Izvor: ANEM

Za izradu monitoringa koriste se javno dostupni podaci, podaci dobijeni od novinara, urednika i drugih medijskih radnika, novinarskih udruženja i medijskih asocijacija, kao i od državnih i nedržavnih organa.

I SLOBODA IZRAŽAVANJA

Radio slobodna Evropa (RSE) imala je uvid u Izveštaj Evropske komisije o napretku Srbije za 2024. godinu. U izveštaju se, kako prenosi RSE, navodi da se od Srbije traži da ojača sigurnost i bezbednost medija, a posebno da obezbedi da se visoki državni zvaničnici uzdrže od etiketiranja i verbalnih napada na novinare, kao i da se pretnje i slučajevi fizičkog i verbalnog nasilja ažurno prate, po potrebi javno osude, istraže ili krivično gone.

[…] nastavljeni su slučajevi verbalnih napada, kampanja klevetanja, pretnji i nasilja nad novinarima kako na nacionalnom tako i na lokalnom nivou, uključujući verbalno i fizičko nasilje nad novinarkama. Ponavljane izjave visokih zvaničnika o svakodnevnom i istraživačkom radu novinara ugrožavaju slobodu medija.

U izveštaju se posebno konstatuje činjenica da je ubistvo novinara Slavka Ćuruvije, posle 25 godina, ostalo nekažnjeno.1

Evropska komisija pozvala je Srbiju da ojača medijski pluralizam, da, u skladu sa Medijskom strategijom sprovede mere koje se odnose na funkcionisanje, mandat i nezavisnost kako Regulatornog tela za elektronske medije (REM), tako i javnih emitera.

REM se nije pridržavao kraćih rokova i nije blagovremeno objavio sveobuhvatan izveštaj o izbornoj kampanji. OEBS/ODIHR je takođe otkrio ‘pristrasnost u medijima’ tokom kampanje, posebno u pogledu javnih emitera.2

Srbiji je takođe data preporuka da obezbedi transparentno i pravično sufinansiranje medijskih sadržaja koji služe javnom interesu, kao i punu transparentnost u vlasništvu i oglašavanju u medijima.3

Početkom septembra, predsednica Evropske federacije novinara Maja Sever sastala se sa Ministrom informisanja i telekomunikacija u Vladi Republike Srbije Dejanom Ristićem. U izjavi za Nezavisno udruženje novinara Srbije (NUNS), ona je rekla da je ministru postavila niz konkretnih pitanja. Upozorila ga je, kako je navela, na problem smanjenja sredstava namenjenih projektnom sufinansiranju, kao i na činjenicu da se stiče utisak da konkursne komisije (i dalje) čine ljudi koji dele novac po „partijskoj liniji“. Predsednica Evropske federacije novinara usmerila je pažnju i na to da je

1 Brisel poziva Srbiju na napredak u pravosuđu, gonjenju ratnih zločinaca i poštovanju medijskih sloboda, autorka: Gjeraqina Tuhina, tekst objavljen 6. 9. 2024. na portalu RSE.

2 Isto.

3 Isto.

vlast našla način da finansijski podrži tabloide (poput Informera), kao i na to da sistem postupaka protiv medija koji krše zakon zapravo ne funkcioniše. Pitanje bezbednosti novinara ocenila je kao goruće.

Slučajeve na koje je ukazala, s tim u vezi, bili su: napad na novinara Vuka Cvijića, bekstvo lica koje u tužilaštvu priznalo da je pretilo Ani Lalić, napadi i pritisci kojima je bila izložena novinarka Tamara Skrozza, kao i SLAPP tužbe kojima su zasuti istraživački portal KRIK i Slavko Ćuruvija fondacija. Maja Sever zatražila je od ministra da novinar Andrej Gnjot ne bude izručen Belorusiji.4

U prvoj polovini septembra Platforma za brzo reagovanje na kršenje medijskih sloboda (MFRR) objavila je Monitoring izveštaj, koji dokumentuje i analizira sva, na platformi MFRR-a zabeležena, kršenja slobode medija, za period od januara do juna 2024. U Srbiji je evidentirano 38 slučajeva kršenja slobode medija.

Napadi su bili usmereni protiv 51 fizičkog ili pravnog lica. Stanje slobode medija u Srbiji ocenjeno je kao alarmantno. Navedeno je da verbalno zlostavljanje čini većinu (63,2%) evidentiranih incidenata. Skoro jedna trećina slušajeva kršenja slobode medija (34,2%) desila se u online svetu. Evidentirane su pretnje smrću koje su prijavljivali redakcija Televizije N1, novinari Ani Lalić Hegediš i Dinko Gruhonjić (povodom njihovog učešća na festivalu Rebedu u Dubrovniku). Izdvojeni su i slučajevi bekstva lica koje je u tužilaštvu priznalo da je pretilo Ani Lalić i optužbe koje je na račun Dinka Gruhonjića izneo Predsednik Vlade Republike Srbije Miloš Vučević. Izveštaj beleži i u javnim debatama primećena neprimerena ponašanja političara prema novinarima.

Eklatantne primere predstavljaju neprimereno obraćanje predsednika Srbije novinarki N1 Gordani Bjeletić i optužbe predsednice Narodne skupštine Srbije iznete na račun Televizije N1 da kreira „lažne vesti“ i izaziva „nestabilnosti u društvu“. Kada je reč o fizičkim napadima, notirani su slučajevi novinara Vuka Cvijića, Uglješe Bokića i Marka Miletića. Zabeleženi su verbalni napadi na novinare Tanjuga, Kurira, Radija 021 tokom protestnih skupova organizovanih u znak podrške Ani Mihaljici, majci kojoj je troje dece privremeno bilo oduzeto odlukom Centra za socijalni rad. Izvešaj uključuje i preteće poruke koje je, zbog izveštavanja sa protesta, primila dopisnica Televizije N1 Ksenija Pavkov. Nije zanemareno ni fizičko izbacivanje Verice Marinčić iz zgrade Opštine Inđija. U pravna uznemiravanja uključeno je sedam tužbi podnetih protiv iste novinarke – Verice Marinčić. U

4 Maja Sever o razgovoru sa ministrom Dejanom Ristićem: Postavila sam niz konkretnih pitanja u vezi sa medijima i bezbednošću novinara u Srbiji, tekst objavljen 13.09.2024. na portalu NUNS.

izveštaju se konstatuje da je istraživački portal KRIK izložen najvećem broju postupaka sa karakteristikama SLAPP tužbi, a posebno su markirani slučajevi koje je sutkinja Apelacionog suda Dušanka Đorđević pokrenula protiv novinara Bojane Pavlović i Stevana Dojčinovića.

Iz organizacije PEN International, početkom septembra, stigla je podrška Nenadu Kulačinu, novinaru i koautoru podkasta ,,Dobar, loš, zao”. U saopštenju koje je objavila rečena organizacija, navedeni su neki od slučajeva pretnji, uznemiravanja i pritisaka kojima su godinama unazad izloženi Kulačin i članovi njegove porodice. PEN International pozvao je na prekid kontinuiranog maltretiranja Nenada Kulačina i njegovih kolega, nezavisnih pisaca i novinara u Srbiji. U saopštenju,5 između ostalog, stoji:

Nenad Kulačin je kovoditelj podkasta Dobar, loš, zao, sa piscem i počasnim članom PEN-a Markom Vidojkovićem. Kulačin i Vidojković godinama dobijaju pretnje zbog svog rada i nezavisnih stavova, a političar Aleksandar Šapić posebno preti da će im „isčupati srce“. Kulačinovu majku je u oktobru 2021. verbalno napala nepoznata osoba koja joj je rekla da joj „sin treba obesiti”. Kulačinova kućna adresa je otkrivena u novembru 2022. godine, takođe od nepoznatih lica. Novinar je za PEN International rekao da je samo tokom 2023. prijavio deset pretnji Tužilaštvu. Do danas je otvorena samo jedna istraga, koja je potom odbačena.

