Media scene of Serbia in april 2025
Publicly available data, information obtained from journalists, editors, and other media professionals, journalistic associations, and media or- ganizations, as well as from governmental and non-governmental bod- ies, are used for monitoring.
This Monitoring Report was prepared by expert monitoring team from the “Savović” Law Office in cooperation with ANEM.
I. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
April is a month filled with somber reminders of the ultimate price that journalists in Serbia have paid for decades—their lives.
This month marked thirty-one years since the death of Dada Vujasinović. The circum- stances surrounding her death remain unresolved to this day. Last year, the statute of limitations for prosecuting the crime of murder expired completely.1
Eighteen years ago, an attempt was made on the life of journalist Dejan Anastasijević, when a bomb exploded beneath the window of his apartment. The case remains un- solved.2
Journalist Slavko Ćuruvija was murdered twenty-six years ago. On the anniversary of his death, a hearing was scheduled in the case brought by three of the accused—sub- sequently acquitted—against the foundation bearing his name. The hearing was post- poned, and once again, people stood in front of the courthouse, left without answers.
That same year, twenty-six years ago, during the bombing of the RTS (Radio Television of Serbia) building, sixteen employees lost their lives.3
***
Reporters Without Borders has called on the European Parliament to demand that the European Commission firmly denounce the damage inflicted by Serbian authorities on media freedom. Pavol Szalai, Head of the EU and Balkans Desk at Reporters Without Borders, stated that the Serbian government, through its continuous undermining of safety and independence, has brought the media to the brink of existence. In his view, EU member states and institutions must not remain passive in the face of the systematic erosion of the right to reliable information.4
At a press conference held during the visit of representatives of international associa- tions and organizations within the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium5, the European Union was urged to publicly condemn the attacks on journalists and me- dia outlets in Serbia. The MFRR also called for negotiations on Chapter 23 to be frozen until threats, pressure, and repression against journalists come to an end. The Serbian authorities—particularly the president—were called upon to stop attacks on journalists, who are especially vulnerable when reporting from protests. The urgent need to cease the use of spyware was also emphasized.6
Representatives of the MFRR visited Serbia from April 7 to 9, 2025, with the goal of gathering information on media freedoms, pressures on independent journalists, and threats to their safety by the authorities.
***
More than one hundred organizations, activist groups, and political parties—joined by family members of the detained activists—sent a letter to European institutions, calling for swift action in response to the political persecution of Novi Sad-based activists from the STAV group and the Movement of Free Citizens. These individuals were detained following the release of an audio recording of a wiretapped conversation, just one day before the “15 for 15” protest.7 Those deprived of liberty were: Lazar Dinić, Lado Jo- vović, Marija Vasić, Davor Stefanović, Srđan Đurić, and Mladen Cvijetić. (For more infor- mation, see the Monitoring of the Media Scene in Serbia – February 2025.) The Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Novi Sad has charged them with the criminal offense of Preparation of acts against the constitutional order and security of Serbia, in connection with the crimes of Attack on the constitutional order and Incitement to violent change of the constitutional order.8
Following the most recent decision to extend detention by another 30 days (issued on May 13), activist and high school sociology teacher Marija Vasić began a hunger and thirst strike.9 Due to her deteriorating health, she was transferred from the District Pris- on in Novi Sad to the hospital at the Central Prison in Belgrade.10
According to media reports, activist Davor Stefanović suffered a double nasal fracture while in detention. The Directorate for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions stated that the injury was inflicted by another detainee.11
At the time of writing this Monitoring Report, more than two months after their ar- rest, Marija Vasić, Lado Jovović, and Lazar Dinić have been released from detention and placed under house arrest with electronic monitoring. Meanwhile, detention was extended by another 30 days for activists Mladen Cvijetić, Srđan Đurić, and Davor Ste- fanović (the appeal period is currently ongoing).12 Expressing justified dissatisfaction with the authorities’ stance, citizens have been organizing blockades of the courthouse and prosecutor’s office buildings in Novi Sad.13
In April, the Higher Court in Belgrade extended the detention of Srđan Žunić, activist and founder of the movement “United People of Serbia.” He is charged with the criminal offense of Obstruction of an Official in the Performance of Official Duties (Article 23 of the Law on Public Order and Peace).14
While in detention, Žunić initiated a hunger strike. At the time of writing this report, after spending fifty-four days in detention, the ruling ordering his detention was over- turned. The Court of Appeal found that the factual description of the actions attributed to him in the indictment by the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade does not meet the legal definition of the offense of Obstruction of an Official in the Performance of Official Duties.15
***
Journalist associations, members of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists, and representatives of the Public Prosecutor’s Office held a meeting at the premises of the Independent Journalists’ Association of Vojvodina (NDNV) in Novi Sad. The meeting addressed issues identified in cases involving threats to journalists’ safety and physical attacks against them—specifically, the case of the attack on journalists from IN Medija in Inđija and the assault on cameraman Mirko Todorović. Zoran Strika, editor at Radio 021, shared his personal experience of being physically attacked while report- ing on the departure of SNS activists to the most recent rally held by the ruling party in Belgrade.16
During the meeting, proposals were put forward for legislative amendments aimed at better protecting the physical integrity of media professionals.
