has been doing with for years.

AJK meets the Pristina’s Court coordinator on journalist’s cases

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PRISTINA, 27.06.2018 – The representatives of the Association of Journalists of Kosovo met on Tuesday the recently appointed coordinator on journalist’s cases in the Basic Court of Pristina, Arben Hoti and the list of criminal and civil cases that involve journalists was delivered.

The parties also discussed the possibility of having future monthly meetings as well as it was agreed to create a database in the Court that would register all accepted cases, the ones that are active and the ones that are pending to be solved.

The AJK representatives asked from the coordinator to threat those cases with priority. Judge Hoti expressed readiness and engagement that all cases of media and journalists receive a quick judicial treatment.

Delivered list to the coordinator is the list received by the State Prosecution and is related to physical assaults and verbal threats that are occurred throughout the years against journalists in Kosovo. Also, there is a list of civil contests related to journalists that are reported to AJK by them. Such lists are going to be updated by the coordinator’s team and handled individually.

The Association of Kosovo Journalists encourages all media and journalists who are in any litigation, whether civil or criminal, who are awaiting the proceedings of the cases, to notify us by sending us the case number because the examination of these cases within the foreseen legal deadlines, would create a safer environment for the work of journalists and increase the professionalism of the media.

We recall that the President of the Basic Court of Pristina, Aferdita Bytyçi, recently appointed the judge Arben Hoti as a coordinator for the cases of journalists. Hot is also vice-president of this court.

AJK appreciates the commitment of justice institutions to finally deal with journalists’ cases with the utmost priority and seriousness, thus helping to create an appropriate and safe environment for journalism in the country.

Serbia’s PM: Don’t ask me about unsolved reporters’ murders

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BELGRADE, 27.06.2018. – Ana Brnabic, Serbia’s Prime Minister said on Tuesday she felt awful about the murders of journalists that had not been solved, but that the real address for that question was the judiciary, not her.

Participating in the Insider independent production’s debate about the situation with media in Serbia, Brnabic said: “I won’t allow (you) to address the Prime Minister about the lack of judicial efficiency… You should address the judiciary,” she said, answering a question by Vladimir Radomirovic, the president of the Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS).

She added she did not want “to say that the media situation is perfect because it is not. I only want to go away from the statements like – it has never been worse.”

Serbia has been under the international pressure to improve the rule of law and media freedom as conditions for the European Union membership.

The EU ministers warned Belgrade on Tuesday that the lack of progress in freedom of expression is causing increasing concern, adding that the Serbian authorities have to guarantee conditions for the unobstructed freedom of expression and independence of the media as priorities, including reinforcing efforts in investigations of attacks on journalists.

Slavisa Lekic, the president of the Independent Association of Journalists in Serbia (NUNS) has said that at the news conferences which for the authorities say are open to all reporters, “the questions agreed in advance” are often heard.

“For the first time in Serbia’s recent history, we have news conferences with the questions that have been agreed upon in advance. You have a gathering of media people where it is precisely known who will ask what,” Lekic said.He added that there was “a practice that president (Aleksandar Vucic) attacks journalists when asked a potentially unpleasant question at his news conferences.”

Brnabic said she could not see a problem with the questions agreed upon in advance.

“Everybody is invited and they can ask whatever they want after (the pre-agreed questions),” she added.

Lekic said that the most serious problem with media in Serbia was the safety of the journalists.

According to NUNS’ data in 2013, when the currently ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) was already in power, there were 23 attacks on journalists.

“In 2015, there were 56, while last year the number went up to 92. So, it’s getting higher year after year,” Lekic said, adding he referred to both verbal and physical attacks, as well as to pressures and threats.

Publication “Invisible Violence: Stories from The Newsroom” brings journalists’ stories in 5 countries of the Western Balkans

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SKOPJE, 27.06.2018 – Five journalists from the Balkans issued the publication “Invisible Violence: Stories from The Newsroom” which brings stories about the real possibilities for doing journalism in Balkan newsrooms and the (dis)respect of journalists’ labor rights.

The study is based on interviews with fellow journalists in five countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo and Macedonia. Fifty interviews with journalists working in the public, commercial and non-profit sectors (civil society media) were conducted from January to May 2018,

Under open political pressures and threats, often denounced at press conferences of the countries’ leading persons, while in conflict with editors over the issues to be covered, and finally in a precarious labour position, journalists are doing their job amidst insecurity, discrimination, censorship and open pressures, finally resulting in self-censorship, the study states.

