BELGRADE, July 8, 2020 – In two separate events, journalist Marko Radonjic first experienced a physical attack and beatings with a truncheon by members of the Ministry of the Interior and then when trying to record the police action at the event, ie apprehending and behaving of police officers towards the people they have detained, he received a threat of detention from an official in civilian clothes if he continued to record the event. This was followed by a verbal clarification by the journalist and the official as to whether filming was allowed or not, but the threat was very serious, so the journalist had to withdraw. In both situations, Radonjic clearly and loudly introduced himself as a journalist, wearing a visible journalist’s ID around his neck. Representatives of the police and the prosecutor’s office in the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists were also informed about the case.