Kako je dokumentovao PEN International, stanje slobode izražavanja u Srbiji je na prelomnoj tački. Javni zvaničnici rutinski maltretiraju i blate otvorene novinare na javnim forumima, doprinoseći stvaranju atmosfere straha i nekažnjivosti verbalnih i fizičkih napada. Preovlađuje nepoverenje u policiju i pravosudni sistem, uz neefikasne istrage slučajeva pretnji i napada. Mnogi pisci smatraju da nemaju drugog izbora osim da se autocenzurišu.6

Tokom septembra, Vrhovno javno tužilaštvo podnelo je Zahtev za zaštitu zakonitosti protiv pravnosnažne presude donete u slučaju ubistva Slavka Ćuruvije.

5 Serbia: Mounting threats against journalist Nenad Kulačin condemned, tekst objavljen 6.09.2024. na portalu Pen International.

6 Podrška Međunarodnog PEN-a Nenadu Kulačinu, tekst objavljen 6.09.2024. na portalu Javni servis.

Pretnje i pritisci

Kampanja protiv istraživačkog portala KRIK

Početkom septembra pokrenuta je medijska kampanja protiv istraživačkog portala KRIK. Na portalu Republika.rs i u dnevnim novinama Srpski telegraf, rad novinara portala KRIK označen je kao

„specijalna operacija“ kojom se „napadaju porodice državnih funkcionera“. Istraživački novinari optuženi su da prave „veliku zloupotrebu matičnih brojeva“ tako što ih „javno dele“. Novinske članke i naslovne strane pratile su fotografije Stevana Dojčinovića, glavnog urednika medija KRIK. U izjavi za dnevni list Danas, odgovarajući na optužbe tabloida, Dojčinović izneo je svoj sud o cilju s kojim se kampanja vodi. Ideja je da se „klasičan novinarski posao“ prikaže kao „subverzivna delatnost“, i da se istraživački novinari primoraju na to da prestanu da se bave imovinom funkcionera.7

Nije prvi put da tabloidi u Srbiji vode kampanju protiv novinara portala KRIK.8 Osnivača medija Republika.rs i Srpski telegraf Stevan Dojčinović tužio je tri puta. Dva puta zbog kampanje u kojoj su ga povezivali sa klanom Veljka Belivuka, jednom zbog optužbi da su novinari portala KRIK fizički pratili nevenčanu suprugu i bebu brata Siniše Malog, Ministra finansija u Vladi Republike Srbije. Zbog iste kampanje tužbu je podnela i novinarka KRIK-a Dragana Pećo.9 Jedan sudski postupak okončan je u korist urednika portala KRIK, dok se druga dva postupka i dalje vode. Postupak koji je pokrenula Dragana Pećo – okončan je u njenu korist.

Kampanje protiv portala KRIK osudili su domaća i strana novinarska i medijska udruženja, organizacije civilnog društva, predstavnici ambasada i Evropske unije.

Novinarki Pištaljke nije dozvoljeno da prisustvuje otvaranju ponuda za kupovinu najvećeg državnog brodarskog preduzeća – Jugoslovensko rečno brodarstvo (JRB)

Prema pisanju portala Pištaljka, Ministarstvo privrede ponudilo je državno preduzeće po ceni od 21,9 miliona evra. Taj je iznos sedam miliona evra manji od iznosa koji je JRB zaradio od samo jednog posla dobijenog neposredno pre oglašavanja prodaje. Otvaranje ponuda odigralo se u Ministarstvu privrede. Portal Pištaljka, jedni mediji koji je kontinuirano izveštavao o privatizaciji JRB-

7 Stevan Dojčinović: Napadi režimskih tabloida imaju za cilj da uguše novinarstvo, a da korumpirana vlast neometano uživa u novcu koji je pokrala, autor: A. Latas, tekst objavljen 2.10.2024. na portalu dnevnog lista Danas.

8 Dojčinović na suđenju „Srpskom telegrafu“: Tabloidi pokušavaju da ućutkaju svakoga ko govori o vezama Belivuka i vlasti, autorka: Jelena Radivojević, tekst objavljen 26.01.2023. na portalu KRIK-a.

9 Tajna “japanskog praćenja”: Zbog čega nas gaze vlast i tabloidi, autor: Stevan Dojčinović, tekst objavljen 27.07.2019. na portalu KRIK- a.

a, uredno je najavio dolazak na otvaranje ponuda. Ministarstvo je osnov za uskraćivanje prisustva pronašlo u Uredbi o uslovima, postupku i načinu prodaje kapitala i imovine metodom javnog prikupljanja ponuda sa javnim nadmetanjem, kojom se prisustvo novinara ne zabranjuje.10

Pretnje novinarki Jeleni S. Spasić, novinarki Kurira

Krajem septembra, novinarka Jelena Spasić i redakcija Kurira podneli su krivične prijave zbog uznemirujućih i pretećih poruka koje je novinarka dobila na Instagram nalozima ,,dusanrajic” i

„dijabetesrevolucija”. Na tim nalozima objavljivane su i novinarkine fotografije.

Jelena Spasić napisala je seriju tekstova u kojima se bavila problemima sa kojima se suočavaju deca i ljudi koji pate od dijabetesa, dok je medij za koji radi, Kurir, objavljivao i članke u kojima se bavio upitnim radnjama braće Rajić i njihovog udruženja Dijabetes revolucija. Posebno tužilaštvo za visokotehnološki kriminal zahtevalo je od MUP-a da pretnje istraži. U roku od mesec dana, na osnovu informacija dobijenih od nadležnih iz kompanije Meta, identifikovani su Dušan Rajić i Saša Mirović. Ta lica lišena su slobode i određeno im je zadržavanje u trajanju od 48 sati.11

Povodom upućenih pretnji reagovalo je Udruženje novinara Srbije, koje je u svom saopštenju tražilo da se prestane sa targetiranjem novinarke.12

Pretnje upućene novinskoj agenciji Tanjug

Krajem septembra, na redakcijski mejl agencije Tanjug stigao je mejl sledeće sadržine: Vidimo da je u poslednje vreme vaša propagandistička, šovinistička i ratnohušačka mašinerija zvana ‘Tanjug’ postala sve agresivnija, koristeći šovinistički naziv ‘AP KiM’ za republiku Kosovo, u službi diktatora i ratnog huškača Aleksandra Vučića. Samo da znate da pratimo laži koje svakodnevno plasirate oko države Kosovo i Albanaca, kao što pratimo kretanje svakog novinara vaše pseudomedijske agencije na Kosovu. Budite sigurni da će neko od njih dobiti metak u potiljak sledeći put kada bude kročio na tlo republike Kosovo. Pratimo sve.13

10 Novinarki Pištaljke zabranjeno da prisustvuje otvaranju ponuda za kupovinu JRB-a, autorka: Snežana Đurić, tekst objavljen 5.09.2024. na portalu Pištaljka.

11 Uhapšen Dušan Rajić zbog pretnji novinarki Kurira Jeleni S. Spasić: Policija privela i Sašu Mirovića zbog ugrožavanja njene  sigurnosti, tekst objavljen 30.10.2024. na portalu UNS.

12 UNS: Da prestane targetiranje Jelene S. Spasić, tekst objavljen 24.09.2024. na portalu UNS.

13 Pretnje Tanjugu: Vaši novinari će dobiti metak u potiljak kada kroče na Kosovo, tekst objavljen 30.09.2024. na portalu Tanjug.

Kroz mehanizam Stalne radne grupe za bezbednost novinara, Udruženje novinara Srbije kontaktiralo je nadležno tužilaštvo, nakon čega je javnost obaveštena da je Službi za visokotehnološki kriminal MUP-a upućen zahtev za prikupljanje potrebnih obaveštenja.14 Utvrđeno je da IP adresa

„pripada opsegu koji koriste Internet servis provajderi na Kosovu i Metohiji“. UNS, njegov ogranak na Kosovu, Sindikat novinara Srbije (SINOS) i NUNS osudili su pretnje smrću upućene na adresu Tanjuga.15

Slučaj Andreja Gnjota, beloruskog novinara, režisera i političkog aktiviste

U prvoj polovini septembra Apelacioni sud u Beogradu usvojio je žalbe koje su Gnjot i njegov branilac izjavili protiv odluke Višeg suda u Beogradu. Na taj način ukinuta je odluka o izručenju beloruskog novinara, režisera i političkog aktiviste.