Many journalists refused to speak for the study or they insisted to stay anonymous, the authors say, due to the fear of losing their jobs or being prevented from finding one in the future, or due to the feeling of embarrassment for having succumbed to pressures.

“While the atmosphere in each society influences the way journalists do their work, our interlocutors have one thing in common and that is fear; and societies where journalists are afraid are not free societies”, the authors say in the study which shows that as many as 70% of the interviewed journalists in the Western Balkan region state they would change their jobs or the newsroom they are working in, citing as the main reason low salaries,followed by censorship inside the newsroom.

The study authors are journalists Biljana Sekulovska, Una Hajdari, Nidžara Ahmetašević, Milica Bogdanović and Žarka Radoja. The author of the introduction is Viktor Ivančić, founder of the cult newspaper “Feral Tribune” based in Split and columnist for the weekly “Novosti”.

“This project is funded by the European Union through the small grants programme “ProtectingMedia Freedom and Freedom of Expression in the Western Balkans” implemented by the Croatian Journalists’ Association as part of the regional project Western Balkan’s Regional Platform for Advocating Media Freedom and Journalists’ Safety, carried out through partnership of six regional journalists’ associations – Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (IJAS), Association of BH Journalists (BHJ), Croatian Journalists’ Association (CJA), Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AJK), Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM) and the Trade Union of Media of Montenegro (TUMM).”

Download the bilingual publication – in B/S/C and English.

Political pressure on the leadership and journalists of RTV USK must stop!

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BIHAĆ, 23.06.2018. – The Steering Committee of BHJA demands from the Assembly and the Government of the Una – Sana Canton (USK) to stop with political pressures on the leadership and journalists of the Una – Sana Canton Radio Television (RTV USK), as well as violation of the legal regulations and acts according to which this public media operates.

It is unacceptable that members of the Government and Assembly of the USK have threatened journalists and editors of the RTV USK for months, lead them to a humiliating and unsafe position, and tried to replace Izet Mustafic, the director of RTV USK, or appoint a new Supervisory Board, that would act in favour of the political parties in power in this canton. Such actions are considered as an unacceptable interference of authorities and political parties with media freedom and the independence of public radio-television, violation of the right of citizens to access public information and undermining fundamental democratic values.

The Steering Committee of BHJA emphasizes that media freedom, safe and dignified work of journalists and editorial independence are part of fundamental rights to freedom of expression, which under no circumstances should be challenged by the executive and legislative power of the USK. It is particularly unacceptable for freedom of expression and leadership position of RTV USK to be parts of political negotiations, aimed at securing media support and communication space for the political campaign for the upcoming general elections in BiH in October 2018.

At the same time, The Steering Committee of BHJA recalls how important is existence of a professional and politically independent public broadcaster in the USK, which will work in the interests of all citizens, will not be chosen by political and other manipulations, and be an example of responsible and professional work of journalists and editors. In this context, BHJA give their full support to RTV USK, the right journalists and editors to free and dignified work, which will not be restricted in any way from any centers of political or other power.

The Steering Committee of BH Journalists Association

The training for journalists and activists from Syria and Iraq on reporting and transitional justice ended

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SARAJEVO, 23.06.2018. – A six-day workshop devoted to reporting on transitional justice ended today in Sarajevo with the participants decision to form a network of journalists and civil society activists from Syria, Iraq and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the aim of contributing to building peace, tolerance and coexistence of majority and minority peoples in these countries.

During the education it was emphasized that the media and civil society organizations in the post-conflict period play an important role in peacebuilding. Journalists and activists must be particularly responsible in such circumstances, since their actions can be a contribution to building a society of tolerance, but also to affect the spread of hate speech and intolerance. Conflict-prone communities need journalists who report in an innovative way, focusing on solutions, and who can make a step forward from conventional reporting.

Participants exchanged their experiences with media professionals who reported from war circumstances in BiH, representatives of the academic community, transitional justice experts and activists from BiH. The educational program covered topics such as standards of fair, balanced and objective reporting on sensitive issues related to war and human rights violations, transitional justice and facing the past, documenting war crimes and media contributions to building peace and stability.

Besides, participants visited newsredactions of Oslobođenje and FTV, as well as the BHJA Journalists club in Mostar.

The workshop on “Transitional justice and reporting” was realized with the support of the Danish organization International Media Support (IMS), organized by the BH Journalists Association.