RTS Blockade
On May 14, students called on the public to join the blockade of the RTS (Radio Tele- vision of Serbia) buildings in Takovska Street, Aberdareva Street, and on Košutnjak.
Through their official social media accounts, they announced that the protest would last “until a new public call for REM is issued, or until RTS is shut down.”17 They also ad- dressed the Parliamentary Committee on Culture and Information, demanding that the selection process for REM Council members be repeated and conducted in a transparent manner.18
The blockade of RTS lasted fourteen days and ended after the Committee on Culture and Information decided to annul the previous public call and issue a new one for the selection of REM Council members.19
Snježana Milivojević, full professor of Public Opinion and Media Studies at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade, stated that students had successfully identified all the key problematic areas related to the media. She interpreted the demand to shut down RTS as an expression of the need for a symbolic break with the past. Regarding the new public call for the selection of REM Council members—one that would be conducted transparently and in accordance with the law—she said it was a task that simply must be done.20
Branko Stanković, author of the show Kvadratura kruga, which airs on RTS, and a known supporter of student protests, commented on colleagues “breaking through” the blockade by saying: “I cannot enter my workplace through kebab shops and rat tun- nels.”21
RTS characterized the blockade as undue pressure and demanded that students and citizens end it immediately.22 When that did not happen, on the second day of the block- ade, police were tasked with escorting fifteen employees into the RTS building.23 In the days that followed, RTS began modifying its programming and broadcasting from studios whose locations were not (at the time) publicly disclosed.24
Accusing unknown individuals (NN) of the criminal offense of Obstruction of Printing and Distribution of Printed Matter and Program Broadcasting (Article 149, Paragraph 2 of the Criminal Code)25, Radio Television of Serbia filed a criminal complaint. A second complaint was also filed against unknown individuals, this time related to several “want- ed posters” featuring the photo of an RTS editor, the corresponding article of law under which they were “wanted,” and a promise of a reward in the form of free media for the “finder.” This complaint alleged the criminal offense of Endangering Safety (Article 138, Paragraph 2) in concurrence with Stalking (Article 138a, Paragraph 2).26 Journalist associ- ations expressed concern and condemned the public dissemination of personal informa- tion about journalists.27
More than fifty journalists from RTS held an assembly in the public broadcaster’s parking lot on April 16. According to a statement by the Independent Journalists’ Associ- ation of Serbia (NUNS), just a few hours after the meeting ended, five of the employees were summoned for questioning. Some of them are part of an informal group called “Naš pRoTeSt” (“Our pRoTeSt”), made up of RTS employees who are demanding greater professional accountability and freedom of expression from the public broadcaster.28
The Journalists’ Association of Serbia (UNS) called on the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the National Assembly to explain to the public why the Security Information Agency (BIA) had summoned RTS journalists for questioning.29
Members of the “Naš pRoTeSt” group demanded the resignation of those responsible for insulting students on RTS programming. They called on Nenad Lj. Stefanović, the ed- itor-in-chief of the news program, and his deputies Gorislav Papić and Zoran Stanojević to disclose the name of the author of a segment in which the students participating in the blockade were compared to Nazis (the segment aired on April 16).30 The group sub- mitted a petition to the Parliamentary Committee on Culture and Information, signed by over 23,000 citizens, demanding that a public competition be launched to select new members of the REM Council.31
During the RTS blockade, Euronews Serbia published a statement alleging that RTS journalists had been working “in a ghetto” for over seventy hours, that they were being “herded into camps,” and subjected to “unprecedented torture, abuse, and both phys- ical and psychological violence.”32 As the statement was unsigned, it was quickly dis- avowed by more than eighty journalists from that very newsroom. Strongly denouncing the use of terms such as “ghetto” and “camps” as entirely inappropriate, the journalists emphasized their commitment to “a culture and ethics of public discourse, refraining from hate speech, aggressive rhetoric, or any language that might incite discrimination or violence.”33 Their rejection of the statement was supported by the professional public.34
Due to threats made against Kurir journalist Jelena Spasić, the Higher Court in Bel- grade sentenced Saša Mirović to seven months in prison. Mirović has the right to appeal the verdict.
Spasić received threatening messages after publishing several articles about the chal- lenges faced by children and adults living with diabetes. (More on this case can be found in the Media Scene Monitoring reports for September and October 2024, as well as January 2025.)
ANEM monitoring report for April 2025 on freedom of expression, old and new regulations and analysis of SLAPP lawsuits
April is a month of sad reminders that for decades engaging in journalism in Serbia can cost one’s life. This month marks thirty-one years since the death of Dada Vujasinović, twenty-six since the death of Slavko Ćurivija, the same since the death of sixteen RTS workers, eighteen years since the assassination attempt on Dejan Anastasijević.