Prema mišljenju Apelacionog suda, prvostepeni sud doneo je odluku na osnovu nepotpuno utvrđenog činjeničnog stanja, iz kog je proistekla bitna povreda odredaba krivičnog postupka. Do povrede je došlo, navodi se u obrazloženju Apelacionog suda, zato što u obrazloženju prvostepenog rešenja nisu bili navedeni razlozi o činjenicama koje su predmet dokazivanja, a izneti razlozi su u potpunosti nejasni, istovremeno međusobno protivrečni, što je onemogućilo ispitivanje zakonitosti i pravilnosti prvostepenog rešenja.

Iako je odluka o izručenju ukinuta, Andrej Gnjot se obratio medijima i najavio posetu predstavnicima domaćih institucija:

Kao što vam je poznato, iako je Apelacioni sud poništio rešenje o mom izručenju režimu Lukašenka, do daljeg ostajem zarobljenik ovde bez prava da napuštam svoj iznajmljen stan na više od jedan sat vremena.

U toku naredne nedelje planiram da iskoristim tu kratku dozvoljenu šetnju da Predsedniku Srbije Aleksandru Vučiću, a takođe premijeru Srbije Milošu Vučeviću, kao i ministarki pravde Maji Popović i ministru kulture Nikoli Selakoviću zvanično uručim otvoreno obraćanje preko 780 svetskih i srpskih stvaralaca, umetnika i intelektualaca koji traže moje oslobođenje.16

14 Pretnja ubistvom novinara agencije Tanjug stigla sa Kosova, autorka: Dragana Bejlica, tekst objavljen 3.10.2024. na portalu UNS.

15 NUNS: Neprihvatljive pretnje redakciji Tanjuga, tekst objavljen 1.10.2024. na portalu NUNS.

16 Andrej Gnjot najavio da će se obratiti srpskim institucijama, prva adresa – Predsedništvo, tekst objavljen 19.09.2024. na portalu

Više o slučaju Andreja Gnjota može se pročitati u nekoliko monitoring izveštaja: za jun, jul i avgust 2024. godine.

U vreme izrade ovog monitoringa, Andrej Gnjot napustio je Srbiju. Njegov advokat Filip Sofijanić potvrdio je za Radio Slobodna Evropa da je nakon isteka zakonskog roka od godinu dana Viši sud u Beogradu, 31. oktobra, Andreju Gnjotu ukinuo pritvor.17

Odgovor javne tužiteljke Višeg tužilaštva u Vranju povodom nestalih spisa u slučaju OK radija

O nestanku predmeta u kome je Dejan Nikolić Kantar prvostepeno osuđen na godinu i šest meseci zatvora zbog pretnji koje je tokom suđenja uputio vlasnici OK radija Oliveri Vladković i zaposlenoj u tom radiju Svetlani Ivanov možete pronaći više u Monitoringu medijske scene u Srbiji za jul 2023. i za avgust 2024. godine.

Povodom pritužbe koju je u slučaju nestanka spisa predmeta uputio na rad postupajućeg javnog tužioca, član Stalne radne grupe za bezbednost novinara Veran Matić dobio je odgovor od glavne javne tužiteljke Višeg javnog tužilaštva u Vranju Danijele Trajković. U odgovoru su navedene radnje koje je naložilo tužilaštvo, kao i radnje koje je sprovela policijska uprava. Zaključuje se da te radnje nisu dale željeni rezultat ― učinilac nije otkriven i sankcionisan. Zbog toga je glavna javna tužiteljka, po pravu nadzora, naložila efikasnije postupanje tužilaštva.

Bekstvo lica sa nanogicom (slučaj Ane Lalić)

Slučaj bekstva državljanina Francuske i Srbije koji je u tužilaštvu priznao da je u martu 2024. godine uputio Ani Lalić Hegediš preteće poruke ― obrađen je u Monitoringu medijske scene u Srbiji za jul 2024. godine. Tužilaštvo je uspostavilo komunikaciju sa institucijama Republike Francuske, međutim, rezultata nije bilo. Član Stalne radne grupe za bezbednost novinara Veran Matić pisao je ambasadoru Francuske, pitajući ga da li se lice u bekstvu, prema saznanjima službi te države, vratilo u Pariz. U odgovoru, ambasador je obavestio Matića da je na slučaju rađeno, i da je odgovor prosleđen tužilaštvu. Službenici nadležnog organa Francuske posetili su mesto boravka lica u bekstvu, Insajder.

17 Beloruski aktivista Andrej Gnjot napustio Srbiju nakon ukidanja pritvora, tekst objavljen 31.10.2024. na portalu RSE.

ali ono nije pronađeno. U međuvremenu, to lice je kupilo automobil u Francuskoj. Prema informacijama koje je dobila Stalna radna grupa za bezbednost novinara, za njim, zbog formalnih razloga, još uvek nije raspisana poternica.

GODIŠNJICE UBISTAVA NOVINARA SA KOSOVA

Nestanak Marjana Melonašija, novinara srpske redakcije Radio Kosova, 9. septembra 2000. godine u Prištini

Kada je nestao, Marjan Melonaši imao je 24 godine. Nestao je pre 24 godine. U dva sata po podne, 9. septembra 2000. godine, završio je polučasovnu emisiju u srpskom desku Radio Kosova. Izašao je iz studija u centru Prištine i ušao u narandžasti taksi. To je poslednje što se zna.18

Marjan je prethodno bio zaposlen u švajcarskoj organizaciji „Medija ekšn internešenal” (Media Action International). Malo pre njegovog dolaska, u toj organizaciji radio je Aleksandar Simović Sima, novinar čije će ime dve godine biti na listi nestalih, a zatim će se saznati da je ubijen.19 Nestanak Marjana Melonašija prijavljen je odmah UNMIK-u, Međunarodnom komitetu Crvenog krsta, Crvenom krstu Jugoslavije i MUP-u Republike Srbije. UNMIK je istragu otvorio nakon pet godina. U vezi s nestankom novinara niko nije bio ispitan.20

Ubistvo Šefki Popova, novinara Rilindje, 10. septembra 2000. godine u Vučitrnu

Novinar Šefki Popova ubijen je u Vučitrnu, na pragu svog stana, 10. septembra 2000. godine. Ubica je u zgradu u kojoj je živeo Popova ušao sa knjigom u kojoj krio pištolj. Čekao je da se novinar vrati kući. Svedoci su videli dvojicu muškaraca kako beže. Popova je preminuo neposredno pošto je prebačen u obližnju bolnicu. Porodica Šefki Popova smatra da je ubijen zbog toga što je bio „autoritet pera“.21

Ubistvo Popova dogodilo se nakon pokušaja ubistva srpske novinarke Valentine Čukić, urednice programa na srpskom jeziku na prištinskom Radio Kontaktu, juna 2000. godine. O ubistvu Šefki Popove više tekstova napisao je novinar Bota Sot Bardulj Ajeti. Ajeti je ubijen 2005. godine.22

18 Kobni ulazak u taksi, autor: D. Ranojlić, tekst objavljen 23.02.2011. na portalu Vesti online.

19 Zločini nad novinarima bez kazne, sloboda govora na meti, autorka: Jelena L. Petković, tekst objavljen 27.12.2022. na portalu Bezbedni novinari.

20 Isto.

21 Istraživanje UNS-a o ubijenim i otetim novinarima na Kosovu :: Ubistvo Šefki Popove: Gde su dokazi iz istrage?, autorka: Jelena L. Petković, tekst objavljen 18.12.2017. na portalu UNS.

