ANEM alarm: Campaign against lawyer Ivan Ninić and targeting broadcasters Nova S and N1 – an inadmissible call for lynching

On the account under the name Milko Milić (@MilicMilko99), in a post titled “Serbian services have proven that every traitor will be discovered and arrested”, dangerous falsehoods are presented. It is stated, among other things, that “Serbian services, after a year of monitoring, collected evidence of the cooperation of lawyer Ivan Ninić with the Albanian occupiers in Kosovo and Metohija”, accusing him of being a CIA agent.

In the same dangerous pamphlet, television stations N1 and Nova S were presented as media whose alleged goal is the destabilization of Serbia, thus continuing a long-term campaign targeting these newsrooms, which professionally and responsibly report on socially important topics. 

We remind you that in a similar way, with a media lynching and broadcast of a video full of lies, the Kosovo politician Oliver Ivanović was also targeted, who was killed shortly afterwards in 2018. 

In the past two decades, five lawyers were murdered in Serbia – two murders were resolved with final verdicts. Three journalists were also killed, and none of the cases were solved.

Today, a significant number of lawyers provide legal protection to vulnerable citizens, students, activists and politicians who have been attacked, beaten, arrested, threatened, and prosecuted with absurd charges. They provide crucial legal support, even in cases where prosecutors and courts avoid sanctioning abusers. 

Legal protection provided by lawyers, as well as accurate, timely and responsible reporting by media such as N1 and Nova S – especially during protests and arrests – are of crucial importance for the protection of basic human rights. Unfortunately, often by the institutions that should protect those rights.

Due to all of the above, it is clear why Ivan Ninić, N1 and Nova S are currently on target.

Just as they protect citizens with their professional and human involvement, it is necessary for journalist associations, media associations and bar associations to strongly and unreservedly condemn this dangerous call for lynching. It is necessary to show the highest degree of solidarity and clearly explain to the public that such campaigns are full of lies and have a clear goal – to intimidate, weaken and stop all those who fight for justice and truth, on behalf of all citizens.

Violence against citizens is becoming more frequent, and impunity for the perpetrators – whether they come from the party-organized structures of the ruling party or from the police ranks that constantly exceed their powers – is becoming the rule. The unprecedented practice of presidential amnesties also contributes to this.

In such an atmosphere, it is of crucial importance that everyone knows that they are not alone – that they will always be able to count on legal and media support. 

Veran Matić, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) and member of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists 

The project “System of prevention of violence and protection of journalists” is implemented by ANEM with partners Insider TV and the Center for the Development of Local Media, with the support of the European Union and the Balkan Fund for Democracy.