The topics of this month’s monitoring were the actions of the Reporters Without Borders aimed at condemning the damage caused by the authorities in Serbia to freedom of the media, as well as the actions of representatives of international associations and organizations within the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium, who also requested public condemnation of attacks on journalists and media in Serbia, as well as the freezing of negotiations on Chapter 23, until the threats, pressures and repression are ended. The European institutions were written to in the expectation that they would respond urgently to the political persecution of Novi Sad activists from the STAV group and the Movement of Free Citizens. Those activists are not the only ones deprived of their freedom. In April, the High Court in Belgrade extended the detention of the activist and founder of the “United People of Serbia” movement, Srđan Žunić.
Monitoring also discussed the fourteen-day blockade of RTS that ended with the decision to cancel the old one and call for a new competition for the selection of members of the REM Council, as well as the meeting of RTS journalists held on April 16, after which, NUNS reports, five workers were invited to an informative interview to the Serbian Security Agency.
The April monitoring records information about the first-instance verdict in the case of threats sent to journalist Jelena S. Spasić and information about the objection that Vuk Cvijić stated against the prosecution’s decision regarding the attack he suffered from Milan Lađević.
In Monitoring, the reader can be informed about the obstruction of the work of the TV N1 reporter team, about the summons to the police received by columnist Dejan Ilić, about attacks on the KTV team, journalist Zoran Strika, Istinomer female journalist, journalist Žarko Bogosavljević, Al Jazeera reporting team, about threats, curses and insults suffered by the editor and journalist Srđan Nonić, about threats and pressure directed at the editor and journalist Željko Matorčević, about the prohibition to report to Irena Stević, about threats to journalists and TV N1 sent via social networks and email addresses.
A special topic of Monitoring was the accusation of the President of the Serbian Assembly, Ana Brnabić, against the FoNet agency and lawyer Boža Prelević, as well as the “inspiring” actions of the President of the Čačak Municipal Assembly, Igor Trifunović, the actions of which the journalist Nebojša Jovanović suffered the consequences.
The Constitutional Court rejected the initiative to start the procedure for the evaluation of the constitutionality of the provisions of Article 126 para. 1 of the Law on Electronic Media; UNS, ANEM and Local Press continued to demand from the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications to explain why there are irregularities in the work of the Unified Information System; The Association of Journalists of Serbia, together with its branch, the Association of Journalists of Kosovo and Metohija, demanded the cancellation of the MIT competition for co-financing of media content production projects for electronic media in Kosovo and Metohija; The Association of Journalists of Serbia strongly reacted to the decision of the Municipality of Ćuprija regarding the competition for co-financing of media content; the proceedings initiated by the publisher of the daily newspaper Kurir against the publisher of the portal KRIK, publisher of the Cenzolovka portal and publisher of the daily newspaper Danas have been legally terminated by rejecting the claim.
Case of the attack on Radar journalist Vuk Cvijić
Vuk Cvijić filed an objection to a decision in which the prosecution stated that Milan Lađević, one of the co-owners and publishers of the pro-government tabloids Srpski telegraf and Republika.rs, despite having struck and pushed the journalist, had not com- mitted a criminal offense that would warrant prosecution ex officio.
The objection challenges the prosecution’s claim that the incident did not disturb pub- lic peace (among witnesses, Cvijić’s colleagues, and the broader public) and argues that the prosecution failed to investigate whether Lađević may have committed other offens- es beyond the primary charge of violent behavior.
(More on the attack on Vuk Cvijić can be found in the Media Scene Monitoring reports for May and June 2024 and March 2025.)
Obstruction of reporting by the N1 Television news crew
The reporting team of N1 Television was prevented from covering the movement of a group that set off on foot from Novi Sad to Belgrade to attend a rally called by the Presi- dent of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić. Police officers informed the journalists that they could not continue reporting, citing a lack of sufficient Ministry of Interior personnel to ensure their safety.
Supporters of the Serbian Progressive Party who gathered to welcome the marchers, as well as participants in the procession, called the N1 news crew Ustaše and traitors. Some approached reporter Sanja Kosović aggressively, insulted her, and prevented her from taking photos. Among those gathered was the president of the municipality of Stara Pazova, Đorđe Radinović.35
Although the N1 team had been covering student protest marches for months, the journalist stated that they had never before been asked to stop reporting.36
In addition to the N1 crew, journalists from Al Jazeera were also subjected to pressure. The professional community responded to the incidents.37
Case of Dejan Ilić, columnist for the Peščanik website
Due to his response to a question from a TV Nova journalist regarding the idea of a transitional government, Dejan Ilić was summoned by the police. Concluding that there were grounds to suspect he had committed the criminal offense of Causing panic and disorder, the prosecution ordered that Ilić be detained for 48 hours. The portion of his statement that allegedly caused panic was:
“You have a choice: either you open the door for those people to retreat—opening the door being the transitional government—or you accept that there will be blood in the streets, that we will lose an unknown number of lives and we don’t know whose lives, in order to free ourselves from them.”