22 Isto.

Ubistvo Krista Gegaja, urednika RTV Priština, 12. septembra 1999. godine u Istoku

Krist Gegaj bio je jedan od dvojice komentatora i urednik programa na albanskom jeziku u RTV Priština. Uređivao je Dnevnik i vesti na radiju i televiziji. Krist Gegaj nestao je 12. septembra 1999. godine. Tog dana, oko 7 ujutru, izveo je stoku na oko 200 metara od kuće. Porodica i prijatelji tražili su ga satima. Oko 22 časa njegov nestanak prijavili su na najbližem kontrolnom punktu Kfora. Vojnici su im rekli da odu u bazu Kfora u Istok. Sutradan, 13. septembra, u obližnjoj reci, udaljenoj dva kilometra od njegove kuće, pronađeno je Gegajevo telo. U Gegaja je pucano – u njegovu glavu i srce.23

Ubistvo fotoreportera Momira Stokuće, 21. septembra 1999. godine u Prištini

Tokom noći 21. septembra 1999. godine, UNMIK policiji stigao je poziv u kom su bili obavešteni da se nešto opasno događa u porodičnoj kući fotoreportera Momira Stokuće (naselje Pejton, centar Prištine). Kada su policajci stigli, sporedna ulazna vrata bila su otvorena. Na podu spavaće sobe ležalo je beživotno Momirovo telo. Stokuća je imao 50 godina. Bio je dugogodišnji saradnik dnevnog lista Politika i fotograf nedeljnog magazina Vreme. Policijska istraga njegovog ubistva nikada se nije dogodila. Stokućinu porodicu na razgovor nisu pozvali ni policijski službenici niti tužilac. Podataka o ubistvu nije bilo ni u dokumentaciji Euleksa i Specijalnog tužilaštva Kosova, niti u dokumentaciji srpskog Tužilaštva za ratne zločine.24

II  MONITORING PROCESA USVAJANJA NOVIH ZAKONA

U drugoj polovini septembra održan je prvi sastanak Radne grupe za izradu radne verzije Nacrta zakona o javnim medijskim servisima. Radnu grupu čini 14 članova koji predstavljaju Ministarstvo informisanja i telekomunikacija, javne medijske servise, novinarska i medijska udruženja. Zadatak Radne grupe je da tekst radne verzije Nacrta zakona o javnim medijskim servisima dostavi Ministarstvu informisanja i telekomunikacija najkasnije do 1. novembra.25

23 UNS otkrio još jedno ubistvo novinara na Kosovu, Krist Gegaj usmrćen septembra 1999. godine, tekst objavljen 3.08.2017. na portalu UNS.

24 Zločini nad novinarima bez kazne, sloboda govora na meti, autorka: Jelena L. Petković, tekst objavljen 27.12.2022. na portalu Bezbedni novinari.

25 Formirana Radna grupa za izradu radne verzije Nacrta zakona o javnim medijskim servisima, autor: A.N, tekst objavljen 18.09.2024.

Krajem septembra, Ministarstvo unutrašnje i spoljne trgovine najavilo je da će se javna rasprava o Nacrtu zakona o izmenama i dopunama Zakona o oglašavanju sprovoditi u minimalnom zakonskom roku koji iznosi 20 dana, u periodu od 30. septembra do 20. oktobra 2024. godine. Iako je stručna javnost zatražila produžetak javne rasprave,26 do tog produžetka nije došlo.27

Tokom septembra, Ministarstvo pravde najavilo je javnu raspravu o Nacrtu zakona o izmenama i dopunama Zakonika o krivičnom postupku, za period od 1. oktobra do 1. novembra 2024. godine. Nacrti zakona izazvali su burne reakcije stručne javnosti, o čemu će više reči biti u narednom monitoringu.

III  IMPLEMENTACIJA POSTOJEĆIH PROPISA

Projektno sufinansiranje

Za sufinansiranje projekata proizvodnje medijskih sadržaja u oblasti javnog informisanja, na na konkursu Opštine Rekovac nije bilo prijavljenih medija. Opredeljena sredstva iznosila su 200.000 dinara. Prema rečima vlasnika i urednika medija Radio Levač Mileta Vlaisavljevića, mediji se na konkurs nisu prijavili zato što je procena da bi izrada projekta, pribavljanje dokumentacije i uloženo vreme potrebno za sačinjavanje prijave prevazilazili visinu sredstava koja se dodeljuju.28

Na konkursu za sufinansiranje medijskih sadržaja, zadruzi Medijakult iz Novog Sada dodeljeno je 4.950.000 dinara, iako će, suprotno članu 23 Zakona o javnom informisanju i medijima,29 za realizaciju projekta angažovati druga lica, s obzirom na to da podnosilac projekta za realizaciju nema ni kadrove niti opremu. Još jedna kontroverza koja prati dodelu sredstava zadruzi Medijakult odnosi se na postupak ocenjivanja u kategoriji dostupnosti medijskog sadržaja ciljnoj grupi. Maksimalan broj bodova koji se može dodeliti iznosi 10. Uprkos tome, zadruga Medijakult od Branka Sančanina i Biljane Ratković Njegovan dobila je 15, a od Miodraga Miljkovića 20 bodova.30

na portalu UNS.

26 Koalicija za slobodu medija: Ministarstvo da produži javnu raspravu o Zakonu o oglašavanju, tekst objavljen 3.10.2024. na portalu Nova ekonomija.

27 Javne rasprave

28 Rekovac: Bez prijavljenih na medijskom konkursu, tekst objavljen 21.09.2024. na portalu Glas Šumadije.

29 Član 23 st. 8 ZJIM-a propisuje da učesnik konkursa koji ne raspolaže odgovarajućim kapacitetima, može angažovati drugo lice za proizvodnju medijskog sadržaja čija vrednost ne prelazi 20% od iznosa sredstava koji je organ dodelio za realizaciju projekta, pod uslovom da je to lice upisano u Evidenciju proizvođača medijskih sadržaja.

30 Medijska komisija „Medijakultu“ za dostupnost sadržaja ciljnoj grupi dala veći broj poena od maksimalnih 10, autor: A. Ničič, tekst

U odgovoru UNS-u, Pokrajinski sekretarijat naveo je da su, u kategoriji dostupnost medijskog sadržaja ciljnoj grupi, zadruzi Medijakult svi članovi komisije dali više bodova od maksimalnog. Osim u tom slučaju, prilikom ocene projekta Makedonskog udruženja novinara MAK-INFO broj poena koji je dodelila Biljana Ratković Njegovan premašio je maksimum. Pokrajinski sekretarijat za kulturu, javno informisanje i odnose s verskim zajednicama najavilo je donošenje odgovarajućeg rešenja.31

Prema informacijama koje je objavilo Udruženje novinara Srbije, na konkursima za projektno sufinansiranje medijskih sadržaja osam opština (Kovačica, Opovo, Inđija, Bač, Kovin, Plandište, Alibunar i Rekovac) iz budžeta je opredelilo značajno manje novca nego prethodne godine.32

IV  SLAPP TUŽBE USMERENE PREMA NOVINARIMA I MEDIJIMA

Prva (prvostepena) presuda u parničnom postupku protiv Verice Marinčić, glavne i odgovorne urednice portala IN Medija

Početkom oktobra, Viši sud u Beogradu doneo je presudu kojom je obavezao Vericu Marinčić, glavnu i odgovornu urednicu portala IN Medija, da (tužiocu) isplati 100.000,00 dinara na ime naknade nematerijalne štete zbog toga što je objavila fotografiju maloletnih karatista, u okviru teksta o paketima koji su im bili uručeni na prijemu kod predsednika Opštine Inđija, u kojima su se nalazile teglice meda „Fruškogorski Skočko – radost u kući”, koji se reklamira i kao afrodizijak.33

U izjavi za portal Raskrikavanje, Verica Marinčić je rekla da očekuje isti ishod i u drugim presudama. Pravnosnažne presude u kojim će biti odlučeno da mora isplatiti toliki iznos – predstavljaće, prema njenim rečima, „poslednji klin u kovčegu u koji su nas saterali”, IN Medija nema toliki novac.34

O pravnim postupcima koje su protiv Verice Marinčić pokrenuli roditelji maloletnih sportista više u Monitoringu medijske scene u Srbiji za jun 2024. godine.

objavljen 19.09.2024. na portalu UNS.