Medijska udruženja: Uplitanje politike u istrage

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BEOGRAD, 26.06.2018. – Uplitanje političkih faktora u istražne postupke i rad nadležnih organa u slučajevima koji se tiču napada na novinare preteća su opasnost po bezbednost novinara, ocenili su danas predstavnici medijskih udruženja i asocijacija u Radnoj grupi za bezbednost novinara, navodeći kao primer istragu u vezi s nestankom novinara Stefana Cvetkovića.

Predstavnik Nezavisnog udruženja novinara (NUNS) Dragan Janjić rekao je da nema zamerki na rad nadležnih organa u slučaju nestanka Cvetkovića, već na to što su vodeći političari, pre okončanja istrage, izneli svoje verzije događaja, optužili i ocenili šta se zapravo desilo u tom slučaju.

“Način na koji se politički faktori u Srbiji mešaju u rad nadležnih organa i istrage ugrožava i sistem i bezbednost novinara. To nije dobro, jer mi možemo doći u situaciju da, ako iznosimo nešto što nije po volji vlasti, ona može mimo nadležnih organa da iznese optužbe onako kako se njoj sviđa”, rekao je Janjić.

Zamenik predstavnika Nezavisnog udruženja novinara Vojvodine u Radnoj grupi za bezebnost novinara advokat Veljko Milić objasnio je da samo tužilaštvo može da daje informacije o krivičnom postupku, a ne političari i policija.

“Tužilaštvo vodi istragu i političarima nema mesta u procesima kriičnog postupka, oni ne mogu biti portparoli ni tužilaštva ni policije”, rekao je Milić.

On je ukazao na to da je javnost ostala uskraćena za informacije o tome šta se dešavalo s novinarom Cvetkovićem od trenutka kada je pronađen.

“Političari su izneli u javnost da je novinar Cvetković pronađen i da će biti još dugo u rukama vlasti. Bilo ko može biti u rukama vlasti samo onoliko koliko zakon dozvoljava, a to je četiri sata za davanje iskaza”, kazao je Milić.

Predstavnik Asocijacije onlajn medija u Radnoj grupi Ilir Gaši pozvao je nadležne institucije da “iskorače” i pokažu da se se postupak o nestanku novinara Cvetkovića vodi u njihovom okrilju.

“Smatramo da je reakcija novinarske i medijske zajednice kada je objavljena vest o nestanku Stefana Cevtkovića bila odgovarajuća i da se zajednica veoma brzo mobilisala, što pokazuje visok stepen solidarnosti i zabrinutosti za njegovu sudbinu i sudbinu drugih novinara u Srbiji”, rekao je Gaši.

On je novinare pozvao da obrate pažnju na odgovornost koju imaju i da o slučaju Cvetkovića izveštavaju bez senzacionalizma i bez iznošenja informacija koja mogu da ugroze nečiju bezbednost ili prava.

Stalna radna grupa za bezbednost novinara je na sastanku s predstavnicima tužilaštva i policije održanom prethodne nedelje pohvalila postupanje policije u satima neposredno posle nestanka Cvetkovića i izrazila očekivanje da će ubuduće Tužilaštvo informisati javnost o daljem procesu u vezi sa slučajem Stefana Cvetkovića.

Media group: Political involvement in inquires dangerous

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BELGRADE, 26.06.2018. – Any engagement by politicians in the investigations and the work of relevant institutions in cases related to the attacks on journalists threaten their safety, media group has said on Monday.

The gathering of the Working Group for Journalists’ Safety mostly focused on the recent case of a reporter who went missing for 40 hours in mid-June, allegedly kidnapped, released, questioned first as a victim and then charged with false report of adduction.

Dragan Janjic, from the Independent Association of Journalists in Serbia (NUNS), said he had no objections to the work of the state institutions in the case of his colleague Stefan Cvetkovic, but resented the fact that leading politicians had expressed their versions of the event and said what actually had happened before the end of the investigation.

“The way the politicians in Serbia get involved into the work of the institutions and inquires jeopardises the system and the safety of the journalists,” Janjic said.

He added that “that is not good because we can get into a situation in which the authorities can, past the institutions, charge us as they like for something we say.”

A lawyer from the Independent Associations of Vojvodina’s Journalists and a member of the Group Veljko Milic said that only the Prosecutor’s Office could inform the public about a criminal procedure, not the politicians or the police.

“The Office of the Prosecutors’ conduct an investigation and there is no room for the politicians in the criminal procedures, they are not spokespersons for either prosecution or police,” Milic added.