The second part of Ilić’s statement, which the prosecution did not take into account, reads: “And now you have a choice: are you ready to sacrifice lives, or are you going to deal with the situation by agreeing to sit in a government that includes some of them? They’ll be in the government but will have no power. That’s what matters. The issue is not wheth- er they’re in the government or not, but whether they can actually do anything. And if this is a way to save lives, to avoid bloodshed, I have no doubt that we should pursue a transi- tional government. So if that’s the strongest argument against a transitional government, it doesn’t hold. Although it may seem convincing at first glance, it easily collapses, because this is truly a matter of choosing between lives and a compromise that, in fact, brings nothing to the other side.”38
After giving his statement, the detention order against Ilić was revoked. The Minis- try of the Interior announced that a criminal complaint for Causing panic and disorder would be filed against him.39
The professional community expressed solidarity with Dejan Ilić and deep concern over his detention at the police station.40
Case of the attack on Zoran Strika, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Radio 021 portal
The attack on Zoran Strika occurred while he was reporting on the departure of cit- izens from Novi Sad to attend a rally for Aleksandar Vučić in Belgrade. The journalist filmed two men assaulting a young man who was also recording the event. The assail- ants knocked the man to the ground and began kicking him. They took his phone and threw it into the Danube. The young man sustained head injuries.41
One of the attackers noticed Strika filming the incident and charged at him, grabbing his arm and neck in an attempt to seize his phone. While resisting the attacker, Strika called out to Ognjen Dopuđ, Director of the Provincial Fund for European Affairs and De- velopment, who was nearby, and asked him to intervene. Dopuđ did not respond. Strika nevertheless managed to fend off the attacker and keep his phone.42
Strika and the injured young man moved to safety. Using his mobile phone, the journalist called the police. While they were waiting for the police to arrive, three hooded men approached them. One of them came up to the injured man, who was at that mo- ment speaking to his wife using Strika’s phone, grabbed the device, and threw it into the Danube.43
The domestic professional community condemned the attack and called for the identi- fication and prosecution of the perpetrators.44
Attack on the KTV crew during the “We Won’t Give Up Serbia” rally
While reporting from the “We Won’t Give Up Serbia” gathering, organized at the invi- tation of the President of the Republic of Serbia to mark the founding of the “Movement for the People and the State,” a five-member KTV news crew—Nemanja Šarović, leader of the “Love, Faith, Hope” movement and KTV reporter, cameraman Siniša Nikšić, two technicians, and KTV owner Danijel Radić—was surrounded and then physically attacked by sympathizers of the Serbian Progressive Party. Before the attack, individuals dressed in security uniforms hurled numerous insults at them. One unidentified person hit Šarović with a bottle, while another charged at the TV camera, damaging it so severely that it lost signal.
Šarović stated that their crew was attacked by: the Director of City Sanitation Marko Popadić, the mayors of Kruševac and Ćuprija, the Director of the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund Relja Ognjenović, and other party and state officials.45
At the Emergency Center, members of the KTV crew were diagnosed with minor and more serious bodily injuries. Šarović sustained contusions to the left cheekbone, right ear, and jaw joint; technician Milorad Malešev had three teeth knocked out; and KTV owner Danijel Radić, cameraman Siniša Nikšić, and the second technician suffered minor injuries.46
Journalist associations condemned the attack.47
The case was recorded on the Mapping Media Freedom platform, which tracks media freedom violations across Europe.
The news agency Beta contacted the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Belgrade to ask whether it would take action to identify and prosecute the attackers of the KTV crew. The response was that the incident did not constitute a criminal offense under their jurisdiction. The journalists were referred to the First Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office (because the incident occurred in its jurisdiction), the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Misdemeanor Court in Belgrade.48
The First Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office summoned Nemanja Šarović to give a state- ment in the capacity of a citizen. Šarović informed the public that the said prosecutor’s office does not consider itself competent in this case, and that he does not wish to “par- ticipate in a farce,” but rather demands that the attackers be “apprehended, questioned, and detained.”49
Al Jazeera News Crew Prohibited from Filming the “We Won’t Give Up Serbia” Rally
While members of the Al Jazeera news crew — reporter Katarina Vojnović, a camera- woman, and a satellite operator — were filming the “We Won’t Give Up Serbia” rally from the terrace of a privately owned apartment, two plainclothes police officers en- tered the apartment and prohibited them from continuing to film. The reporter stated that the officers showed their badges and asked them to present their press IDs and per- sonal identification cards. After “checking with their superiors,” the officers confirmed that they could not film the rally from that location and were only allowed to film from the street. When the journalists asked who could grant them permission to film, the officers responded that the rally organizer was responsible for issuing such permissions, but they did not know who that was.50
Threats Directed at Editor and Journalist of Niška Inicijativa, Srđan Nonić
A group of masked men, acting as (unofficial) security for a convoy of buses heading to the “We Won’t Give Up Serbia” rally, issued multiple threats, insults, and profanities toward a citizen who tried to film them, police officers present at the scene, and Srđan Nonić, editor and journalist of the Niška Inicijativa outlet.
The group also attacked a nearby vehicle, damaging it in the process. After two addi- tional police vehicles arrived on the scene, the attackers dispersed.