31 Pokrajinski sekretarijat nakon pisanja UNS-a: Članovi komisije utvrdili da su projektima greškom dodelili veći broj poena od  maksimalnog, autor: A. Ničić, tekst objavljen 14.10.2024. na portalu UNS.

32 Još osam opština izdvojilo značajno manje novca za medijske projekte nego lane, autor: A. M, tekst objavljen 5.09.2024. na portalu UNS.

33 Prva presuda u slučaju „Skočko”: „Ovo će biti poslednji klin u našem kovčegu”, autorka: Marija Vučić, tekst objavljen 2.10.2024. na portalu Raskrikavanje.

34 Isto.

Pravnosnažno odbijena privatna krivična tužba koju je Nikola Petrović, kum Predsednika Republike Srbije i nekadašnji direktor javnog preduzeća ,,Elektromreže Srbije”, podneo protiv urednika BIRN-a Milorada Ivanovića i novinarke Jelene Veljković, zbog navodnog neovlašćenog prikupljanja ličnih podataka

Redakciji BIRN-a uručeno je rešenje kojim se odbija privatna krivična tužba podneta od strane Nikole Petrovića protiv urednika i novinarke BIRN-a. Sud obrazlaže da se u dispozitivu privatne tužbe ne navode objektivna obeležja krivičnog dela – to da su okrivljeni „protivno zakonu prikupljali podatke o ličnosti građana ili da su, protivno zakonu, prikupljene podatke koristili što predstavlja radnju izvršenja krivičnog dela za čije se izvršenje terete okrivljeni“. U tužbi nije navedeno ni da su okrivljeni postupali sa umišljajem, već samo da su želeli da izvrše radnje koje im se stavljaju na teret. Zbog navedenih nedostataka, stav je suda, predmet optužbe ne predstavlja krivično delo.35 Petrović se protiv rešenja nije žalio, te je ono postalo pravnosnažno.

To nije jedini postupak koji je Petrović vodio protiv novinara zbog krivičnog dela Neovlašćeno prikupljanje ličnih podataka. Dva novinara portala KRIK-a pravnosnažno su oslobođena optužbe da su neovlašćeno prikupljali lične podatke. U drugom slučaju koji Petrović vodi protiv novinarki portala KRIK, doneta je prvostepena oslobađajuća presuda. Petrović se protiv presude žalio. Drugostepeni postupak nije okončan.36

Ova publikacija objavljena je uz finansijsku pomoć Evropske unije i Ministarstva informisanja i telekomunikacija Republike Srbije. Za sadržinu ove publikacije isključivo je odgovorna Asocijacija nezavisnih elektronskih medija i ta sadržina nipošto ne izražava zvanične stavove Evropske unije i Ministarstva informisanja i telekomunikacija.

35 Pravosnažna odluka: Odbijena tužba Nikole Petrovića protiv BIRN-a, tekst objavljen 4.09.2024. na portalu BIRN.

36 Novinarke KRIK-a oslobođene po tužbi Nikole Petrovića, autorka: Jelena Radivojević, tekst objavljen 24.01.2024. na portalu KRIK.

Ovaj Monitoring izveštaj uradio je stručni monitoring tim iz advokatske kancelarije „Savović”, u saradnji sa ANEM-om

MONITORING OF THE MEDIA SCENE IN SERBIA FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 2024

INTRODUCTION

Monitoring of the media scene is carried out with the aim of continuous monitoring of events and processes affecting the state of media freedom in the Republic of Serbia. The authors of the monitoring deal with: freedom of expression; monitoring the implementation of existing regulations; adopting of new regulations, also by amending and supplementing the current ones – from the field of media as well as from other areas directly or indirectly affecting the freedom of the media; and also by analyzing SLAPP lawsuits (strategic lawsuits against public participation) directed against journalists and media.

Publicly available data, data obtained from journalists, editors and other media workers, journalist associations and media associations, as well as state and non-state bodies are used for monitoring.

I FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Radio Free Europe (RSE) had an insight into the Report of the European Commission on the progress of Serbia for the year 2024. The report, as reported by RSE, states that Serbia is requested to strengthen the safety and security of the media, and in particular to ensure that high-ranking state officials refrain from labeling and verbally attacking journalists, as well as to monitor promptly, if necessary publicly condemn, investigate or prosecute threats and cases of physical and verbal violence.

[…] cases of verbal attacks, slander campaigns, threats and violence against journalists continued both at the national and local levels, including verbal and physical violence against female journalists. Repeated statements by high officials about the daily and investigative work of journalists threaten the freedom of the media.

The report specifically notes the fact that the murder of journalist Slavko Ćuruvija, after 25 years, remained unpunished.1

The European Commission called on Serbia to strengthen media pluralism, and to, in accordance with the Media Strategy, implement measures related to the functioning, mandate and independence of both the Regulatory Body for Electronic Media (REM) and public broadcasters.

REM did not adhere to shorter deadlines and did not publish a comprehensive report on the election campaign in a timely manner. The OSCE/ODIHR also found ‘bias in the media’ during the campaign, particularly with respect to public broadcasters.2

Serbia was also recommended to ensure transparent and fair co-financing of media content that serves the public interest, as well as full transparency in media ownership and advertising.3

At the beginning of September, the president of the European Federation of Journalists, Maja Sever, met with the Minister of Information and Telecommunications in the Government of the Republic of Serbia, Dejan Ristić. In a statement to the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS), she said that she asked the minister a series of specific questions. She warned him, as she stated, about

1 Brisel poziva Srbiju na napredak u pravosuđu, gonjenju ratnih zločinaca i poštovanju medijskih sloboda, author: Gjeraqina Tuhina, article published on September 6, 2024 at RSE portal.

2 Ibid.

3 Ibid.

the problem of reducing funds intended for project co-financing, as well as the fact that the impression is being made that the competition commissions are (still) made up of people who distribute money along “party lines”. The president of the European Federation of Journalists focused her attention on the fact that the government has found a way to financially support tabloids (like Informer), as well as on the fact that the system of proceedings against media that violate the law does not actually work. She assessed the issue of safety of journalists as pressing.

The cases she pointed to in this regard were: the attack on the journalist Vuk Cvijić, the escape of the person who admitted to the prosecution that he had threatened Ana Lalić, the attacks and pressures to which the journalist Tamara Skrozza was exposed, as well as the SLAPP lawsuits that showered the research portal KRIK and the Slavko Ćuruvija Foundation. Maja Sever asked the minister not to extradite journalist Andrej Gnjot to Belarus.4

In the first half of September, the Platform for Rapid Response to Media Freedom Violations (MFRR) published the Monitoring Report, which documents and analyzes all violations of media freedom recorded on the MFRR platform, for the period from January to June 2024. In Serbia, there were 38 cases of media freedom violations recorded.

The attacks were directed against 51 natural or legal persons. The state of media freedom in Serbia was assessed as alarming. It was stated that verbal abuse constitutes the majority (63.2%) of recorded incidents. Almost one third of media freedom violations (34.2%) happened in the online world. Death threats were reported by the editorial staff of Television N1, journalists Ani Lalić Hegediš and Dinko Gruhonjić (due to their participation in the Rebedu festival in Dubrovnik). The cases of the escape of the person who admitted in the prosecution that he threatened Ana Lalić and the accusations brought against Dinko Gruhonjić by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia Miloš Vučević were also highlighted. The report notes the inappropriate behavior of politicians towards journalists observed in public debates.