Stefan Cvetković: Nestanak sa više pitanja nego odgovora

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BEOGRAD, 25.06.2018. – Najvažnije je da je Cvetković živ, ali u svim dodašnjim verzijama brojne su nelogičnosti.

Tog četvrtka, 14. juna, u ranojutarnjim časovima, dvije su teme dominirale u srpskoj javnosti. Prva je bila vijest da je voda u Beogradu (kasnije i u drugim mjestima) otrovna za piće, koja će se ubrzo ispostaviti lažnom. Druga tema, aktuelna nekoliko dana unazad, bili su protesti zbog visoke cijene goriva, od kojih je slabašna opozicija pokušavala ubrati poneki poen, dok je vlast vješto spinovala i predstavljala blokade ulica kao još jedan udar direkno na predsjednika Srbije Aleksandra Vučića.

A onda se pojavila informacija da je nestao novinar Stefan Cvetković.

U zemlji u kojoj nikada nisu riješena ubistva Slavka Ćuruvije, Dade Vujasinović i Milana Pantića, u kojoj je život Brankice Stanković godinama ugrožen i u kojoj se ono malo novinara koji posao rade profesionalno svakodnevno bore da se iščupaju iz blata uvreda, pritisaka i ponižavanja, takve stvari se moraju shvatiti ozbiljno. Čak i kada nije riječ o dobro poznatom medijskom licu i kada nema mnogo pouzdanih informacija.

U tom trenutku znali smo tek da je novinar nestao, da su prethodne večeri u Beloj Crkvi pronađeni automobil koji je vozio i njegov sat, te da je policija počela potragu. Agencija Beta i novinarska udruženja pokušala su da stupe u kontakt s Cvetkovićem, ali bezuspješno. Mnoge redakcije poslale su ekipe na teren, ali nisu uspijevale mnogo toga da saznaju, ni tog dana ni idućeg jutra.

Neizvjesnost je trajala sve do nešto poslije 15 časova idućeg dana, kada je Aleksandar Vučić na konferenciji za medije objavio da je Cvetković pronađen, živ i nepovređen. Bile su to sjajne vijesti.

Ono što će se događati u idućih nekoliko dana sasvim sigurno spada među najkontroverznije događaje u Srbiji u proteklih nekoliko godina, iako je konkurencija u toj kategoriji velika. Na momente se činilo da gledamo vrhunski osmišljenu epizodu političkog trilera House of Cards, da bi već nekoliko trenutaka kasnije sve izgledalo kao loše režirana niskobudžetna krimi serija, sa lošim glumcima, ali koja je ipak privukla pažnju publike.

Lažne vijesti

Stefan Cvetković je slobodni novinar iz Bele Crkve, malog mjesta na sjeveroistoku Srbije, blizu granice s Rumunijom. Nije bio previše poznat u javnosti, osim po tome da je u nekoliko navrata prijavljivao da mu prijete. Povremeno je održavao konferencije za medije na kojima je predstavljao rezultate svog rada, a nedavno je ispričao da su ga više sati zadržali na administrativnom prelazu između Kosova i Srbije, navodeći da je istraživao likvidaciju srpskog političara sa Kosova Olivera Ivanovića. Na jednoj od konferencija pokazao je fotografiju osobe koja je navodno bila umiješana u ubistvo Ivanovića. Sada se ispostavilo da je ta fotografija preuzeta s interneta i da se na njoj nalazi bloger-ugostitelj iz Vankuvera.

U tekstu objavljenom nedugo nakon što je Cvetković pronađen, BIRN je objavio kako ih je nekoliko sati prije nestanka Cvetković kontaktirao, govoreći da ima nešto važno da im kaže. Dogovoren je susret u Beogradu, do kog zbog nestanka nije ni došlo. Taj tekst na izvjestan način diskredituje Cvetkovića i prikazuje ga nedovoljno pouzdanim – novinar BIRN-a piše da mu se ovaj povremeno javljao govoreći da ima „nešto“, ali „često se ispostavljalo da je to ’nešto’ zapravo ’ništa’“.

Pošto su slične informacije dolazile i od drugih kolega koje su ga poznavale – još dok nije bio pronađen – bilo je evidentno da je riječ o, u najmanju ruku, neobičnoj osobi. Međutim, sve to bilo je prilično nevažno u poređenju s tim da je čovjek, novinar, ma kakav da je, nestao. Bilo je važno proširiti tu informaciju i izvještavati o tome, bez širenja panike, netačnih konstrukcija i teorija zavjere.