The incident was reported to the relevant authorities.51
Attack on Istinomer Journalist
While filming tents that had been set up the night before in front of the National As- sembly of the Republic of Serbia by individuals of unclear affiliation, an Istinomer jour- nalist was attacked by an unidentified man. The attacker was among those occupying and surrounding the tents.
Despite wearing clearly visible press identification and stating she was a journalist, the attacker struck her hand, knocking the phone out of it. The journalist immediately sought help from a nearby police officer, but assistance was not provided. The officer did not record the incident and simply told her to be cautious around the crowd, as “they behave the same way toward the police.”52
Journalist associations demanded the immediate identification and prosecution of the attacker.53
Threats and Pressure Directed at Žig Info Editor and Journalist Željko Matorčević
The Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS) called for an end to the pressure being exerted on journalist Željko Matorčević, who, according to NUNS, has been targeted on social media by political activist Dragoljub Krstić. Additionally, Saša Mi- jailović, a councilor from the ruling coalition in Grocka, has been threatening Matorčević through messages, saying he will release an allegedly inappropriate video of him.54
Krstić posted a maliciously edited photograph on his Facebook profile showing Ma- torčević injured in a hospital, where he had been admitted following a previous physical attack.
That assault remains unresolved to this day.
In a statement to the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS), Ma- torčević explained that the doctored photo was published after the Žig Info portal re- leased an article about a court hearing which Dragoljub Krstić failed to attend. According to Matorčević, Saša Mijailović demanded that Žig Info remove an article about individu- als who had participated in the “15 for 15” protest held in Pionirski Park. In return, Mi- jailović allegedly promised not to publish a compromising video he claimed to possess.55
Matorčević has filed a criminal complaint against both Dragoljub Krstić and Saša Mijailović.
Journalists working for Žig Info are continuously exposed to pressure. Milan Jovanović’s house was set on fire, and Matorčević sustained serious bodily injuries.
More information on the pressure faced by the Žig Info editorial team can be found in the Media Scene Monitoring Report for Serbia – February 2023.
Insajder TV News Crew Barred from Reporting in Pionirski Park
Unknown men prevented journalist Irena Stević from entering Pionirski Park to car- ry out her reporting duties. The Insajder TV crew went to the park to seek answers to questions they had posed to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP), which the Ministry had failed to answer. The questions were as follows:
- Was the rally in front of the National Assembly of Serbia officially registered, and if so, by whom?
- Who authorized the setting up of tents in front of the Assembly?
- Who registered the “We Won’t Give Up Serbia” rally?
- Who registered the camp in Pionirski Park?
- Did the registration specify the duration of these gatherings?56
The police officers present at the scene could not identify the individuals who had denied Stević entry to the park, even though the entrance was — by their own account — open to the public.57
The Journalists’ Association of Serbia (UNS) expressed concern over the frequent ob- struction and attacks on journalists. UNS particularly highlighted the alarming trend of police officers failing to react, even when they witness such incidents.58
Threats Continue Unabated
Journalists and the headquarters of TV N1 received threats through the social media platform X and their official email address.59
Žarko Bogosavljević, a journalist for the portal Razglas-news, who was wearing a vest clearly marked “PRESS,” was among students and citizens gathered in front of the Fac- ulty of Sport and Physical Education to prevent Dean Patrik Drid from unblocking the faculty. The police used force indiscriminately against the group. The journalist told the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia that it was unclear why the police took such action.60
The President of the National Assembly of Serbia, Ana Brnabić, accused the FoNet news agency of inciting an assassination attempt on the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, by allegedly broadcasting a statement from attorney Božo Prelević. However, FoNet has clearly stated that it did not publish such a statement, and attorney Prelević has confirmed that he never made such a claim.61
Nebojša Jovanović, a journalist for TV Nova S, was preparing a report on citizens from Čačak traveling to the SNS rally in Belgrade. While aggressively trying to prevent the filming of a public event, the President of the Čačak Municipal Assembly, Igor Trifunović, apparently incited one of the attendees to damage the camera, physically attack the cameraman, and seize and throw the microphone to the ground. In this case as well, the police failed to respond promptly.
No significant developments regarding the process of adopting new legislation were recorded in April.
The Constitutional Court rejected an initiative to launch proceedings for the assess- ment of the constitutionality of Article 126, paragraph 1 of the Law on Electronic Media (LEM), submitted by members of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM) Council who had been appointed under the previous version of the law.
Article 126, paragraph 1 stipulates that members of the Council appointed under the previous law shall continue to perform their function for up to one year following the entry into force of the new law.62
In its ruling, the Constitutional Court stated that the legislator had not introduced a new reason for termination of Council members’ mandates, but had instead regulated a transitional period intended to allow the selection of new Council members before the expiration of the current mandates. The aim is to ensure continuity in the Council’s work during the interim.
On April 28, the Committee on Culture and Information of the National Assembly of Serbia announced a new call for applications for REM Council members.