Egregious examples are the inappropriate address of the President of Serbia to N1 journalist Gordana Bjeletić and the accusations made by the President of the National Assembly of Serbia against Television N1 that it creates “fake news” and causes “instability in society”. When it comes to physical

4 Maja Sever o razgovoru sa ministrom Dejanom Ristićem: Postavila sam niz konkretnih pitanja u vezi sa medijima i bezbednošću novinara u Srbiji, article published on September 13, 2024 at NUNS portal.

attacks, the cases of journalists Vuk Cvijić, Uglješa Bokić and Marko Miletić were noted. Verbal attacks on journalists from Tanjug, Kurir, and Radio 021 were recorded during protest rallies organized in support of Ana Mihaljica, a mother whose three children were temporarily taken from her by the decision of the Social Welfare Center. The report also includes threatening messages received by N1 Television correspondent Ksenija Pavkov due to her coverage of the protest. The physical expulsion of Verica Marinčić from the building of the Municipality of Inđija was not neglected either. The legal harassment includes seven lawsuits filed against the same journalist – Verica Marinčić. The report states that the research portal KRIK is exposed to the largest number of procedures with the characteristics of SLAPP lawsuits, and the cases initiated by Court of Appeal judge Dušanka Đorđević against journalists Bojana Pavlović and Stevan Dojčinović are particularly highlighted.

At the beginning of September, support for Nenad Kulačin, journalist and co-author of the “The Good, the Bad, the Evil” podcast, came from PEN International. In the statement published by the said organization, some of the cases of threats, harassment and pressure that Kulačin and his family members have been subjected to over the years are listed. PEN International called for an end to the continuous harassment of Nenad Kulačin and his colleagues, independent writers and journalists in Serbia. The statement,5 among other things, states:

Nenad Kulačin is the co-host of the Dobar, Los, Zao podcast (The Good, the Bad and the Evil), with writer and honorary PEN member Marko Vidojković. Kulačin and Vidojković have been receiving threats for years on account of their work and independent views, with politician Aleksandar Šapić notably threatening to ‘rip out [their] hearts’. Already in October 2021, Kulačin’s mother was verbally attacked by an unknown individual who told her that her ‘son should be hanged’. Kulačin’s home address was disclosed in November 2022, also by unknown individuals. The journalist told PEN International he reported ten threats to the Prosecutor’s Office in 2023 alone. Only one investigation has been opened to date, and subsequently dismissed.

As documented by PEN International, the situation for freedom of expression in Serbia is at breaking point. Public officials routinely harass and smear outspoken journalists in public fora, contributing to an atmosphere of fear and impunity for verbal and physical

5 Serbia: Mounting threats against journalist Nenad Kulačin condemned, article published on September 6, 2024 at Pen International portal.

attacks. Distrust in the police and the justice system prevails, with inefficient investigations into cases of threats and attacks. Many writers feel they have no choice but to self-censor. PEN International calls for an end to the continued harassment and targeting of Nenad Kulačin and fellow independent writers and journalists in Serbia, and for all those responsible to be brought to account.6

During September, the Supreme Public Prosecutor’s Office filed a request for the protection of legality against the legally binding verdict passed in the case of the murder of Slavko Ćuruvija.

Threats and pressures

Campaign against the investigative portal KRIK

At the beginning of September, a media campaign against the KRIK investigative portal was launched. On the Republika.rs portal and in the daily newspaper Srpski telegraf, the work of KRIK portal journalists was marked as a “special operation” that “attacks the families of state officials”. Investigative journalists have been accused of “grossly abusing social security numbers” by “publicly sharing” them. Newspaper articles and front pages were accompanied by photos of Stevan Dojčinović, editor-in-chief of KRIK media. In a statement for the daily newspaper Danas, in response to the tabloid’s accusations, Dojčinović expressed his judgment about the goal with which the campaign is being conducted. The idea is to portray “classic journalistic work” as a “subversive activity”, and to force investigative journalists to stop dealing with the assets of officials.7

It is not the first time that tabloids in Serbia have campaigned against KRIK journalists.8 Stevan Dojčinović sued the founder of media Republika.rs and Serbian Telegraph three times. Twice because of a campaign in which he was associated with the Veljko Belivuk criminal clan, and once because of accusations that journalists from the KRIK portal physically followed the unmarried wife and baby of Sinisa Mali’s brother, the Minister of Finance in the Government of the Republic of Serbia. Due to the same campaign, KRIK journalist Dragana Pećo also filed a lawsuit.9 One court case was concluded in

6 Podrška Međunarodnog PEN-a Nenadu Kulačinu, article published on September 6, 2024 at Javni servis portal.

7 Stevan Dojčinović: Napadi režimskih tabloida imaju za cilj da uguše novinarstvo, a da korumpirana vlast neometano uživa u novcu koji je pokrala, author: A. Latas, article published on October 2, 2024 at Danas daily portal.

8 Dojčinović na suđenju „Srpskom telegrafu“: Tabloidi pokušavaju da ućutkaju svakoga ko govori o vezama Belivuka i vlasti, author: Jelena Radivojević, article published on January 26, 2023 at KRIK portal.

9 Tajna “japanskog praćenja”: Zbog čega nas gaze vlast i tabloidi, author: Stevan Dojčinović, article published on July 27, 2019 at KRIK

KRIK editor’s favor, while the other two cases are still ongoing. The procedure initiated by Dragana Pećo was concluded in her favor.

Campaigns against the KRIK portal were condemned by domestic and foreign journalist and media associations, civil society organizations, representatives of embassies and the European Union.

Pištaljka’s journalist prevented to attend the opening of bids for the purchase of the largest state shipping company – Yugoslav River Shipping (JRB)

According to the Pištaljka portal, the Ministry of Economy offered the state enterprise at a price of

21.9 million euros. This amount is seven million euros less than the amount that JRB earned from just one deal obtained immediately before the sale was announced. The opening of bids took place in the Ministry’s premises. The Pištaljka portal, one of the media outlets that continuously reported on the privatization of JRB, duly announced its arrival at the bid opening. The Ministry found the basis for denying the presence in the Regulation on the conditions, procedure and method of selling capital and property by the method of public collection of bids with public bidding, which does not prohibit the presence of journalists.10

Threats to Jelena S. Spasić, Kurir journalist

At the end of September, journalist Jelena Spasić and the Kurir editorial office filed criminal charges because of disturbing and threatening messages that the journalist received on the Instagram accounts “dusanrajic” and “diabetesrevolution”. The journalist’s photos were also published on those accounts.

Jelena Spasić wrote a series of articles in which she dealt with the problems faced by children and people suffering from diabetes, while the media she works for, Kurir, also published articles in which they dealt with the questionable actions of the Rajić brothers and their association Diabetes revolution. The Special prosecutor’s office for high-tech crime requested the police to investigate the threats. Dušan Rajić and Saša Mirović were identified within a month, on the basis of information portal.

10 Novinarki Pištaljke zabranjeno da prisustvuje otvaranju ponuda za kupovinu JRB-a, author: Snežana Đurić, article published on September 5, 2024 at Pištaljka portal.

received from the authorities from Meta. Those persons were deprived of their liberty and detained for 48 hours.11

The Association of Journalists of Serbia reacted to the threats, demanding in its statement that the targeting of the journalist be stopped.12

Threats sent to the Tanjug news agency

At the end of September, the Tanjug news agency received an email with the following content:

We see that lately your propagandistic, chauvinistic and warmongering machinery called ‘Tanjug’ has become more and more aggressive, using the chauvinistic name ‘AP KiM’ for the Republic of Kosovo, in the service of dictator and warmonger Aleksandar Vučić. Just so you know that we follow the lies you spread every day about the state of Kosovo and the Albanians, just as we follow the movements of every journalist of your pseudo-media agency in Kosovo. Rest assured that one of them will get a bullet in the back of the head the next time they set foot on the soil of the Republic of Kosovo. We follow everything.13

Through the mechanism of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists, the Association of Journalists of Serbia contacted the competent prosecutor’s office, after which the public was informed that the High-Tech Crime Service of the Ministry of Interior had been sent a request to collect the necessary information.14 It was found that the IP address “belongs to the range used by Internet service providers in Kosovo and Metohija”. UNS, its branch in Kosovo, the Union of Journalists of Serbia (SINOS) and NUNS condemned the death threats addressed to Tanjug.15

11 Uhapšen Dušan Rajić zbog pretnji novinarki Kurira Jeleni S. Spasić: Policija privela i Sašu Mirovića zbog ugrožavanja njene sigurnosti, article published on October 30, 2024 at UNS portal.

