BELGRADE, 18.06.2019. – The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS) “sharply condemned the inadmissible behaviour of the Deputy Mayor Goran Vesic” who claimed he was in possession of internal correspondence between N1 editor and reporter,” N1 reported.
NUNS said Vesic, in line with his long-time campaign against N1, switched from unfounded criticism of its reporting to most direct intimidation of editors and reporters in a way unheard of for a long time.
“NUNS calls on the Special Prosecutors Office for Hi-Tech Crime to investigate did any unauthorised person intercept the internal communication at N1 and who that was,” its statement said.
It added that Vesic’s claim he possessed an internal e-mail which N1 Editor sent to his reporters is calculated to show an unlimited power of the current regime. Vesic demonstrated the arrogance of a politician who does not respect the Constitution and laws in this country.”
NUNS also said that the Constitution, Law on Electronic Communication and Law on Public Information and Media protect the secrecy of letters and other means of communication.
The Association added it completely supported N1’s professional and anti-censorship stand “not to send to the Deputy Mayor cabinet, or anybody else, questions in advance despite the threats from his PR team.”
NUNS also reminded that the law obliges public servants to answer questions and endure the criticism of their work.
Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic said Vesic should be held responsible if he illegally obtained the e-mail. “But, if some of your colleagues sent it to him, he has nothing to be responsible for… I was surprised, and I thought that was not true.”