Isidora Kovačević, the editor-in-chief of newspaper Podrinske (https://podrinske.com/) from Šabac, Serbia, finds herself under a cloud of threats and intimidation in her hometown, following her critical remarks about the participation of a local policeman in a political rally on 12 December 2023. Allegedly this incident comes on the heels of previous targeting, where Kovačević was subjected to harassment for her reporting.
In December 2021, Kovačević allegedly received menacing messages and discovered ‘wanted’ posters bearing her name plastered across the town (https://x.com/themiss_isidora/status/1471860132489347074?s=20).
Kovačević, shedding light on the inherent challenges faced by journalists, particularly outspoken women, remains undeterred. She is committed to taking legal action against those disseminating false information and issuing threats. The troubling circumstances surrounding Kovačević underscore the broader issues journalists face in carrying out their work, particularly when confronting powerful figures and institutions.
The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) calls on Serbian authorities to take immediate and effective measures to ensure the safety of Isidora Kovačević and to thoroughly investigate and prosecute those responsible for the threats and harassment. Furthermore, SEEMO urges the authorities to create an environment where journalists can carry out their work without fear and where press freedom is respected and protected.
South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.
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