Vienna, 30/08/2015
The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) was alarmed to learn the details of yet another recent attack on media workers in Serbia.
On the evening of 27 August investigative journalist Ivan Ninic was attacked in front of his building in Belgrade. Ninic was ambushed and brutally assaulted by two young men carrying metal bars. The journalist was left with a contusion under his eye, bruising on his femur, and an injury to the right shoulder. The case was reported to the police.
Ivan Ninic has been an investigative journalist for the last decade, uncovering cases of corruption and crime. Along with several colleagues, Ninic recently established a non-governmental organization that will publish investigative stories on these topics. Ninic believes the attack is connected to his investigative work.
SEEMO would like to stress the importance of a free and safe media environment in Serbia. Conditions that allow journalists to be targeted by threats and physical violence show a clear disinterest in supporting freedom of expression by Serbian institutions and authorities.
SEEMO is a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South East Europe and SEEMO’s press freedom work is supported by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) project, as part of a grant by the European Commission.