12 UNS: Da prestane targetiranje Jelene S. Spasić, article published on September 24, 2024 at UNS portal.

13 Pretnje Tanjugu: Vaši novinari će dobiti metak u potiljak kada kroče na Kosovo, article published on September 30, 2024 at Tanjug portal.

14 Pretnja ubistvom novinara agencije Tanjug stigla sa Kosova, author: Dragana Bejlica, article published on October 3, 2024 at UNS portal.

15 NUNS: Neprihvatljive pretnje redakciji Tanjuga, article published on October 1, 2024 at NUNS portal.

The case of Andrei Gnyot, a Belarusian journalist, director and political activist

In the first half of September, the Appellate Court in Belgrade accepted the appeals filed by Gnyot and his lawyer against the decision of the High Court in Belgrade. In this way, the decision to extradite the Belarusian journalist, director and political activist was revoked.

According to the opinion of the Appellate Court, the first-instance court made a decision on the basis of an incompletely established factual situation, which resulted in a significant violation of the provisions of the criminal procedure. The violation occurred, it is stated in the explanation of the Court of Appeal, because the reasons for the facts that are the subject of proof were not stated in the explanation of the first-instance decision, and the stated reasons are completely unclear, at the same time mutually contradictory, which made it impossible to examine the legality and regularity of the first-instance decision. .

Although the extradition decision was revoked, Andrei Gnyot addressed the media and announced a visit to representatives of domestic institutions:

As you know, although the Court of Appeal annulled the decision on my extradition to the Lukashenko regime, I remain a prisoner here without the right to leave my rented apartment for more than one hour.

During the next week, I plan to use the short permitted walk to officially deliver an open address to the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, and also to the Prime Minister of Serbia, Miloš Vučević, as well as to the Minister of Justice, Maja Popović, and the Minister of Culture, Nikola Selaković, to over 780 world and Serbian creators, artists and intellectuals who are asking for my release.16

More about the case of Andrei Gnyot can be read in several monitoring reports: for June, July and August 2024.

At the time of writing this monitoring report, Andrei Gnyot left Serbia. His lawyer, Filip Sofijanić, confirmed for Radio Free Europe that after the expiration of the legal term of one year, the High Court in Belgrade, on October 31, terminated Andrei Gnyot’s detention.17

16 Andrej Gnjot najavio da će se obratiti srpskim institucijama, prva adresa – Predsedništvo, article published on September 19, 2024 at Insajder portal.

17 Beloruski aktivista Andrej Gnjot napustio Srbiju nakon ukidanja pritvora, article published on October 31, 2024 at RSE portal.

The response of the public prosecutor of the Higher Prosecutor’s Office in Vranje regarding the missing files in the case of OK Radio

You can find more about the disappearance of the case in which Dejan Nikolić Kantar was sentenced to one year and six months in prison in the first instance due to the threats made to the owner of OK Radio, Olivera Vladković, and the employee of that radio, Svetlana Ivanov, in the Monitoring of the media scene in Serbia for July 2023 and for August 2024.

Regarding the complaint that he sent to the acting public prosecutor in the case of missing case files, member of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists Veran Matić received an answer from the chief public prosecutor of the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office in Vranje, Danijela Trajković. The response listed the actions ordered by the prosecution, as well as the actions implemented by the police department. It is concluded that those actions did not produce the desired result – the perpetrator was not discovered and sanctioned. For this reason, the chief public prosecutor, by virtue of the right of supervision, ordered more efficient action by the prosecution.

Escape of a person with a electronic surveillance device (case of Ana Lalić)

The case of the escape of a citizen of France and Serbia who admitted to the prosecution that he sent threatening messages to Ana Lalić Hegediš in March 2024 – was covered in the Monitoring of the media scene in Serbia for July 2024. The prosecution established communication with the institutions of the Republic of France, however, there were no results. A member of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists, Veran Matić, wrote to the French ambassador, asking him whether the person on the run, according to the knowledge of the services of that country, had returned to Paris. In response, the ambassador informed Matić that the case was being worked on, and that the response had been forwarded to the prosecution. Officials of the competent authority of France visited the place of residence of the person on the run, but he was not found. Meanwhile, that person bought a car in France. According to the information received by the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists, due to formal reasons, a warrant has not yet been issued for him.

ANNIVERSARY OF THE KILLING OF A JOURNALIST FROM KOSOVO

Disappearance of Marjan Melonaši, Radio Kosova Serbian newsroom journalist, on September 9, 2000 in Pristina

When he disappeared, Marjan Melonaši was 24 years old. He disappeared 24 years ago. At two o’clock in the afternoon, on September 9, 2000, he finished his half-hour broadcast on the Serbian desk of Radio Kosova. He left the studio in the center of Pristina and got into an orange taxi. That’s the last thing known about his whereabouts.18

Marjan was previously employed by the Swiss organization “Media Action International”. Shortly before his arrival, Aleksandar Simović Sima worked in that organization, a journalist whose name will be on the list of missing persons for two years, and then it will be known that he was killed.19

The disappearance of Marjan Melonaši was immediately reported to UNMIK, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Red Cross of Yugoslavia and the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Serbia. UNMIK opened the investigation after five years. No one was questioned in connection with the journalist’s disappearance.20

The murder of Šefki Popova, a Rilindja journalist, on September 10, 2000 in Vučitrn

Journalist Šefki Popova was killed in Vučitrn, on the threshold of his apartment, on September 10, 2000. The killer entered the building where Popova lived with a book in which he hid a gun. He was waiting for the journalist to return home. Witnesses saw two men running away. Popova died immediately after being transferred to a nearby hospital. The family of Šefki Popova believes that he was killed because he was an “authority of the pen”.21

The murder of Popova took place after the attempted murder of Serbian journalist Valentina Čukić, the editor of the Serbian-language program at Radio Kontakt in Pristina, in June 2000. The Bota Sot

18 Kobni ulazak u taksi, author: D. Ranojlić, article published on February 23, 2011 at Vesti online portal.

19 Zločini nad novinarima bez kazne, sloboda govora na meti, author: Jelena L. Petković, article published on December 27, 2022 at Bezbedni novinari portal.

20 Ibid.

21 Istraživanje UNS-a o ubijenim i otetim novinarima na Kosovu :: Ubistvo Šefki Popove: Gde su dokazi iz istrage?, author: Jelena L. Petković, article published on December 18, 2017 at UNS portal.

journalist Bardulj Ayeti wrote several articles about the murder of Popova. He was killed in 2005.22

Murder of Krist Gegaj, editor of RTV Pristina, on September 12, 1999 in Istok

Krist Gegaj was one of the two commentators and editor of the program in the Albanian language at RTV Pristina. He edited Dnevnik and news on radio and television. Krist Gegaj disappeared on September 12, 1999. That day, around 7 in the morning, he took the cattle out about 200 meters from the house. Family and friends searched for him for hours. Around 10 p.m., he was reported missing at the nearest KFOR checkpoint. The soldiers told them to go to the KFOR base in the East. The next day, September 13, Gegaj’s body was found in a nearby river, two kilometers from his house. Gegai was shot – in his head and heart.23

The murder of photojournalist Momir Stokuća on September 21, 1999 in Pristina

During the night of September 21, 1999, the UNMIK police received a call informing them that something dangerous was happening in the family home of photojournalist Momir Stokuća (Peyton settlement, center of Pristina). When officers arrived, the side entrance door was open. Momir’s lifeless body lay on the bedroom floor. Stokuća was 50 years old. He was a long-term contributor to the daily newspaper Politika and a photographer for the weekly magazine Vreme. A police investigation into his murder never took place. Neither the police officers nor the prosecutor invited Stokuča’s family for an interview. There was no information about the murder in the documentation of EULEX and the Special Prosecutor’s Office of Kosovo, nor in the documentation of the Serbian War Crimes Prosecutor’s Office.24

22 Ibid.

23 UNS otkrio još jedno ubistvo novinara na Kosovu, Krist Gegaj usmrćen septembra 1999. godine, article published on August 3, 2017 at UNS portal.