Ipak, između ostalih, proširila se informacija da su uz Cvetkovićev automobil pronađeni krv i neka kutija, što je policija kasnije demantovala. Takođe, neki od medija, poput Blica i Danasa, u prvi plan su stavili da je nestao novinar koji je istraživao ubistvo Olivera Ivanovića, što će se uskoro pretvoriti u svojevrsnu histeriju opoziciono nastrojenih naloga na društvenim mrežama, prije svega na Tviteru: da je baš to razlog što se Cvetkoviću izgubio svaki trag. Javnost u Srbiji već mjesecima je uznemirena Ivanovićevim ubistvom koje, čini se, nije ni blizu razrješenja, ali Cvetkovićev nestanak i taj slučaj, u tom trenutku, nisu imali jasnu povezanost.

Kada govorimo o tom prvom danu, zanimljiv je odnos tabloida koji su obično službeni glasnici vladajuće stranke i koji jedva čekaju smrt, nestanke, misterije i afere, da ih danima razvlače po naslovnicama i krše sve moguće profesionalne standarde. Međutim, ovoga puta InformerAlo i Srpski telegraf Cvetkovićev nestanak uopšte ne spominju na naslovnim stranama od petka, 15. juna. Ignorisanje će se kasnije pretvoriti u uobičajeno prenemaganje i kukanje nad teškom sudbinom Srbije, oličene u jednoj osobi – Aleksandru Vučiću, protiv koga se po ko zna koji put vodi specijalni rat, a nestanak Stefana Cvetkovića je samo dio te opšte zavjere.

Upravo Vučić je i obavijestio javnost da je Cvetković pronađen, a sa terena su došle apsurdne informacije da su i njegovi roditelji za to saznali gledajući konferenciju za medije.

Vučić je u više navrata rekao da službe ne vjeruju u Cvetkovićevu verziju događaja, ali je provjeravaju. Dodao je da će se Cvetković dugo zadržati u policiji „jer ima mnogo toga da objasni“, da nije bilo tragova borbe, da nije bilo krvi i da je „mnogo toga namešetno“. Nije propustio priliku da veći dio konferencije pretvori u obračun sa političkim protivnicima, vanjskim i unutrašnjim neprijateljima, insinuirajući da ishod nestanka nije onakav kakav su neki potajno priželjkivali. Požalio se i da je nestanak novinara upropastio događaj za koga se spremao 45 dana: „Nažalost, uništili su nam juče veličanstven dan s otvaranjem fabrike Kromberg Šubert, posetu divnoj porodici Krstić. Još jednom im se izvinjavam što sam bio namršten pred predivnom devojčicom Dunjom i pred njenim roditeljima koji su dobili posao u fabrici.“

Vučić je takođe izjavio: „Zajedno smo radili. Mi smo noćas do kasno radili svi, čitali sve papire, pregledali sve papire, gledali šta je to što imamo. Svako od nas se trudio da uoči neku nelogičnost i da vidimo gde možemo da tražimo.“ Ostalo je nejasno, po ko zna koji put, po kom osnovu je Vučić učestvovao u stvarima koje uopšte ne spadaju u opis njegovog posla, poput aktivne uloge u istragama.

Još jedna stvar sa te pres konferencije je veoma važna – predsjednik Srbije je najavio neku vrstu obračuna s lažnim vijestima, što samo po sebi ne bi bilo sporno, kad ne bi postojala sasvim opravdana sumnja da bi to moglo biti zloupotrijebljeno, pošto lažne vijesti u praksi često dolaze upravo od vladajućih stuktura i njima naklonjenih medija. Slično je govorio i Ivica Dačić, ministar vanjskih poslova Srbije, navodeći da se slučaj Cvetković ne može posmatrati kao izolovan i da se lažne vijesti šire kako bi vlast bila destabilizovana. Zato se ne treba iznenaditi ako sljedeće istraživanje CINS-a ili Insajdera bude nazvano lažnim i stavljeno u kontekst s informacijama o „otrovanoj vodi“ ili o „otetom novinaru“.

Nestao, pa ga pronašli, pa ga nije bilo, pa dobio krivičnu prijavu

Cvetković je, dakle, pronađen, ali je javnosti odmah ubačen ozbiljan crv sumnje u tačnost njegovih tvrdnji. Broj sumnji kasnije će se samo povećavati. Na primjer, razgovor u policiji u petak je, navodno, trajao nekoliko sati, ali Cvetković se nije oglašavao sve do nedjelje kada je objavio da je stigao kući.