Project-Based Co-Financing
The Journalists’ Association of Serbia (UNS), the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM), and the Local Press Association continued to demand an explanation from the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications regarding irregularities in
the operation of the Unified Information System. In a joint statement, the associations declared:
“UNS, ANEM, and PU Lokal Pres have identified numerous irregularities in the function- ing of this platform and emphasize that such occurrences are unacceptable, constitute violations of the law, and seriously undermine the trust of journalists and media outlets in an already weakened system of project-based media co-financing.”63
Due to the manner in which funds were allocated, the Journalists’ Association of Ser- bia, together with its regional chapter — the Association of Journalists of Kosovo and Metohija — requested the annulment of the Ministry’s call for co-financing media con- tent production projects for electronic media in Kosovo and Metohija. They pointed out that projects submitted by two media outlets from Kosovo and Metohija, which have been successfully operating since 2000, were rejected, while (substantial) funding was awarded to organizations unfamiliar to the local media community.64
The Journalists’ Association of Serbia also strongly protested the decision of the Mu- nicipality of Ćuprija to exclude from the public call all media whose founders are civil society organizations. Consequently, UNS demanded the annulment of the call.65 Fol- lowing UNS’s intervention, the application of Glas Pomoravlja Info — previously rejected on the grounds that associations of citizens were not eligible — was reinstated into the competition process.66
VI SLAPP Lawsuits Targeting Journalists and Media
In 2021, the company Mondo Inc d.o.o., publisher of the daily newspaper Kurir, filed a lawsuit against the Association “Crime and Corruption Reporting Network” (KRIK), publisher of the KRIK portal, the Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation, publisher of the portal Cenzolovka, the company Dan Graf d.o.o. Belgrade, publisher of the daily Danas, and the Association “Center for Intercultural Communication.” In the lawsuit and during the proceedings, the plaintiff claimed that the defendants were in a competitive relationship with it and that, by publishing articles about the reporting practices of the daily Kurir, they had engaged in acts of unfair competition. The lawsuit sought compensation for non-material damages in the amount of 11,000,000 RSD (approx. 94,000 EUR).
The lawsuit was filed after KRIK’s portal Raskrikavanje published an analysis titled „Na naslovnicama pet novina blizu 1.200 lažnih i neutemeljenih vesti u 2020. godini”. (“Near- ly 1,200 Fake and Unfounded News Stories on the Front Pages of Five Newspapers in 2020.”) The article stated that Kurir had published more than 100 fake, unfounded, or manipulative headlines on its front pages during 2020. The other media outlets were sued for republishing the analysis.67
The claim was dismissed. The court ruled that the current Law on Trade does not apply to the provision of services that are regulated by a special law, and the provision of pub- lic information services is governed by a different law — the Law on Public Information and Media.
The Commercial Appellate Court stated in its ruling:
In this particular case, the plaintiff requested a finding that the defendants, by publishing certain articles in the media they publish, had engaged in acts of unfair competition. This claim was decided in the first-instance judgment. However, the matter could not be adju- dicated under the Law on Public Information and Media, as that law does not recognize or regulate the concept of unfair competition. Instead, it provides a different type of legal protection, for which the commercial court lacks jurisdiction…
1. ,,Slučaj koji je dočekao zastarelost – 31 godina od smrti novinarke „Duge“ Dade Vujasinović”, text published on April 8, 2025 at UNS site.
2. ,,Ko mi je stavio bombe na prozor?”, author: Dejan Anastasijević, text published on October 17, 2007 at portal Vreme.
3. ,,Stevanović: Godišnjica ubistva Slavka Ćuruvije u atmosferi koja podseća na godine”, text pub- lished on April 11, 2025 at Cenzolovka site.
4. ,,As the noose tightens around Serbia’s journalists, the European Union can no longer look away”, text published on April 4, 2025 at Reporters Without Borders site
5. These organizations are: European Federation of Journalists, the European Centre for Press and Me- dia Freedom, Article 19 Europe, Free Press Unlimited, the International Press Institute, and OBC Tran-
6. ,,UNS vesti :: MFRR: Zahtevamo da EU javno osudi sve napade na novinare i medije u Srbiji, a da policija i tužilaštvo hitno sprovedu istrage povodom ovih slučajeva”, statement published on April 9, 2025 at UNS site.
7. ,,Više od 100 organizacija zatražilo od institucija EU hitnu reakciju na politički progon aktivista – Autonomija”, text published on April 2, 2025 at Autonomija
8. Saopštenje za javnost, statement released on May 12, 2025 at Higher Prosecutors Office Novi Sad
9. ,,Na dva meseca pritvaranja govore članovi porodica i prijatelji aktivista iz Novog Sada”, text pub- lished on May 16, 2025 at RSE site.
