On 15 September 2024 Nikola Stevanović, a journalist with the “Bujanovačke” portal (https://bujanovacke.co.rs/), received threats through a comment on the media outlet’s Facebook page following his commentary on the news about the reintroduction of mandatory military service in Serbia.
An anonymous user with the profile name “Vojvoda Mojmilovo” left a threatening message under the post, stating, “And you, ‘journalist,’ don’t forget where you are and where your newsroom is. Behave yourself in the future. Consider this your last civilized warning.” This alarming statement has raised serious concerns for Stevanović’s safety.
Nikola Lazić, the editor-in-chief of “Bujanovačke,” highlighted that, although negative comments and insults are a common occurrence, this particular situation stood out as a direct and explicit threat. He expressed concerns about the feeling of being unsafe, emphasizing that while the person responsible might not resort to physical violence themselves, their actions could encourage others to engage in acts of vandalism or intimidation. Lazić noted the sensitivity of the situation, given that they operate in a multiethnic community near Kosovo, where Serbian-Albanian relations are notably complex. The most recent threats have already been reported to the High-Tech Crime Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade, Serbia.
There is an urgent need for relevant authorities to act promptly in identifying and prosecuting the individual behind the Facebook profile. Additionally, authorities should address the previous threats faced by journalists at the “Bujanovačke” newsroom.
These threats remain the outcome of negative campaigns targeting journalists who criticize the government. The Serbian authorities have been criticized for not doing enough to create a safe environment for journalists, and the failure to punish threats or dismiss complaints only encourages those who aim to silence media professionals.
This situation underscores the pressing need for stronger protection of journalists in Serbia, as continued intimidation threatens freedom of the press and the safety of those committed to informing the public.
The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the threats made against Nikola Stevanović and the “Bujanovačke” team as an unacceptable attack on press freedom and journalistic safety. Such intimidation tactics are alarming and pose a danger to the essential role of independent journalism, especially in a region with a complex multiethnic environment. SEEMO calls on the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and take swift action against those responsible. SEEMO will be closely monitoring this case to ensure that the safety of journalists is upheld and that such incidents do not go unpunished.
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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