24 Zločini nad novinarima bez kazne, sloboda govora na meti, author: Jelena L. Petković, article published on December 27, 2022 at Bezbedni novinari portal.

II  MONITORING OF THE PROCESS OF ADOPTION OF NEW LAWS

In the second half of September, the first meeting of the Working Group for the preparation of the working version of the Draft Law on Public Media Services was held. The working group consists of

14 members representing the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications, public media services, journalistic and media associations. The task of the Working Group is to submit the text of the working version of the Draft Law on Public Media Services to the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications no later than November 1.25

At the end of September, the Ministry of Internal and Foreign Trade announced that the public debate on the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on Advertising will be held within the minimum legal term of 20 days, in the period from September 30 to October 20, 2024. Although the expert public requested an extension of the public hearing,26 that extension did not happen.27

During September, the Ministry of Justice announced a public debate on the Draft Law on Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code, for the period from October 1 to November 1, 2024. The draft laws caused stormy reactions from the professional public, which will be discussed more in the next monitoring.

III  IMPLEMENTATION OF EXISTING LAWS

Project co-financing

For the co-financing of projects for the production of media content in the field of public information, there were no registered media in the competition of the Municipality of Rekovac. The allocated funds amounted to 200,000 dinars. According to the owner and editor of Radio Levač, Mile Vlaisavljević, the media did not apply for the competition because it was estimated that the development of the project, the obtaining of documentation and the invested time needed to

25 Formirana Radna grupa za izradu radne verzije Nacrta zakona o javnim medijskim servisima, author: A.N, article published on September 18, 2024 at UNS portal.

26 Koalicija za slobodu medija: Ministarstvo da produži javnu raspravu o Zakonu o oglašavanju, article published on October 3, 2024 at Nova ekonomija portal.

27 Javne rasprave

prepare the application would exceed the amount of funds allocated.28

In the competition for co-financing of media content, the Medijakult cooperative from Novi Sad was awarded 4,950,000 dinars, although, contrary to Article 23 of the Law on Public Information and Media,29 they will engage other persons for the realization of the project, given that the applicant of the project does not have personnel or equipment. Another controversy that follows the allocation of funds to the Medijakult cooperative concerns the evaluation procedure in the category of accessibility of media content to the target group. The maximum number of points that can be awarded is 10. Despite this, the Medijakult cooperative received 15 points both from Branko Sančanin and Biljana Ratković Njegovan, while Miodrag Miljković awarded them 20 points.30

In the answer to the UNS, the Provincial Secretariat stated that, in the category of accessibility of media content to the target group, all members of the commission gave more points than the maximum to the Medijakult cooperative. Except in that case, during the evaluation of the project of the Macedonian Association of Journalists MAK-INFO, the number of points awarded by Biljana Ratković Njegovan exceeded the maximum. The Provincial Secretariat for Culture, Public Information and Relations with Religious Communities announced the adoption of an appropriate solution.31

According to the information published by the Association of Journalists of Serbia, eight municipalities (Kovačica, Opovo, Inđija, Bač, Kovin, Plandište, Alibunar and Rekovac) allocated significantly less money from the budget than the previous year.32

28 Rekovac: Bez prijavljenih na medijskom konkursu, article published on September 21, 2024 at Glas Šumadije portal.

29 Article 23 para. 8 of the Law on Public Information and Media stipulates that a tender participant who does not have the appropriate capacities can hire another person for the production of media content whose value does not exceed 20% of the amount of funds allocated by the authority for the realization of the project, provided that this person is registered in the Record of Media Producers content.

30 Medijska komisija „Medijakultu“ za dostupnost sadržaja ciljnoj grupi dala veći broj poena od maksimalnih 10, author: A. Ničič, article published on September 19, 2024 at UNS portal.

31 Pokrajinski sekretarijat nakon pisanja UNS-a: Članovi komisije utvrdili da su projektima greškom dodelili veći broj poena od maksimalnog, author: A. Ničić, article published on October 14, 2024 at UNS portal.

32 Još osam opština izdvojilo značajno manje novca za medijske projekte nego lane, author: A. M, article published on September 5, 2024 at UNS portal.

IV  SLAPP LAWSUITS DIRECTED AGAINST JOURNALISTS AND THE MEDIA

The first (first-instance) verdict in the civil proceedings against Verica Marinčić, the chief and responsible editor of the IN Medija portal

At the beginning of October, the High Court in Belgrade issued a verdict obliging Verica Marinčić, the editor-in-chief of the IN Medija portal, to pay (the plaintiff) 100,000.00 dinars in the name of compensation for non-material damage due to the fact that she published a photo of underage karate fighters, as part of the text about the packages that were handed to them at the reception by the President of the Municipality of Inđija, which contained jars of honey “Fruškogorski Skočko – joy in home”, which is also advertised as an aphrodisiac.33

In a statement for the Raskrikavanje portal, Verica Marinčić said that she expects the same outcome in other verdicts. A legally binding verdict in which it will be decided that she must pay such an amount – will represent, according to her words, “the last nail in the coffin in which they pushed us”, IN Media does not have that much money.34

More about the legal proceedings initiated against Verica Marinčić by the parents of minor athletes in the Monitoring of the media scene in Serbia for June 2024.

Legally rejected private criminal lawsuit filed by Nikola Petrović, the President of the Republic of Serbia best man and former director of the public company “Elektromreže Srbije” against BIRN editor Milorad Ivanović and journalist Jelena Veljković, due to the alleged unauthorized collection of personal data

The editorial office of BIRN was handed a decision rejecting the private criminal lawsuit filed by Nikola Petrović against the BIRN editor and journalist. The court reasons that the provision of the private lawsuit does not state the objective features of the criminal offense – that the defendants “gathered information about citizens against the law or that, contrary to the law, they used the collected data, which represents the act of committing the criminal offense for which the defendant is charged”. The lawsuit did not even state that the defendants acted with intent, but only that they wanted to carry

33 Prva presuda u slučaju „Skočko”: „Ovo će biti poslednji klin u našem kovčegu”, author: Marija Vučić, article published on October 2, 2024 at Raskrikavanje portal.

34 Ibid.

out the actions they are accused of. Due to the aforementioned shortcomings, the court’s opinion is that the subject of the accusation does not constitute a criminal offense.35 Petrović did not appeal against the decision, so it became legally binding.

This is not the only case that Petrović conducted against journalists for the criminal offense of Unauthorized collection of personal data. Two journalists of the KRIK portal were legally acquitted of the charge of unauthorized collection of personal data. In the second case that Petrović leads against the journalists of the KRIK portal, a first-instance verdict of acquittal was brought. Petrović appealed against the verdict. The second-instance procedure has not been completed.36

This publication is produced with the assistance of the European Union and the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications of Serbia. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of Association of the Independent Electronic Media and may in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union and the Ministry of Information and Telecommunication.

35 Pravosnažna odluka: Odbijena tužba Nikole Petrovića protiv BIRN-a, article published on September 4, 2024 at BIRN portal.

36 Novinarke KRIK-a oslobođene po tužbi Nikole Petrovića, author: Jelena Radivojević, article published on January 24, 2024 at KRIK portal.

Media monitoring was published with the financial support of the European Union and the Ministry of Information and Telecommunication of the Republic of Serbia. The Association of Independent Electronic Media is solely responsible for its content, and that content in no way expresses the official views of the European Union and the Ministry of Information and Telecommunication.

This Monitoring Report was prepared by expert monitoring team from the law office “Savović” in cooperation with ANEM.