Tužilac u ovom slučaju ispričao je da je Cvetković u petak dao izjavu u svojstvu građanina, da nije osumnjičen, ali nije bio upoznat da je ovaj dodatno zadržan. S druge strane, ministar unutrašnjih poslova Nebojša Stefanović izjavio je u nedjelju da je u Cvetkovićevim izjavama bilo nelogičnosti, da su pronađeni samo njegovi DNK uzorci, da snimci video nadzora ne potvrđuju da je bio praćen, te da je i poligraf pokazao da dijelovi njegovog iskaza nisu tačni, poput tvrdnje da u slučaju nije učestvovao niko iz njegovog okruženja. Sasvim logično je pitanje – kako ministar zna, a tužilac ne zna gdje je Cvetković?

Povodom već ustaljene prakse srpskih političara da se miješaju u istrage i iznose detalje o njima, pa i u ovom slučaju, oglasio se Povjerenik za samostalnost tužilaca Goran Ilić, koji je rekao da je veoma čudno da „javnost ne obaveštava javni tužilac, već funkcioneri koji po logici stvari i zakonu ne bi trebalo da imaju puna saznanja o radnjama preduzetim u predistražnom postupku (…) Stiče se utisak da nadležni javni tužilac ima veoma skromna saznanja o postupku kojim rukovodi.“

Iako je najprije rekao da će sačekati neko vrijeme prije nego se obrati javnosti, Cvetković je već u ponedeljak 18. juna zakazao konferenciju za medije za naredni dan. Nedugo zatimBIRN je objavio da je Policijska uprava Pančevo podnijela krivičnu prijavu protiv njega, zbog sumnje da je lažno prijavio otmicu. Istog dana, policija mu je dodijelila stalno obezbjeđenje.

Konferencija za medije je održana u beogradskom Medija centru i bila je veoma posjećena, ali nije razjasnila mnogo toga. Naprotiv.

Cvetković se ponašao neuvjervljivo, na momente histerično, iznosio je niz nevažnih informacija i tražio međunarodnu istragu. Sa sobom je donio i kapuljaču koja mu je, navodno, bila na glavi tokom otmice, koju nije predao policiji, već je rekao da je planira predati stranim ambasadama. Hvalio je vlast i institucije i objasnio da se od petka do nedjelje nalazio na Vojno-medicinskoj akademiji, gdje su ga pregledavali ljekari.

Sve njegove izjave nisu se poklapale sa navodima tužilaštava iz Vršca i Pančeva, koja tvrde da je u noći navodne otmice Cvetković komunicirao s majkom, što je on negirao. Nisu se slagale ni sve njegove izjave sa konferencije za medije, iz intervjua datog BIRN-u i iz iskaza policiji. Neki od detalja koje je iznio takođe su bili neobični, poput toga da tokom navodnog zatočeništva nije ni pokušao da sazna šta mu se dešava ili da su ga otmičari pitali gdje želi da ga ostave kada su ga vraćali u Belu Crkvu.

Tog dana se dogodio još jedan kuriozitet – tužioci iz Vršca i Pančeva obratili su se javnosti saopštenjem, potpisani imenom i prezimenom, u kome potvrđuju da vode istragu protiv Cvetkovića. Tužilaštva u Srbiji se gotovo nikada ne obraćaju javnosti na taj način.

Postavlja se pitanje – da li smo svi pali na lažnu vijest? I ako jesmo – na čiju? Moguće da jesmo, ali u ovom trenutku nema dovoljno informacija za takav zaključak. Brojna pitanja, poput motiva za (isceniranu?) otmicu, su još bez odgovora i nijedna od iznesenih verzija događaja se ne može prihvatiti zdravo za gotovo. Koliko god postoji mogućnost da je Cvetković zaista bio kidnapovan, toliko je realno i da je sve osmislio sam, ali i da je u tome učestvovao neko iz vlasti. Jer ono što jeste prilično izvjesno je da su slučajevi Cvetković i Babchenko (ruski novinar u Ukrajini koji je nedavno u saradnji sa tajnom službom lažirao svoje ubistvo), sa svim nejasnoćama i nelogičnostima, ozbiljno uzdrmali povjerenje u istinu i novinarstvo, te na neki način unaprijed narušili kredibilitet budućim sličnim slučajevima i diskreditovali novinare koji bi mogli da imaju stvarne probleme sa bezbjednošću. Za nadati se da takvih slučajeva neće biti i da ovu tezu neće biti moguće provjeriti u praksi.