BELGRADE, 21.06.2018. – The disappearance of journalist Stefan Cvetkovic was discussed at Wednesday’s meeting between representatives of journalist and media organizations and the Serbian public prosecution and police, the FoNet news agency reported.
The agency quoted Radio Free Europe (RFE) which said that the police and prosecutors disclosed information about the case which the journalist and media organizations want made public. The station quoted unnamed sources who said the whole case could put Serbian journalists in serious danger.
The police and prosecutors wanted to give assurances that they were doing their job and trying to solve the case, Slavko Curuvija Foundation head Ilir Gashi told RFE. “The problem we pointed out is the leaking of information from investigators to media and the spreading of disinformation aimed at heightening anxiety,” he said.
Political interference in this case is impermissible, according to Veran Matic who heads a Commission investigating the murder of journalists. “Political influence is reflected in the leaking of information to media who abuse that information, tabloids,” he said.
Stefan Cvetkovic was reported missing on the night of June 13-14 in his home town of Bela Crkva. He was reported to have been found following a police search and held a news conference on June 19 to say that he had been abducted and was released after two days. The prosecution announced that criminal charges had been filed against him for faking the abduction.