10. ,,Slučaj Marije Vasić: Porodica kaže da ne zna u kakvom je stanju, a iz Centralnog zatvora stižu kri- tike medija”, author: Maja Nikolić, text published on May 19, 2025 at N1
11. ,,Uprava za izvršenje krivičnih sankcija saopštila ko je napao aktivistu Davora Stefanovića”, text pub- lished on May 23, 2025 at NIN site, sources: NIN, Tanjug, Beta,
12. ,,Produžen pritvor trojici aktivista iz Novog Sada”, text published on May 22, 2025 at Insajder
13. ,,Proces protiv aktivista iz Novog Sada: politički zatvorenici”, author: Una Sabljaković, text pub- lished on May 21, 2025 at DW site.
14. ,,Aktivista Srđan Žunić u pritvoru već tri nedelje”, author: Milan Radonjić, text published on April 2, 2025 at Radar site.
15. Saopštenje Apelacionog suda u Beogradu, statement released on May 5, 2025 at Court of Appeal
16. ,,Sastanak novinara i tužilaca u Novom Sadu: Novinari u Srbiji sve nezaštićeniji i postaju lake mete”, text published on April 24, 2025 at Bezbedni novinari site.
17. ,,‘Protest traje dok se ne raspiše novi konkurs za REM ili dok se RTS ne ugasi’: Studenti blokiraju zgrade javnog servisa u Takovskoj i Košutnjaku”, authors: M, N. V. N1, Nova.rs, FoNet, text published on April 15, 2025 at Danas portal.
18. ,,Pravni vakuum bez regulatora: Bez Saveta REM od novembra, studenti traže da se ponovi izbor članova”, author: Miodrag Sovilj, text published on April 16, 2025 at N1
19. ,,Zgrade RTS-a odblokirane, ali i dalje bez redovnog programa”, text published on April 29, 2025 at Insajder portal.
20. ,,Snježana Milivojević: Studentski poziv na gašenje RTS-a, zahtev za simboličkim diskontinuitetom”, text published on April 16, 2025 at N1 site.
21. ,,Branko Stanković o blokadi RTS-a: Ponos mi ne dozvoljava da ulazim na posao kroz ćevabdžini- cu”, text published on April 17, 2025 at Danas portal.
22. ,,Radio-televizija Srbije zahteva od studenata da prekinu blokadu objekata javnog servisa”, text pub- lished 15. 4. 2025. on site RTS.
23. ,,Studenti i dalje blokiraju zgradu RTS-a, policija se povukla”, text published on April 16, 2025 at Insajder portal.
24. ,,Zašto lažete: Veliki broj građana pred RTS-om, u toku su nastupi DJ-eva, studentima potrebne donacije”, authors: Ž, Beta, N1, text published on April 17, 2025 at N1 site.
25. ,,Tužilac OJT u Beogradu razgovarao sa rukovodiocima RTS-a radi pojašnjenja krivične prijave zbog blokada”, statement published on April 23, 2025 at UNS
26. ,,RTS podneo krivičnu prijavu zbog proganjanja urednika i novinara”, text published on April 24, 2025 at RTS site.
27. ,,Neprimereno označavanje novinara ne doprinosi unapređenju rada javnog medijskog servisa”, statement published on April 16, 2025 at NUNS site.
28. ,Zabrinuti smo zbog pozivanja zaposlenih sa RTS-a na informativne razgovore”, statement pub- lished on April 16, 2025 at NUNS site.
29. ,,UNS traži da Vlada i Narodna skupština odgovore zašto je BIA pozivala novinare i medijske radni- ke RTS-a na informativni razgovor”, statement published on April 17, 2025 at UNS
30 .,,Ko je od urednika odobrio da se tekst pročita: Deo radnika RTS traže odgovornost za vređanje studenata u programu te kuće”, text published on April 24, 2025 at portal Insajder site, source: Beta.
31. ,,Neformalna grupa radnika RTS-a predala peticiju: Više od 000 potpisa za raspisivanje konkursa za Savet REM-a”, text published on April 28, 2025 at Insajder portal.
32. ,,Saopštenje Euronews Srbija: Pozivamo nadležne da omoguće rad RTS-a”, statement published on April 18, 2025 at Euronews site.
33. ,,Novinari Euronews Srbija: Saopštenje u kome ‘pozivamo nadležne da omoguće rad RTS-a’ obja- vljeno bez znanja redakcije, ograđujemo se od njega”, statement published on April 18, 2025 at UNS site, source: Euronews Serbia.
34. ,,Propagandu potpisuje uredništvo Euronews-a, a ne profesija”, statement published on April 18, 2025 at NUNS site.
35. ,,Pristalice SNS-a vređale i gađale reporterku N1, policija joj zabranila da izveštava sa čela kolone”, text published on April 9, 2025 at N1 site.
36. Same
37. ,,Građani da zaštite novinare koji izveštavaju u javnom interesu”, statement published on April 9, 2025 at NDNV site.
38. ,,Šta je tačno Dejan Ilić rekao na TV Nova, pa završio iza rešetaka”, author: N., text published on April 10, 2025 at N1 site.
