ANEM and NUNS condemn threats against N1 journalist: ‘Next time I will smash your head’

The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) and the Independent Journalists’ Association of Serbia (NUNS) today condemned the threats directed at N1 television journalist Mladen Savatović in Nikola Pašić Square in Belgrade, while he was on work duty — and reported the case to the First Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office, as the newspaper Danas writes.

The two associations’ statement says that Savatović was waiting for a live link-up when a man approached him and said: “Sreća tvoja da sam sa ženom, sledeći put ću ti razbiti glavu” — “You’re lucky I’m with my wife, next time I will smash your head” — as well as “Ja sam za ovu zemlju ratovao, a ti je uništavaš. Pazi se” — “I fought for this country, and you are destroying it. Watch yourself.”

The N1 television cameraman managed to photograph the attacker, and the photographs were handed over to the prosecutor. The report demands an urgent reaction from the prosecution because of the clear use of threats of physical violence intended to intimidate the journalist.

The two associations stress that this case is part of a broader situation of creating a violent and negative narrative against journalists who hold a critical stance toward the actions of those in power, especially against N1 television journalists. They ask prosecutors to examine in detail the meaning, weight and consequences of what was said, and to also view the camera footage around the square.