39. ,,Protiv Dejana Ilića biće podneta krivična prijava za izazivanje panike i nereda”, statement pub- lished on April 10, 2025 at NUNS site; ,,Srpsko književno društvo osudilo privođenje Dejana Ilića, zastrašivanje građana – Vesti iz Srbije, regiona i sveta – N1 info”, text published on April 10, 2025 at N1 site, source: Beta; ,,SafeJournalists: Privođenje Dejana Ilića u Srbiji je kršenje prava na slobodu mišljenja i govora”, text published on April 10, 2025 at SafeJournalists site; ,,Zabrinuti smo zbog zadržavanja Dejana Ilića”, text published on April 10, 2025 at UNS
40. ,,NUNS: Zadržavanje Dejana Ilića je opasan presedan protiv slobode izražavanja”, statement pub- lished on April 10, 2025 at NUNS site.
41. ,,Urednik rs napadnut tokom odlaska ljudi na miting u Beogradu | Novosadski informativni portal 021”, text published on April 12, 2025 at Radio 021 site.
42. Same
43. Same
44. ,,Hitno pronaći i kazniti odgovorne za napad na Zorana Striku”, statement published on April 12, 2025 at UNS site; ,,Brutalan napad na novinara Zorana Striku – test za državu i institucije”, statement published on April 12, 2025 at NUNS site; ,,Profesionalci u pravosuđu da zaštite novinare, institucije ne smeju biti saučesnici u nasilju”, statement published on April 13, 2025 at NDNV site; ,,Procesuirati na- padače na novinare na mitingu vlasti”, statement published on April 13, 2025 at Beta site, source:
45. ,,Šarović: Policija i tužilaštvo nemaju nameru da pokrenu istragu o napadu na ekipu KTV – Vesti iz Srbije, regiona i sveta”, text published on April 14, 2025 at TV N1
46. Same
47. ,,Neprihvatljivi napadi na ekipu KTV-a”, statement published on April 12, 2025 at UNS
48. ,,Više javno tužilaštvo smatra da fizički napad na ekipu KTV nije u njihovoj nadležnosti – Vesti iz Srbije, regiona i sveta”, text published on April 14, 2025 at TV N1 site, source:
49. Same
50. ,,Novinarskoj ekipi Al Džazire zabranjeno snimanje skupa ispred Skupštine Srbije sa terase zgrade”, text published on April 12, 2025 at N1 site.
51. ,,Pretnje i nasilničko ponašanje maskirane ,,falange” koja je obezbeđivala autobuse SNS-a”, text pub- lished on April 12, 2025 at Niška inicijativa site.
52. ,,Novinarka Istinomera napadnuta dok je snimala šatore kod Skupštine: Ko su ljudi iz šatora i šta uopšte tu rade”, text published on April 15, 2025 at N1 site.
53. ,,Novinarka Istinomera napadnuta tokom rada, policija bez adekvatne reakcije”, statement published on April 15, 2025 at NUNS site.
54. ,,Targetiranje novinara portala Žig info mora odmah prestati”, statement published on April 17, 2025 at NUNS site.
55. ,,Agresivni pojedinci ekipi Insajdera zabranili ulaz u Pionirski park, iz belih šatora poručuju: Mi smo ovde zbog onih tamo”, author: Irena Stević, text published on April 22, 2025 at Insajder TV
56. ,,Agresivni pojedinci ekipi Insajdera zabranili ulaz u Pionirski park, iz belih šatora poručuju: Mi smo ovde zbog onih tamo”, author: Irena Stević, text published on April 22, 2025 at Insajder TV
57. Same
58. ,,UNS: Policija da objasni zašto je novinarki Insajdera onemogućeno da uđe i izveštava iz Pionirskog parka”, statement published on April 23, 2025 at UNS
59. ,,Pretnje medijima i novinarskim udruženjima, TV N1, Beograd, 4.2025. godine”, text published on April 17, 2025 at SafeJournalists site.
60. ,,SafeJournalists: Osuđujemo policijsko nasilje i pretnje smrću novinarima N1 u Srbiji”, text pub- lished on April 28, 2025 at SafeJournalists site.
61. ,,Advokat Božo Prelević demantovao Anu Brnabić da je pozvao na ubistvo Vučića”, text published on April 12, 2025 at Danas portal, source: FoNet.
62. Rešenje Ustavnog suda from April 2, 2025
63. ,,UNS, ANEM i Lokal pres: MIT da objasni nelogičnosti u radu JIS-a i kršenje zakona u oblasti pro- jektnog sufinansiranja medija”, statement published on April 4, 2025 at UNS
64. ,,UNS i DNKiM: Poništiti konkurs Ministarstva informisanja i telekomunikacija za KiM”, statement published on April 14, 2025 at UNS site.
65. ,,UNS: Poništiti medijski konkurs opštine Ćuprija zbog diskvalifikacije medija civilnog sektora”, statement published on April 25, 2025 at UNS site.
66. ,,UNS: Nezakonito odbijen projekat za medijsko sufinansiranje u Ćupriji vraćen u konkurenciju”, text published on April 29, 2025 at Danas portal.
67. ,,Odbijena tužba Kurira protiv KRIK-a“, author: Isidora Martać, text published on April 16, 2025 at KRIK site.
Djordje Jokic